This record was kindly provided by the generous assistance of Tony Cooper and Roger Griffiths

 
 

- 5 -
 
REPORT OF INTERROGATION OF SURVIVORS FROM "U 434,"  A
 
                500-TON U-BOAT, SUNK AT ABOUT 1000 ON 18th DECEMBER,
 
 
                1941, IN APPROXIMATE POSITION 36° 08' N.,  AND 16° 02' W.
 
 
 
 
___________
 
 
 
 
I.  INTRODUCTORY REMARKS
 
 
 
          This report contains only material relative to the actual cruises, technical details, early history and manning of "U 434."  
          All extraneous matter such as usually attaches to a report on any one U-boat has on this occasion been collated into the report on "U 131," due for circulation shortly.  The "U 131" report will also contain extraneous material relating to "U 574."  The chief reason for this course of action had been that is was considered  of greater assistance to readers if extraneous material relating to all three U-boats attacking the homeward-bound convoy on 17th/19th December, 1941, might be collated in one report.  The numbers of these U-boats were "U 434," "U 574" and "U 131."  
 
 
 
II.  CREW OF "U 434"
 
 
 
          The complement of "U 434" at the time of her sinking totalled 44.  Of these, four were officers, three chief petty officers, 10 petty officers and 27 men.  Survivors numbered 42, one officer and one man being missing.  
          The commanding officer was Kapitänleutnant (Lieutenant-Commander) Wolfgang Heyda, of the 1932 term.  Born on the 14th November, 1913, he was 28 years of age.  He might be described as almost fanatically Nazi in his outlook.  He gave frequent instructions to his crew on all security matters, but in contra-distinction to the lectures given by Korvettenkapitän (Commander) Baumann of "U 131," sunk the day previously, which were given for genuine reasons of security, those handed out by Heyda were based almost solely on hatred of the British as frustrators of Nazi progress.  When first interrogated this officer did not prove to be amenable to ordinary methods, but his attitude became more friendly with the passage of time.  
          In 1937 he had been attached to the Gunnery Experimental Department in Kiel.  In 1938, as Oberleutnant-zur-See (Lieutenant), he served in the "Admiral Scheer" and was promoted to his present rank in March, 1940.  He was subsequently transferred to the U-boat service and at one time commanded one of the older 250-ton U-boats in the training flotilla.  
 
        Leutnant-zur-See (Sub-Lieutenant) Klaus Janus, aged 29, was a law court clerk in civil life and seems to have joined the Navy in 1940, having formerly been on the reserve.  Of sombre and forbidding appearance, he was throughout the period of interrogation, correct to the point of insolence and must be rated as one of the most difficult prisoners who have passed through British hands.  Interrogating officers described him as being the type who might very well have been a Gestapo agent.  When it was suggested to him that he might like to be taken for a walk by an officer, he refused to give his word not to attempt to escape and was consequently left in his room.  He admitted having studied French in Paris and to having visited England on several occasions during yachting trips.
 
 
        Leutnant (Ing.) (Engineer Sub-Lieutenant) Friedrich Oesterlen, the engineer officer of "U 434," was 28 years of age and had been on the reserve list of the German Navy before the war.  In civil life he had been an engineer.  He was as Nazi in his attitude as his two senior surviving officers, but rather less insolent in his manner.
 
          The remaining officer, Oberleutnant-zur-See (Lieutenant) Wolfgang Frank, lost his life when his U-boat was sunk by becoming entangled in the propellers of H.M.S. "Blankney."  He was 1st Lieutenant and had already been awarded the Iron Cross, 1st Class, in addition to various decorations for valour in the air.  He belonged to the 1936 term and had been in the naval air service.  When the shortage of pre-war trained U-boat officers became acute, he was transferred to this service.  
     
