Re: Der Alte's Character
Posted by:
freund
()
Date: June 04, 2007 07:06PM
Hello Barry,
if i were normal rating, Matrose, i would prefer a commander, like you said, one of the man, popular with the crew, someone who is interested in the crew, as described on uboatarhive.net , about Ulrich Heyse. Quotation" The first commander of U-128 was Kapitänleutnant Ulrich Heyse, about
- 3 -
36 years old, who according to a recent report has been promoted to Korvettenkapitän. He stood by at the construction of U-128 and commander her during all patrols except the last. After completion of the fifth patrol he was credited with a total of 98,000 tons of shipping sunk and was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross. He was popular with his crew; on occasion he would sit down with the kitchen detail, whip out his pocket knife and while peeling potatoes would talk about and discuss with crew members any subject which interested them. He also would now and then have several glasses of beer with his crew, when on shore. No doubt, his leadership contributed to the success of U-128 while under his command; most prisoners expressed their belief that U-128 would not have met with its fate on May 17, 1943, had Heyse been its commander. Heyse belongs to the 1930 term and, prior to his entry into the German Navy, had served on merchant ships. To this background many of his men attribute the sympathetic attitude of Heyse toward crew members of torpedoed ships. Foodstuff, cigarettes, and even rum, if necessary, were supplied, and in more than one instance Heyse explained that he was sorry that his duty compelled him to sink their ships. While in the Navy, Heyse had served as executive officer on a destroyer and had made a cruise as commander pupil in another U-boat. He is now reported to be company commander at the Gotenhafen U-boat school.
Have a good day
if i were normal rating, Matrose, i would prefer a commander, like you said, one of the man, popular with the crew, someone who is interested in the crew, as described on uboatarhive.net , about Ulrich Heyse. Quotation" The first commander of U-128 was Kapitänleutnant Ulrich Heyse, about
- 3 -
36 years old, who according to a recent report has been promoted to Korvettenkapitän. He stood by at the construction of U-128 and commander her during all patrols except the last. After completion of the fifth patrol he was credited with a total of 98,000 tons of shipping sunk and was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross. He was popular with his crew; on occasion he would sit down with the kitchen detail, whip out his pocket knife and while peeling potatoes would talk about and discuss with crew members any subject which interested them. He also would now and then have several glasses of beer with his crew, when on shore. No doubt, his leadership contributed to the success of U-128 while under his command; most prisoners expressed their belief that U-128 would not have met with its fate on May 17, 1943, had Heyse been its commander. Heyse belongs to the 1930 term and, prior to his entry into the German Navy, had served on merchant ships. To this background many of his men attribute the sympathetic attitude of Heyse toward crew members of torpedoed ships. Foodstuff, cigarettes, and even rum, if necessary, were supplied, and in more than one instance Heyse explained that he was sorry that his duty compelled him to sink their ships. While in the Navy, Heyse had served as executive officer on a destroyer and had made a cruise as commander pupil in another U-boat. He is now reported to be company commander at the Gotenhafen U-boat school.
Have a good day