U-4714 - Robert F. Clifton (reading list .TXT) 📗

Captain of a U-Boat. That might get me a boat back home or in France”.

“Fair enough. Now if we can just get out of Lorient without being shot down by a British Spitfire you might get your chance.

On the evening of July 24, 1943 Reinhardt Dresner pulled back the covers on the bed in his quarters. As he sat winding the alarm clock he then set the time, nine o'clock p.m. At that very same time bombs were falling out of British, R.A.F. bombers over the city of Hamburg, Germany. This was the beginning of a solid week of night and day attacks on the city by English and American air forces. Forty two thousand people would die. Thirty seven thousand would be injured. Incendiary bombs used by the allies started fires and a one thousand foot high tornado fire wall was the major instrument of death. One of those slain was Otto Dresner, killed when the Hamburg shipyard was attacked.

The news of the Hamburg air raids and its aftermath reached the German forces in Denmark. Upon hearing the news Reinhardt began to worry about his parents, particularly his father. Oststeinbek, just outside of Hamburg had no military importance to the allies, still attacks on civilians were being conducted and bombardiers have been know to miss their targets and have their bomb loads fall a few miles from where they were intended. Still, for the moment there was no way to know how the Dresner's were. Were they safe? He hoped so. However, at the same time he had to report to Navy Headquarters located in the Hotel Phanik in Copenhagen.

Late in the morning Lieutenant Dresner sat in front of the desk of Wolfgang Achenbach, Assistant Naval Attache' assigned to Copenhagen, Denmark. Achenbach was a little man, short, balding, dressed in a gray suit with a boutonniere in his lapel. Instead of eyeglasses he wore a monocle in his right eye. Reinhardt sat silently as the man behind the desk read papers from a file. Finally, he raised his head and looking at Dresner said, “So tell me Lieutenant, how do you like Copenhagen?”

“I haven't been here long enough to render a decision. However, I was here on holiday when I was a midshipman. As I recall I rather enjoyed the city”.

“Ah, that had to be before the war. Now, I see Copenhagen and most of Denmark somewhat ambiguous. The population is pro German one day, anti German the next. Do you find this so Lieutenant?”

“Again Herr Achenbach I have only just arrived”.

“Of course, of course. Nonetheless, I for one and may I say those of the Kreigsmarine are under the opinion that the Danish military and in particular the Danish Navy is anti-German. As you know your orders are to inspect the U-boats of the Danish fleet. When do you think this will be done?”

“I was made to understand that the Wehrmacht was to seize the submarines, expel their crews and replace them with experienced Germans”.

“That is correct”.

“When I attempted to go on board the Havmanden I was refused by a Danish Navy Officer. Therefore Herr Achenbach I ask you, Why are the boats still in the possession of the Danes?”

“Because The German government considers Denmark to be an ally and not a conquered nation. As a result the Danes are allowed to keep its form of government as well as its military”.

“Well, until the German government can sort out the details on just which nation is entitled to the submarines there is nothing I can do in reference to my orders”.

“ What we have here Lieutenant is a diplomatic problem. One that might take several days to resolve. I suggest that you just relax, enjoy the city. We will be in touch when things are in order”.

“Since this will take several days is it at all possible that I might have leave to return to Germany?”

“Where in Germany?”

“Flensburg”.

“Reason?”

“To see my fiance'”.

“Ah, a romantic, what a wonderful trait for a warrior. Of course Lieutenant. I will arrange for five days leave for you in this matter. Now, I'm afraid our little chat is over. Thank you for your information in this matter. Just between you and I the problem can be laid at the feet of the army, not the navy. Auf Wiedersehen “

 

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It was rather warm weather for the end of July in Flensburg. To allow a circulation of air to enter the bookshop Hedda Bayer left the door to the store wide open. Since there were no customers at the moment she busied

herself by dusting the books and the shelves that held them. She did not hear the man enter and was jolted at the sound of his voice.

“Excuse me Fraulein, but could you tell me of the book I ordered, Of Mice And Men has arrived?”

Hedda turned a happy smile on her face and with tears in her eyes, “Reinhardt, oh Reinhardt, it's you, it's you. Why didn't you tell me you were coming?, she said as he held her in his arms.

“In case you haven’t heard there's a war on. Telephone calls have to be top priority, mail moves at a snails pace and I was just approved for leave yesterday. I got lucky and was able to catch a ride with an army truck going into Germany. So, I'm here”.

“Yes you are, and I'm never going to let you go”.

“Then you would be arrested for harboring a deserter and I would be shot. Is that what you want?”

“Of course not, but I do want you all to myself”.

“We have what's left of five days, five wonderful days”, said Reinhardt

“And I don't want to waste a minute of them. Come mother is in the back tending to father”.

“How is he?”

“Not good, but at least he is still with us. He will be glad to see you, but when he talks his words are slurred so it is difficult at times to understand him. Come”.

“What about the shop?”

“I'll close up. There's no business anyway. Come, come”.

After closing and locking the door Hedda took Reinhardt's hand and together they walked through the gray curtain that separated the shop from the living quarters. “Mama? Mama, we have company. Come and see who it is”, said Hedda.