  (C 43954)                                                                                                                             * 2  
     
     

 

 
 

- 6 -
 
        In contrast to the crew of "U 131," sunk on 17th December, 1941, a day previous to the destruction of "U 434," where the percentage of confirmed Nazis was estimated at not above 70, the crew of "U 434" was at least 85 per cent Nazi in its outlook.  Most of the officers and other ranks were members of the Nazi Party.
          A feature of the crew as a whole was, once more, the large number of extremely youthful ratings.  It could not be denied, however, that the senior chief and petty officers had sufficient previous experience in U-boats to carry out their duties efficiently.  
          Interrogation of the ratings left the impression that increasing use is being made of the U-boat school at Pillau in East Prussia.  Eight of the 14 engine room ratings had been trained there without having served ant time in a sea-going training boat.  It seems that engine room personnel and telegraphist ratings who have attended a course at the Pillau school are drafted to operational U-boats without any preliminary training at sea.  
     
 
III.  EARLY HISTORY OF "U 434"
 
     
          "U 434," built at the Schichau Yard at Danzig, was s 500-ton U-boat, Type VIIC, and was identical in all main features with the captured "U 570," now H.M.S. "Graph."  
          Prisoners have not divulged when "U 434" was laid down or launched, but prisoners from "U 433," sunk on 16th November, 1941, stated that "U 434" was built on the same slip as their own U-boat and was well advanced in May, 1941, it being obvious that at that time she had almost reached the launching stage.  
          One petty officer and one rating from "U 434" said that in May, 1941, they were drafted to Danzig to stand by the U-boat during the final stages of her construction.  "U 433" was commissioned on 24th May, 1941, and it would appear that, as, at this time, the Schichauwerft was completing a U-boat every three to four weeks, "U 434" must have been commissioned towards the end of June, 1941.  One prisoner made an unconfirmed statement that she was commissioned on 21st June, 1941.  
          According to a prisoner, "U 434" followed the usual procedure of carrying out trial in the Baltic during July, 1941, using Danzig as her base.  These trials were carried out with members of the U-boat Acceptance Commission on board.  It was stated that Zoppot, Kiel and Warnemünde were visited, one prisoner joining the ship at the last named port.  
          In August, "U 434" again entered the Schichau Yard at Danzig for the customary refit before acceptance, and members of the crew were given leave.  A second period of trials took place during September, 1941, when "U 434" was stated to have exercised in company with "U 402" and "U 403," which had been completed at the Danziger Werft at about the same time.  Torpedo trials were carried out off Memel, Heyda acquitting himself well, according to one prisoner.  
          "U 434" put into Kiel towards the middle of October and here she embarked torpedoes and provisions and completed with fuel oil.  
          Before "U 434" left Kiel on her first war cruise, two last minute changes were made in the crew.  An officer prisoner of war stated that a rating who had been constantly idle, lazy and dirty, developed appendicitis, and he took this excuse to get rid of him.  He also dismissed a second rating, who was found to have been stealing under-linen and other articles from the officers.  
          Prisoners seemed to be of the opinion that the work of the Schichau Yard at Danzig had been unsatisfactory, possibly due to the number of Dutchmen employed there.  Sabotage was suspected.  Soon after "U 434" had sailed on her first war cruise in October, it was found that the gearing for the venting and flooding valves was partially defective.  Although capable of operation under normal circumstances, this defective gearing made operation inadequate when under a depth charge attack.  
 
 
 
 

 

 
 

- 7 -
 
        The Chief Mechanician said that a substitute had been used for insulating purposes in the water circulator, resulting in overheating of one of the Diesels.  This he considered had been due to sabotage.  Necessary repairs were carried out at Vigo after their arrival there on 14th December, 1941.
     
