Kameraden,

The three U-Boat commanders who perished seem to be what is currently believed as factual - but in regards to Ludden, there is a discrepency as noted in Blair:

[www.uboat.net]

[www.uboat.net]

A footnote in Ritschel KTB Vol. 5 - P.129 is as follows:

06 July 1944 - Ludden and Chief Engr. Landfermann were captured by Free French Resistance (FFI) on their way to reporting in Limoges - captured with all their reporting documents. Ludden was able to escape after three weeks.

Ludden (killed) - 13 January 1945 - Fire on the accomodation ship "Dar es Salaam" in Kiel.


The discrepency regarding Ludden as published in Blair is the only instance I have seen.


The accomodation ship Daressalam (Dar Es Salam) experienced severe bomb damage by bombing on 16 Sept. 1944 and was not a total loss as it continued to be used as an accomodation ship. It went on to become a hotel ship in Hamburg in 1946. In 1947 it was in US hands and it was finally broken up at Sheerness (UK) in 1953.

The fire (smoke) that killed the 3 U-boat commanders appears to have been a minor ship's event.

-- Regards,
Ken Deshaies
Newton, New Hampshire