Hello Everybody,

as to the use of English by German u-boat-officers I may inform you please that in order to become an officer in the German Navy, as well with the Army and Air Force you had to pass the „Gymnasium“, equivalent to high school and junior college in the USA, to get the German ABITUR = qualification you need to start university in Germany as of today. Be that in the so called “humanistsiche”, meaning mandatory courses at least lasting for six years, in Latin and Old Greek, Gymnasium or the “naturwissenschaftliche” Gymnasium, both branches required English as a obligatory for at least three years (humanistic) and six years in natural science branch. So all officers had a pretty basic grasp of the English language.

As to LWB, u – 96, he was an officer at the merchant marine for quite some time before he joined the navy on duty a.o. on sailing boats,

- there is remark of the Alte in the movie, when the boat was hit by heavy storm, something like. “das ist noch gar nichts, auf einem Segelboot müßt ihr mal fahren…“, = that`s nothing, you guys should go on a sailing boat....-,

being all over the world, so he was, I suppose, very familiar with the English language, even at that time being the language in nautical terms of international communicating or in the habors all over the world.

Hope this helps.

You have a nice day and best Regards.
Volker Erich Kummrow