 
IV.  FIRST WAR CRUISE OF "U 434"
 
     
          Prisoners agreed that "U 434" left Kiel on 26th October, 1941, and headed for the North Sea by way of the Kattegat, where she sighted a drifting mine, and the Skagerrak.  Although "U 434" was carrying the customary scuttling charges, two days elapsed before Heyda could be persuaded to fix them in position.  On rounding the Skaw, "U 434" ran into the teeth of a gale bringing the first snow of the winter, so she put into Arendal, Norway, for shelter.  Here she remained three days before creeping along the coast to Kristiansand, where she arrived in the evening of 29th October.  A prisoner stated that some members of the crew slept this night on shore, but that "U 434" was under way again in the early morning of 2nd November.  
          According to one prisoner's statement "U 434" was attached to the 7th U-boat Flotilla at this time and was one of a special group which bore the name "Steuben."  Her orders were to co-operate with "U 574" and other U-boats in a grand scale attack on a convoy assembling either off Halifax, Nova Scotia, or St. John's, Newfoundland.  (N.I.D. Note.-Prisoners from "U 574" asserted that they had had instructions to attack this convoy off Halifax.)  
          Leaving Kristiansand "U 434" proceeded up the Norwegian coast and, according to a diary written by a prisoner, did not lose sight of land until 3rd November, when she altered course westward.  Apart from the fact that a number of drifting mines were sighted on 4th November, nothing of importance appears to have occurred on this cruise for the next 15 days.  On 9th November, the author of the diary, a young torpedo rating, showed his speedy disillusionment regarding U-boat life, as he had imagined it, by recording carefully in code:  "Continuous cleaning ship.  It is enough to make you sick."  On 12th and 13th November, he entered:  "Weather fair," and on 14th November:  "Calm sea.  Birthday of Commander"  (Kapitänleutnant Heyda).  
          On 18th November "U 434" appears to have sighted a ship in the distance and given chase without being able to approach within sufficient range to make an attack.  According to prisoners from "U 574," plans for joint attack on the assembling convoy were cancelled on 24th November, whereupon their U-boat put about.  As the cruises of "U 574" and "U 434" had now become closely interlocked, it may be assumed that "U 434" also put about on or about this date.  On 26th November, the rating diarist wrote:  "Difference of temperature of water between Labrador N. and Gulf Stream 10°."  
          On 29th November, when "U 434" had reached a position off the Azores, prisoners stated that she sighted a north-bound convoy and attempted to keep in touch with it while awaiting "U 574" to join in an attack; but this delay was fatal and the convoy escaped.  (N.I.D. Note.-There was no north-bound convoy in this position.  Convoy O.S.12 was close to the Azores and "Thornlie Bank" was torpedoed in this convoy at 0115/29th November.)  On 30th November, prisoners stated that they sighted an Italian submarine but did not communicate with her.  All the crew knew of this meeting, having heard the look-out's cry:  "Friendly submarine in sight."  
          On 2nd December "U 434" met and exchanged signals with "U 574" in circumstances described in the report on the interrogation of survivors from the latter U-boat.  On the following day the author of the diary wrote:  "Course homewards," no doubt believing, as did prisoners from "U 574," that his boat was heading for occupied France, whence he would be allowed to travel home on Christmas leave.  In point of fact, "U 434" was actually heading for Vigo, which port she was destined to leave almost immediately to continue her cruise; although, at this time, she had already been more than five weeks at sea, under most arduous conditions.  
          On 5th December, while "U 434" was proceeding up the Portuguese coast, a mast-top was sighted and preparations were made for an attack, but again the U-boat was thwarted, as the intended victim proved to be Portuguese.  A similar  
     
  (C 43954)                                                                                                                         B**  
 
 
 
 

 

 
 

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false alarm occurred on 8th December, which caused the torpedo rating to write with disgust in his diary:  "Again alarm.  It is enough to drive you crazy.  The crew is fed up."
          On 9th December "U 434 is thought to have been off Lisbon and, according to the diary, a number of Spanish ships came alongside on the following day, which caused the writer to make the disappointed comment:  "Regret they are friends"  There is also a note of frustration in an entry for 11th December, 1941.  which runs:  "Since this morning attacking strongly guarded convoy.  Have not yet fired any torpedoes.  This is very tiring."  Hopes were finally dashed on the following day when a last entry appears:  "Nothing sunk up to this morning (?) o'clock.  Lost convoy."  (N.I.D. Note.-This was Convoy O.G.77.)  
          It appears that these Spanish vessels reported that some British and American ships were loading in Lisbon.  Heyda proposed to lie in wait for them.  Dissatisfaction had, however, spread amongst the crew, as they had been without bread and potatoes for five days, so it was decided to put in to Vigo forthwith.  
          It is believed, from prisoners' statements, that "U 434" arrived in Vigo in the early morning of 14th December, 1941.  Apparently the night was so advanced that there was not sufficient time to complete the transhipment of supplies, and Heyda therefore entered Vigo Bay and submerged alongside a German merchant ship.  (N.I.D. Note.-This merchant ship is presumably the 1,878-ton "Bessel," of the Neptune Line, it having been ascertained that this ship was used for a similar purpose by "U 574" on 13th December, 1941.)  
          As darkness fell on the evening of 14th December, "U 434" rose to the surface and the process of transferring stores and oil from the merchant ship commenced.  The cubic volume of oil taken on board is not known, but it is believed to have been considerable.  A complete list of stores supplied to "U 434" is contained in Appendix I to this report.  A prisoner stated that the provisions were packed in standard size containers and had been purchased in Madrid.  He added that one U-boat was supplied nightly, an allegation that is probably exaggerated , although it is true that "U 574" and "U 434" were provisioned on the nights of 13th and 14th December.  
     
