This short compilation of WWII footage related to U-boats consists of two parts — first a partial Castle Films newsreel about the Battle of the Atlantic, and second captured German footage of U-boat operations and the decoration of the crew of the U-29. That submarine, commanded by Captain-Lieutenant Otto Schuhart, sank the British aircraft carrier HMS Courageous on 17 September 1939, resulting in the tragic loss of over 500 men.
A portion of a sound Castle newsreel, “End of a U-boat” utilizes captured German newsreel footage of a submarine attack on Allied shipping, and then shows an American destroyer making a depth charge attack on the U-boat. At 1:05, the U-boat (probably U-505) surfaces and is struck by gunfire from the destroyer. At 1:33, the German crew is rescued by the U.S. Navy. At 2:00, the beginning of a U-boat — silent footage of a U-boat hull under construction at a German shipyard. At 2:28 the U-boat is launched down the ways. At 2:57, a German newsreel commemorates the sinking of the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Courageous. At 3:24, the crew of the U-boat returns to Wilhelmshaven, a town on the Jade Bight on Germany’s North Sea coast. At 4:01, the commander of the U-boat is decorated for his achievement. At 4:38, Adolf Hitler congratulates the U-boat commander and crew. At 5:52, a U-boat is shown surfacing at sea and operating a Wolf Pack. Surface vessels of the Kriegsmarine are also shown.
Disclaimer with respect to the German content contained in this film:
Some portions of this presentation are historic German films produced during WWII as propaganda in support of the National Socialist regime. It is presented in its original form as an historical document so that students, educators, researchers and the general public can see how the Nazi regime justified its criminal activities. The political symbols of the regime, including the flag, swastika and eagle, may appear on screen. Periscope Film absolutely condemns the Nazi regime and affirms that it committed grave atrocities, war crimes, and crimes against humanity before and during WWII. These include the tragic, mass extermination of millions of innocent civilians. We preserve these films in part so that these terrible events and victims are not forgotten.
“Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” — Winston Churchill
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