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This record was kindly provided by the generous assistance of Tony Cooper.
COPY No.
"U 706"
Interrogation of Survivors
September, 1943
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SECRET
It is intended for the use of the recipients only, and for communication to such
Officers under them (not below the rank of Commissioned Officer) who may require to
be acquainted with its contents in the course of their duties. The Officers exercising this
power will be held responsible that such information is imparted with due care and
caution.
SECRET
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"U 706"
Interrogation of Survivors
September, 1943
N.I.D. 06456/43.
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The following report is compiled from information derived from prisoners of war. The
statements made cannot always be verified; they should therefore not be accepted as facts
unless they are definitely stated to be confirmed by information from other sources.
iii
CONTENTS
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Page
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I. Introductory Remarks 1
V. General Remarks 3
(i) Look-outs in the Bay of Biscay; (ii) Twin 20 mm, (0.79 in.)
Guns; (iii) 20 mm. (0.79 in.) Quadruple Mountings; (iv) Additional
Superstructure; (v) A.A. U-Boats; (vi) New U-boat Construction
(a) 15-man U-Boats, (b) 500-tonner with 42 torpedoes; (vii) Radar.
VI. Bases 4
(i) La Pallice; (ii) Toulon.
(C50306) B2
______________________
I. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS
______________________
(C503308) B3
(xii) Badge A red eagle on a white background. This is the coat of arms of
Viernitz-Neumark, the Captain's home-town.
(xiii) Flotilla Third flotilla based at La Pallice.
and Base
______________________
"U 706" sailed from La Pallice on her fourth patrol at 1030 on 4th July, 1943. While
proceeding to sea she sighted the U.S. bombers which raided La Pallice on that day. About
three days out it was discovered that the periscope was leaking and "U 706" returned to base
for repairs, arriving about 9th July. Prisoners made obscure references to an aircraft attack,
which may have caused this damage.
She was scheduled to sail again on 15th July, but was held up by last minute delays in
the yard. About 23rd July, she left in company with "U 454," commanded by
Kapitänleutnant Hacklander. When still in the estuary, "U 545's" compass became
unserviceable and on 25th July the two U-Boats arrived back at base.
"U 706" and "U 454" finally sailed from La Pallice at 1000 on 29th July, 1943.
Tropical kit was carried on board "U 706" and the lower deck believed she was bound for the
Mediterranean or South Atlantic; the Second Lieutenant, however, maintained that she would
operate in North and Central Atlantic as on previous patrols. It was thought that "U 706"
would remain with "U 454" throughout the patrol.
They were escorted until dusk by a "Sperrbrecher" and two minesweepers. The
"Sperrbrecher" proceeded ahead, with "U 454" and "U 706" in line ahead, and the
minesweepers one on either beam at about 150 yards distance.
Half an hour to an hour after the escort had parted company, the two U-Boats dived for
the first time. For the next three days "U 706's" diving routine was as follows:
Between 0700 and 0800 Surface to charge batteries.
Between 1100 and 1200 Submerge.
About 1400 Surface.
Between 1900 and 2000 Submerge.
The routine was twice broken on 30th July. At about 1430, when she was about to
surface, depth-charges were heard some distance away and she remained submerged until
about 1700. She received a signal from "U 454," before a G.S.R. contact at 1830 forced her
to submerge again.
The two U-Boats lost touch on 31st July, but sighted one another again in the early
morning of 1st August, before finally losing contact. (N.I.D. Note. "U 454" was sunk on 1st
August by Sunderland "B" of 10 Squadron in position 45° 39' N., 010° 17' W. and survivors
were picked up. See C.B. 04051 (83).)
During the evening of 1st August, "U 706" picked up a signal instructing her to proceed
to the help of a U-Boat which had been attacked and had serious water entry forward. It was
stated that two other U-Boats were also going to her assistance. The Second Lieutenant said
that this U-Boat was commanded by Kapitänleutnant Kremser. Throughout the night "U
706" proceeded on the surface at full speed.
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On the morning of 2nd August, 1943, "U-706" was still proceeding on the surface to the
assistance of the U-Boat commanded by Kremser. (N.I.D. Note. This may have been the U-
Boat sighted and attacked by aircraft "V" of 228 Squadron in position 47° 30' N., 012° 10' W.
at 1814Z 1st August.
"U 706's" G.S.R. was not manned, the Captain preferring to rely on his look-outs.
At about 0900 an aircraft was sighted on the port beam, too far away to identify whether
British or German. It made a wide turn ahead of the U-Boat and approached some distance
below 4/10 cloud, which was at approximately 1,000 ft., finally running in on the starboard
quarter, from a distance of 1,500 metres (1,640 yards). The aircraft, which prisoners then
identified as a Hampden, dropped a stick of bombs all of which fell well astern of the U-
Boat. It flew very low over the U-Boat, machine gunning her all the way, the U-Boat
returning fire. The aircraft then circled twice out of range.