 
V.  LAST CRUISE OF "U 434"
 
     
          "U 434" left Vigo in the early morning of 15th December, 1941, having remained alongside the German supply ship for approximately 24 hours.  According to one prisoner, Heyda had received orders to proceed through the Straits of Gibraltar to a port near Genoa.  It is not known whether "U 434" had changed her flotilla at this time, but one prisoner alleged that she had transferred from the "Steuben" U-boat Group to one known as the Seeräubern (Buccaneers).  
 
        "U 434" was presumably heading south when she received signals reporting the position of Convoy H.G.76 which had sailed from Gibraltar.  The means by which she received these signals has not been divulged, but prisoners from "U 574" stated that they themselves, picked up reports from Focke-Wulf Kondor aircraft and later from "U 131" (Korvettenkapitän Baumann) which had first sighted Convoy H.G.76 and was shadowing and reporting her position regularly in order to home other U-boats to the spot before attacking.  From whatever source these signals may have emanated, they were stated by prisoners to have been remarkably clear and accurate.
 
          It would appear that "U 434" first received news of the convoy in the evening of 16th December, 1941, and, after proceeding at full speed throughout the night, came up with it on the morning of 17th December, 1941.  At this time prisoners believed, as did those of "U 574," that seven U-boats had assembled for the attack.  
          At 1330 on 17th December, 1941, when "U 131" was sunk in approximate position 34° 30' N., 13° 45' W., "U 434" witnessed the incident at extreme range of visibility, estimated at ten miles, and saw shell explosions from "Exmoor," "Blankney," "Stanley" and "Stork."  Following the sinking of "U 131" prisoners from "U 434" claimed that four destroyers turned towards and they submerged to periscope depth.  The destroyers, however, turned away when they had approached within 6,000 yards and "U 434" followed in pursuit.  
     
 
 

 

 
 

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        The convoy was shadowed successfully until at 0400 on the morning of 18th December, 1941, contact was lost.  The Chief Quartermaster, who is a prisoner, related that he and Heyda were on the bridge at the time and that Heyda, who was about to go below, instructed him to steer as he pleased.  He held a course of 030° for two hours and then altered course to 043° which he kept for a further two hours.  At 0800 on 18th December the Chief Quartermaster was relieved by the First Lieutenant (Oberleutnant zur See Frank) who was ordered to revert back to a course of 030°.  According to the Chief Quartermaster, Frank picked up his telescope and sighted the masts of four destroyers dead ahead.  He ordered full speed ahead and remarked:  "Quartermaster, your reckoning has justified itself . . . four destroyers."  The Quartermaster stated at that moment his heart sank and the only retort he could think of was "Well, Goodbye!"
     
