Story Highlights

On 31 March, 1945, with little more than a month before Germany surrendered unconditionally unterseeboot (U-boat) U-873 embarked on its first and only voyage. While officially the U-boat was listed as being on a war patrol oddities and inconsistencies would point otherwise.

The most telling sign that U-873 was on more than an end of the war patrol came on 15 May, 1945. When the Chief of Naval Operations sent secret dispatch “151716”, stating the commander of U-873, was of “primal importance” as only he “could furnish the answers to certain questions”.

Information derived from captured spies lead the US government to believe an attack from U-boat towed “robot bombs” was imminent. To combat same, an umbrella of protection covering both New York and Washington deploying two hunter-killer groups consisting of four jeep aircraft carriers, and forty-two specially trained escort warships - waited.

The answers the Navy so desperately sought from the commander of U-873 were never obtained. As in the early morning of 19 May, 1946, after an all-day “session” with a “Special Interrogator” the Kapitänleutnant (captain) was found bleeding and dying in his cell.

After years of detective work we believe we have uncovered the answers the Navy so desperately sought.