Frau Bayer came out of the back bedroom and into the living room. Seeing Reinhardt she said, “Oh, how wonderful to see you. How nice to know that you are alive my boy. How are you?”, asked Karla Bayer.

“I'm fine. Here I brought you something”, said Dresner as he reached into his half empty sea bag and removed a five pound Danish ham.

“Oh how nice of you. Tonight we will have schinkenbraten (baked ham) with turnips and cabbage. I have just enough brown sugar. Danka schoen (thank you) Reinhardt.

“My pleasure”.

“Herman will be so glad to see you. I just got him off to sleep. He needs his rest”, said Karla.

“How is he doing?”, Reinhardt asked politely.

“Not well, he is slightly paralyzed on one side of his body and his mouth is twisted, but he is alive and that's all that matters right now”, Frau Bayer replied.

“And, there's nothing anyone can do?”, Dresner asked.

“Do? What can a nurse do? His doctor is somewhere on the Eastern front”.

Reinhardt thought back to Doctor Zimmer. A chiropodist assigned as the medical officer on the U-800 who came on board with only morphine styettes, bandages and foot powder to treat the entire crew.

“You will stay with us Reinhardt. As our guest you will sleep in Hedda's bed. She will sleep on the sofa”.

“Thank you no. I must report to the Naval Academy. There, they can reach me if I'm needed”.

“Oh, how mean of the navy. What would they do if you were married?”, asked Hedda

“Probably require me to check in and stay in touch with the academy”.

“Now, do you see the benefits of marriage?”, asked Hedda.

“That and a few other things I can think of”, he replied.

“You're so naughty”, Hedda replied with a smile.

“I'll leave you two alone. I have a dinner to prepare and I'm sure you both have many things to talk about”, said Karla as she headed for the kitchen carrying the ham.

“Have you heard anything from my mother or father?”, asked Reinhardt.

“No dear. All I know is what I hear and what's been reported. It was bad, horrific they say. Buildings are now just empty shells. It is said that they are still finding bodies most burnt beyond recognition. Still, there is no news about Oststeinbek. I'm almost certain that it escaped the bombing”.

“How are you Hedda? I know this war has to be hard on the German people. Are you in need of anything?”

“I'm fine darling. What I need is you. I need to be your wife, to be part of you so when this ugly war is over we can have a future together.

I want to have your children, a house with a garden, no matter where either here or in Oststeinbek, that's up to you. Reinhardt your here with me now. Let's take this opportunity to marry”.

“You must understand dear that as much as I love you I don't want you to be a war widow”.

“Who can say what will happen. You are alive. You have done your duty for the Navy and still you are doing more. You have survived patrols before and if necessary will do so again. Don't be selfish Reinhardt. Take into consideration me and how I feel. You ask about hardship on the German people well then think of me and the hardship I have everyday loving you, wanting you, needing you and the desire I have to be your wife”.

Reinhardt took her in his arms and with the tip of his thumb wiped away a tear that was about to run down her face. He kissed her and said,

“ In May last, we lost forty three U-Boats. Many of those on board were married men”.

“And tell me dear, how many were engaged men?”, she replied.

“Hedda, you are the most headstrong woman I have ever met. You win. We'll get married. I don't know how difficult it will be, permits, things like that”.

“There is the, “Law for The Encouragement Of Marriage”. “It shouldn’t be too difficult.” said Hedda.

The next afternoon in the bedroom of Herman and Karla Bayer

the couple were married in the presence of Hedda's parents and Rudolf Helman, a customer who happened to walk into the bookshop. Reverend Arnold Siebert perfomed the service. The newly weds spent their honeymoon in the furnished cottage for officers of the Naval Academy . While at the academy Reinhardt signed all of the necessary papers and forms and in addition received one thousand Reichsmarks as a government reward for getting married. He gave the money to Hedda.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Seven

Salvage

 

Saturday, August 28, 1943 began hot and humid, so much so that Reinhardt Dresner began to perspire as he walked urgently to the Hotel Phanix, site of the Kriegsmarine Headquarters in Copenhagen. He returned the salutes of the army sentinels station at the front entrance of the establishment and took the elevator to the third floor. There he entered the offices of the German Assistant Naval Attache', Wolfgang Achenbach.

When he entered he saw several people seated around the desk of Achenbach, one a Colonel of the Wehrmacht and a full Kapitan dur see of the Kreigsmarine. Achenbach interrupted his conversation with the senior officers when he saw Reinhardt and said, “Ah, Dresner, good, now we can talk. Come in Lieutenant and have a seat. I don't know if you have ever met Colonel Adler or Kapitan Muller. They are here as you are to be advised of the intentions of Germany”.

Reinhardt saluted both officers and took a seat next to Kapitan Muller. Then waited for someone to speak. Achenbach placed his monocle is his right eye, shuffled some papers and then spoke. “Gentlemen, you are here today to receive new orders and to be briefed on future actions concerning the existing government of Denmark. Tomorrow, Sunday the