 
VI.  SINKING OF "U 434"
 
     
          "Stork" reported that at 0906 (0806 German Summer Time) "Stanley" sighted a U-boat ("U 434") 225°, six miles (port quarter), and "Blankney," "Deptford" and "Exmoor" were ordered to attack, the latter wisely anticipating orders.  The convoy was brought back to a course of 350° since an alteration to the west has just been made.  Of the ensuing battle, surviving officers of "Stanley," who joined the attack, reported that: "Stanley's" asdics had been out of action for the whole trip as far as transmitting was concerned.  She closed the U-boat at 24 knots, which dived at an estimated range of three miles.  At a range of about one mile, oil and wake effects were observed to starboard and "Stanley" reduced to 12 knots and commenced to drop single charges in the form of a square around the position.  Three sides of the square were completed (19 depth charges) when "Blankney" came on the scene (some 20 minutes later) and dropped a five-charge pattern with depth settings of 150 and 250 feet.  "Blankney" then gave "Stanley" the bearing and ranges of the U-boat on which information the latter fired a fourteen-charge (one misfired) deep pattern, using the same settings as before.  In order to give the U-boat no time to recover, "Blankney" again attacked immediately after "Stanley"; in fact, there was barely a period of three minutes between the attacks.  A pattern of six depth charges was dropped using the same depth settings as before and the U-boat surfaced.  "Blankney" opened fire and increased speed to ram, but the U-boat was seen to be abandoning ship.  One officer remained on the conning tower firing a gun.  It is thought that this was the First Lieutenant, who was the only officer who did not survive.  "Blankney" decided too late not to ram, but to attempt to board, and struck the U-boat a glancing blow, causing slight damage to herself.  "Blankney" lowered a whaler intending to board, but the U-boat soon blew up and sank in position 36° 08'N., 16° 02' W.; time 0958, 18th December, 1941.  
          Prisoners from "U 434" stated that, on sighting the British warships approaching, "U 434" submerged to periscope depth and fired one torpedo which missed.  "U 434" then dived further, but scarcely had she started to do so when the ticking of asdics was heard and the first depth charges exploded, damaging the conning tower hatch and causing water to stream into the control room.  Depth charge after depth charge then exploded around the U-boat and damage rapidly increased.  The lights failed, the hydrophones went "dead," the wheel jamming so that it could not be trained.  The steering gear became useless and water was entering forward, making the U-boat bow heavy.  One prisoner stated that the shaking the U-boat received was so prodigious that it caused the stern torpedo to fire itself of its own accord.  Gauges were shattered with the exception of one depth gauge aft which, the Engineer Officer reported, showed that the U-boat was sinking rapidly.  
          None too soon, according to the feelings of the majority of survivors, Heyda gave the order to blow the tanks.  Prisoners were convinced that had he delayed another few seconds they would have been lost, the boat, which was scarcely manageable, having already sunk to a depth of over 300 feet.  "U 434" reached the surface with the motors still running.  The destroyers closed in, firing at a range which reduced to 500 yards.  Heyda lost no time in ordering his men overboard, after ascertaining that the time fuses to the scuttling charges had been ignited.  Prisoners alleged that they did not wait to send a report of sinking to the Vice-Admiral, U-boats.  
     
 
 

 

 
 

- 10 -
 
 
        One prisoner swimming near Heyda stated that he heard his Commander say:  "Lets hope the damned boat soon blows up!"  There was, however, an interval of nine minutes before the charges, which were fixed beside the air bottles, exploded, and "U 434" sank.
          Forty-two survivors were picked up by "Blankney."  Two other members of the crew, Oberleutnant zur See Frank and Maschinengefreiter (stoker, 2nd Class) Brandes, are believed by prisoners to have been run down by "Blankney" and killed by her propellers.  
          "U 434" joins the growing list of U-boats destroyed in recent months with no sinkings whatsoever to their credit.  
     
 
VII.  DETAILS OF U 434"
 
     
  (i)  General Remarks  
          "U 434" was a 500-ton U-boat of Type VCC C, built at Danzig and, therefore, similar to the captured "U 570."  
          According to survivors, "U 434" appeared to be painted dark blue-green in order to camouflage the U-boat.  The paintwork was said to have been in good condition.  
          It was stated that "U 434" had no special armament against bombing attack.  
          It was denied that "U 434" carried a telephone buoy.  
     
  (ii)  Engines  
          "U 434" was stated to have been fitted with two six-cylinder, four-cycle, M.A.N. Diesels.  
     
  (iii)  Electric Motors  
          The electric motors were stated to have been built by A.E.G.  
     
  (iv)  Internal Telephones  
          A leading telegraphist of "U 434" stated that no internal telephone, operated without the use of batteries, was fitted.  He was of the opinion that this had not been a success and had been abandoned; he said that it was generally found more satisfactory to pass the orders by word of mouth.  
     
