German submarine U-234

"Unterseeboot 234" ("U-234") was a WWII German Type XB submarine (U-boat), designed as a mine-layer, whose first and only mission into enemy territory consisted of the attempted delivery of uranium and other German advanced weapons technology to the Empire of Japan. The submarine surrendered to the United States after Germany's unconditional surrender on 14 May 1945.

Construction

Originally constructed as a minelaying, "U-234" was damaged during construction at Kiel in 1942. Following the loss of "U-233" in July 1944 it was decided not to use "U-234" as a mine layer and she was instead completed as a long-range cargo submarine with Japan missions in mind.

Wartime service

On 25 March, 1945 "U-234" departed Kiel for Kristiansand,Norway, commanded by Johann-Heinrich Fehler. She was carrying a cargo that comprised technical drawings, examples of the newest electric torpedoes, two Me 262 jet fighters in crates, and 560 kg of uranium oxide which was stored in her mine shafts, contained in about 50 convert|9|in|mm lead cubes, with "U-235" painted on each. The exact characteristics of the uranium remain unknown but it is thought that it was not weapons-grade material.cite book | last = Boyd | first = Carl | authorlink = | coauthors = Akihiko Yoshida | title = The Japanese Submarine Force and World War II | publisher = Naval Institute Press | date = 2002 | location = | pages = p. 164 | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 1557500150]

She was also carrying passengers, five German VIPs and two Japanese. The German personnel included General Ulrich Kessler of the Luftwaffe, who was to take over Luftwaffe liaison duties in Tokyo; Kai Nieschling, a Naval Fleet Judge Advocate who was to try cases of German traitors in Japan; Dr. Heinz Schlicke (a renowned German scientist later recruited by the USA in Operation Paperclip); and an expert on the V-2 rocket. The Japanese passengers were Lieutenant Commander Hideo Tomonaga of the Imperial Japanese Navy , a submarine designer, and Lieutenant Commander Genzo Shoji, an aviation expert.cite book | last = Hirschfeld | first = Wolfgang | authorlink = Wolfgang Hirschfeld | coauthors = Geoffrey Brooks | title = The Secret Diary of a U-Boat | publisher = Cassell | date = 2000 | location = | pages = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 0304354988]

She had suffered an accidental collision with another U-boat while submerged in the Baltic, so had to undergo repairs before she could continue her voyage, and on 16 April, 1945 departed Norway for Japan.

On 4 May 1945, Fehler heard of the surrender of German forces in Europe. The following day, May 5, Dönitz ordered all U-boats to cease offensive operations and return to their bases or surrender themselves to the nearest Allied authorities. They were to surface, fly a black flag, and report their position to the Allies. Fehler suspected a trick and contacted another U-boat ("U-873") who convinced him that the message was authentic.

Fehler decided that he would surrender to US forces, but radioed on 12 May that he would sail for Halifax, Nova Scotia to surrender to ensure that Canadian units would not reach him first. In reality, "U-234" set course for Newport News, Virginia. The two Japanese passengers, upon learning that the U-boat was to surrender, took an overdose of Luminol (a barbiturate sleeping pill), died in their sleep, and were buried at sea

Capture

The difference between Fehler's reported course to Halifax and his true course was soon realized by US authorities who despatched two destroyers to intercept "U-234" and on 14 May 1945 she was intercepted south of the Grand Banks by the USS "Sutton". Members of the "Sutton's" crew took command of the U-boat and sailed her to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, where "U-805", "U-873", and "U-1228" had already surrendered.

News of the "U-234's" surrender with her high-ranking German passengers made the surrender a major news event, and reporters swarmed over the Navy Yard and went to sea in a small boat for a view of the submarine. However, the fact that she had a half ton of uranium oxide on board was covered up and remained classified for the duration of the Cold War.cite book | last = Wilcox | first = Robert K. | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Japan's Secret War: Japan's Race Against Time to Build Its Own Atomic Bomb | publisher = Marlowe & Company | date = | location = | pages = 1995 | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 156924815X]

Dr. Velma Hunt, a retired Penn State University environmental health professor, has suggested that the "U-234" may have put into two ports between her surrender and her arrival at the Portsmouth Navy Yard: once in Newfoundland, to put ashore an American sailor who had been accidentally shot in the buttocks, and once again at Casco Bay, Maine. [cite news | last = Hammond | first = Pat | coauthors = | title = NAZI SUB How U-234 Brought Its Deadly Secret Cargo to New Hampshire. | work = New Hampshire Sunday News | pages = | language = | publisher = | date = April 30, 1995 | url = http://www.ussvance.com/Vance/nazisub.htm | accessdate = 2008-07-26] The US Navy reportedly unloaded about convert|1200|lb|kg of uranium oxide from "U-234" at Portsmouth, but the two dismantled Me 262 jet fighters were not listed at Portsmouth, suggesting that they had previously been unloaded elsewhere. However, other accounts do mention the Me 262s at Portsmouth.

Fate

"U-234" was sunk off Cape Cod as a torpedo target, by a torpedo from USS "Greenfish", on 20 November, 1947.

Media appearances

* Documentary film, "Hitler's Last U-Boat" Directed by Andreas Gutzeit International Historical Films, Inc. (2001) ASIN B0000646UH

Notes

Further reading

* Joseph Mark Scalia, "Germany's Last Mission to Japan: The Failed Voyage of U-234" Naval Institute Press (2000) ISBN 1-55750-811-9
* Wolfgang Hirschfeld; Geoffrey Brooks, "The Story of a U-Boat Nco 1940-1946" Naval Institute Press (1996) ISBN 1-55750-372-9
* Carter Hydrick, "Critical Mass: How Nazi Germany Surrendered Enriched Uranium for the United States' Atomic Bomb " Authorhouse (June 2003) ISBN 1403392102 ISBN 978-1403392107
* Richard Dean Starr, "Tides of Justice", a short story featuring the U-234 in The Avenger Chronicles edited by Joe Gentile Moonstone Books (June 2008)

ee also

* Japanese-German military technology collaboration

External links

* [http://www.ihffilm.com/840.html U-234: Hitler’s Last U-Boat (U234)]
* [http://uboat.net/boats/u234.htm U-Boat.net:U-234]
*cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title = Das Schicksal von U-234 ("The fate of U-234") | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = SPIEGEL ONLINE | date = 2003 | url = http://www.spiegel.de/sptv/special/0,1518,230670,00.html | accessdate =
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/library/online/srh232.htm "Radio Intelligence Appreciations Concerning German U-Boat Activity in the Far East"]