  (v)  "Adoption" of "U 434"  
          It appears from prisoners' statements that "U 434" had not yet been "adopted" by a German town, as has usually been the practice with previous U-boats.  
     
  (vi)  Badge  
          Prisoners stated the "U 434" had a badge on her conning tower depicting the Arms of the town of Liegnitz.  
     
  (vii)  Scuttling Charges  
          It was stated by an engine room petty officer that scuttling charges of 1.5 kgs. (3.3 lb.) were placed next to the air bottles and timed to explode ten minutes after the firing key had been depressed.  This latter statement was confirmed by the greater part of the crew, who stated that two explosions took place while they were swimming in the water about ten minutes after abandoning the U-boat.  
     
 
 

 

 
 

- 11 -
 
APPENDIX I
 
 
 
___________
 
 
 
 
        Translation of a German document captured from "U 434," giving a list of stores taken on board at Vigo.  This was in German, but in some cases the Spanish equivalent had been added in pencil.
 
     
 
3-5 Beef in tins @ 1 kg.
45 kg.
V 9-11 Pork in tins @ 1 kg.
45 kg.
V 13-14 "Goulasch" in tins @ 1 kg.
30 kg.
V 34-3? Veal in tins @ 250 gr.
30 kg.
90 Corned beef in tins @ 0.5 kg.
13 kg.
45a Ham, cooked
25 kg.
E V W 23 Salted rib of pork in tins @ 1 kg.
17 kg.
T D B 9 Sausages in fat in tins @ 1 kg.
10 kg.
V 49 Salami type sausage in tins @ 1 kg.
15 kg.
(
Marmalade in tins @ 12 kg.
36 kg.
  ?               (
Red cabbage in tins @ 250 gr.
24 kg.
(
Liver sausage in tins @ 250 gr.
21 kg.
V 3??-357 Brawn in tins @ 420 gr.
21, 42 kg.
V 36?-365 Black pudding in tins @ 420 gr.
14, 28 kg.
E V W 7 Tongue sausage in tins @ 1 kg.
15 kg.
--- Salami type sausage
30 kg.
R ? 2 Bacon in tins @ 5 kg.
25 kg.
T D B 3 Dripping substitute
8 kg.
V 35-58 Dripping substitute
16 kg.
? 385 ? 7       (
Dripping
12 kg.
?                    (
Coca fat
21 kg.
?                    (
Butter
?
?                    (
Salad oil, 1 canister
10 ltr.
? 48               (
Sardines
160 tins
(
Tomato sauce
17 kg.
(
Soup cubes
0.5 kg.
__________(
Capers
1 jar.
(
Fish in tins @ 5 kg. ("Zahnfisch")
15 kg.
V 100-102       (
Sea bream in tins @ 320 gr. ("Besugo")
33.6 kg.
__________(
Salted cod in tins @ 320 gr. ("Bacallo")
8 kg.
V 85-86           (
Tunny fish in tins @ 5 kg.
10 kg.
_________(
Filet of anchovy in tins @ 170 gr.
13.6 kg.
V 145-146 Salmon in tins @ 0.5 kg.
10 kg.
_________(
Salt in tins @ 700 gr.
19.6 kg.
E V W 3 Cheese in tins @ 0.5 kg.
32 kg.
1010 Peas:  green
16 kg.
1001 Beans:  white
16 kg.
--- Beans, brown, 1 bag
12 kg.
--- Rice, 1 sack
12.5 kg.
--- Sago, 1 paper bag
5 kg.
1054 Ground maize (semolina?)
13.5 kg.
   
809.5 kg.
   
(
Wheat groats
6 kg.
(
Potato flour
6 kg.
(
Oat flakes
6 kg.
V 91-93        (
Pudding powder
6 kg.
(
Cooking chocolate
6 kg.
(
Dried onions
4.5 kg.
_________(
Tea
1.5 kg.
(
Wheat flour
12 kg.
V 127-129    (
Malt coffee
9 kg.
_________(
Mustard
9 kg.
V 283-285 Macaroni
30 kg.
V 133-135 Vermicelli
30 kg.
L 37-42 Dried potatoes
60 kg.
L 45 Dried apricots
14 kg.
L 46 Dried apples
12.5 kg.
A B 37 Dried mixed fruit
14.5 kg.
A B 38-40 Raisins
24 kg.
V 307-309 Dried plums
24 kg.
V 316-318 Dried figs
24 kg.
V 232-234 Walnuts
24 kg.
V 235-237       (
Hazelnuts
24 kg.
_________(
Almonds
15 kg.
X 591 Celery in tins @ 1 kg.
16 kg.
? ?09 ?11      (
Green cabbage in tins @ 1 kg.
30 kg.
_________(
Red cabbage in tins @ 1 kg.
21 kg.
V 118-120 Cauliflower
36 kg.
 
     
 
 

 

 
 

- 12 -
 
     
 
(
Celery in tins
12 kg.
V 124-126       (
Kidney beans in tins
30 kg.
__________(
Mushrooms
12 kg.
V 142-145       (
Sauerkraut
30 kg.
__________(
Beetroot
30 kg.
L 54 Spinach
21 kg.
V 154-156       (
Peas in tins
15 kg.
(
Carrots
15 kg.
__________(
Asparagus
27 kg.
V 158-159 Cucumber
30 kg.
V 163-165 Apple puree
51 kg.
V 172-174 Plums in tins
33 kg.
V 169-171       (
Pears
24 kg.
__________(
Plums
33 kg.
V 178-180       (
Cherries
39 kg.
__________(
Apricots
36 kg.
V 195-200 Condensed milk in tins @ 450 gr.
240 (120) tins
V 187-189 Fruit jam
45 kg.
B S 2 Lemon juice in bottles
12 ltr.
T D B 64 Condensed milk
48 tins.
   
1,057
   
H F 46-48 Fruit juice in bottles @ 1 ltr.
45 ltr.
V 421-423 Lemonade
30 bottles
--- Coffee beans 6 tins @ 8 kg.
48 kg.
V 348-349 Eating chocolate
28 kg.
V 73 Fine sugar
15 kg.
T D B 92-93 Fine sugar
30 kg.
(
White pepper
1 kg.
(
Pimento
0.4 kg.
V 412-13         (
Clove pepper
0.4 kg.
(
Nutmeg
0.4 kg.
(
Cinnamon
0.4 kg.
__________(
Matches
400 boxes
T D B 111 Soup
11.7 kg.
T D B 94 Soup cubes
12 kg.
V 424-26 Vinegar
21 ltr
87a Honey in canister
50 kg.
V 289-91 Brandy
18 bottles.
V 492-94 Rum
18 bottles.
V 301-03 Various liqueurs
18 bottles.
T D B 76-80 Cigarettes
(11,400) 11,000 pieces
V 433-35 Biscuits
24 kg.
T D B 16-18 Sweets
21 kg.
T D B 89 Washing soap
30 kg.
V 373-75         (
Soap flakes
30 kg.
__________(
Shaving soap
12 kg.
E V W 8 Ham sausage
36 kg.
A B 13 Pig's head
24 kg.
  Case of conserved bread @ 4.5 kg.
  Case of white wine @ 12 bottles
  Case of red wine @ 12 bottles
  Case of beer @ 24/1 bottles
  Fresh stores
      200 kg. bread
      30 kg. white cabbage
      32.5 kg. onions
      250 eggs
      7.5 kg. lemons
      21 kg. grapes
      12.5 kg. tangerines
      30 bundles leeks
      150 kg. potatoes
      42.5 kg. apples
      42 kg. beef.
      20.5 kg. oranges
      125 oranges
      14 dozen salad
      15 bundles parsley.
 
  Above stores received.                                                                                   December, 1941  
     
          The document was torn in places.  
          The meaning of the left-hand column is not quite clear, but may possibly indicate the markings on the cases in which stores were contained.  
     
 
 

 

 
 

- 13 -
 
APPENDIX II
 
 
 
___________
 
 
 
 
List of Crew of "U 434"
 
 
 
 
(i)  Survivors:
 
 
 
 
Name.
Rank.
English Equivalent.
Age.
Heyda, Wolfgang Kapitänleutnant Lieutenant-Commander 28
Janus, Klaus Leutnant zur See Sub-Lieutenant 29
Oesterlen, Friedrich Leutnant (Ing.) Engineer Sub-Lieutenant 28
Rothe, Rudolf Obermaschinist Chief Mechanician, 1st Class 27
Kloss, Walter Obermaschinist Chief Mechanician, 1st Class 27
Lehn, Wilhelm Obersteuermann Chief Q.M., 1st Class 32
Lüdtke, Paul Bootsmannsmaat Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class 20
Böhm, Gerhard Bootsmannsmaat Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class 25
Huffmeyer, Friedrich Bootsmannsmaat Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class 31
Schwartz, Werner Maschinenmaat Mechanician, 2nd Class 24
Pfeiffer, Erich Maschinenmaat Mechanician, 2nd Class 21
Hassler, Wilhelm Maschinenmaat Mechanician, 2nd Class 23
Leidig, Friedrich Maschinenmaat Mechanician, 2nd Class 23
Deeken, Anton Maschinenmaat Mechanician, 2nd Class 25
Grüschow, Heinz Maschinenmaat Mechanician, 2nd Class 25
Kleemann, Ernst Mechanikersmaat P.O. Artificer, 2nd Class 21
Meinert, Rudi Matrosenobergefreiter Able Seaman 21
Fehr, Emil Matrosenobergefreiter Able Seaman 25
Schmidt, Gerhard Matrosenobergefreiter Able Seaman 25
Jäger, Heinrich Matrosenobergefreiter Able Seaman 22
Hasselroth, Wilhelm Funkobergefreiter Telegraphist 26
Körnig, Kurt Mechanikerobergefreiter Artificer, 1st Class 20
Petzoldt, Gottfried Matrosengefreiter Ord. Seaman, 1st Class 21
Böttner, Egon Matrosengefreiter Ord. Seaman, 1st Class 20
Hildenbrand, Karl Matrosengefreiter Ord. Seaman, 1st Class 22
Unger, Rudolf Matrosengefreiter Ord. Seaman, 1st Class 21
Koch, Johanes Matrosengefreiter Ord. Seaman, 1st Class 19
Maslonka, Hans Matrosengefreiter Ord. Seaman, 1st Class 20
Sallier, Walter Maschinengefreiter Stoker, 2nd Class 19
Conen, Herbert Maschinengefreiter Stoker, 2nd Class 20
Bothe, Karl-Heinz Maschinengefreiter Stoker, 2nd Class 21
Flemmig, Karl Maschinengefreiter Stoker, 2nd Class 19
Imfeld, Anton Maschinengefreiter Stoker, 2nd Class 21
Mölders, Walter Maschinengefreiter Stoker, 2nd Class 20
Stockmar, Kurt Maschinengefreiter Stoker, 2nd Class 18
Armborst, Bertold Maschinengefreiter Stoker, 2nd Class 20
Claas, Ernst Maschinengefreiter Stoker, 2nd Class 19
Braun, Ernst Funkgefreiter Ord. Telegraphist, 1st Class 21
Bräuner, Kurt Funkgefreiter Ord. Telegraphist, 1st Class 20
Wegner, Helmut Mechanikergefreiter Artificer, 2nd Class 21
Hannemann, otto Mechanikergefreiter Artificer, 2nd Class 20
Zeller, Georg Matrose Stoker, 3rd Class 19
 
 
 
 
Officers . .
3
Chief and Petty Officers . .
13
Men . .
26
  Total
42
 
 
 
 
(ii)  Casualties:
 
 
 
 
Frank, Wolfgang . . Oberleutnant zur See . Lieutenant.
Brandes, --       Stoker, 2nd Class
 
 
 
 
Officers . .
1
Chief and Petty Officers . .
Nil
Men . .
1
  Total
2
 
 
 
 
(iii)  Total Crew:
 
 
Officers . .
4
Chief and Petty Officers . .
13
Men . .
27
  Total
44
 
 
 
 
(C 43954)    325  2/42
 
 
 
 
 

 


 

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