(N.I.D. Note. Hampden "A" of 415 Squadron on A/S patrol sighted a U-Boat at 0904 on
2nd August. The U-Boat opened fire and took evasive action. The aircraft attacked from the
starboard quarter, releasing six 250 lb. Torpex depth-charges, set to 25 ft., space 50 ft. from a
height of 100 ft. Relative positions of explosions were not seen, but later depth-charge pool
was seen across the wake, astern of the U-Boat.)
As the bridge watch were following the Hampden on its second circle, the Captain
suddenly exclaimed "Aircraft dead ahead" and ordered "Hard aport!" "U 706" opened fire
with her twin 20 mm. and her machine guns, which completely failed to deter the aircraft.
The second Lieutenant later said of the pilot: "That man really could fly . . . wonderful
approach!" The aircraft identified by prisoners as a U.S. Liberator, attacked before "U 706"
had completed her turn. It dropped about a dozen depth charges, all of which fell near the U-
Boat, at least two scoring direct hits. At the same time the aircraft opened fire and, according
to prisoners, killed the Captain.
The blast of the first explosion blew in the bridge fairing and imprisoned the Second
Lieutenant between it and the periscope casing. The second explosion blew him and the
three ratings of the watch overboard. The Second Lieutenant was under the impression that
one depth charge must have hit the U-Boat below water, and that a second set her on fire.
She sank within a few seconds.
(N.I.D. Note. At 0920 on 2nd August, U.S. Liberator "T" of 4 A/S Squadron sighted a
U-Boat on the surface with "A" of 415 Squadron circling. The U-Boat opened fire, scoring
one hit on the port wheel of the aircraft, which attacked from the starboard quarter, releasing
twelve 250 lb. Torpex depth-charges, set at 25 ft. spaced 50 ft., from a height of 50 ft. Depth-
charges straddled the U-Boat, which settled by the stern 20 seconds after the attack.)
The aircraft dropped a rubber dinghy and the four men managed to climb aboard. About
an hour later they were picked up by H.M.S. "Waveney" of 40th Escort Group.
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(vii) Radar
A prisoner stated that the first U-Boat to be fitted with Radar in La Pallice sailed from
the port about 9th July, when "U 706" was entering harbour. The U-Boat so fitted was said to
have been damaged by mine and returned to harbor on 28th July.
______________________
VI. BASES
(i) La Pallice
It was stated that during a recent air-raid on La Pallice the harbour area had sustained
considerable damage. The lock gates were smashed, a destroyer and a torpedo-boat inside
the dock were hit by shrapnel and a huge crane in front of the dock entrance was sunk. The
crane had effectively blocked the entrance to the dock, so that it was impossible to take the
destroyer and torpedo-boat out or to dock any ships, such as "Sperrbrecher."
Of the two "Sperrbrechers" attached to La Pallice base for escort duties, it was stated
that one had recently been mined and it was necessary for six pumps to be constantly
working to keep her afloat. The other was said to have been hit forward during the air-raid
mentioned above, and to be lying alongside the pier, grounded forward.
It was stated that the third flotilla is being reorganised. Newly commissioned U-Boats,
straight from Germany, will be allocated to this flotilla, and all old Third Flotilla U-Boats
sailing from La Pallice will now return to other bases.
(ii) Toulon
A new U-Boat base is being built at Toulon. A prisoner said that at present no repairs to
U-Boats are being carried out at any Mediterranean base. He had heard that dockyard
workers were being sent there and that what little work they had done so far was both
grudgingly and badly performed.
(N.I.D. Note. Previous reports state that the port is being used as a supply and repair
base but that no U-Boat shelters are being constructed.)
______________________
"U 706" was built at the Stülcken Werft, Hamburg, and commissioned early in 1942.
She underwent normal period of trials in the Baltic.
______________________
the Atlantic.
During the second week of October, she joined "Gruppe Panther" and was one of a
sweep of 19 boats, patrolling a 380-mile line in the North Atlantic. Sometime, probably in
October, she sank a 4,300-ton freighter during the night of one Sunday to Monday.
On this patrol the First Lieutenant, Leutnant zur See Erich Eichmann of the October,
1938, term, and four seaman on the bridge were washed overboard by a sudden following
sea. Three of the seaman clung to the railing but Eichmann and one rating was drowned.
"U 706" was probably refueled by "U 459," commanded by Wilamowitz-Moellendorf,
(See C/B/ 04051 (79).)
The complement of "U 706" was 46, of whom only the Second Lieutenant and three
ratings survived. The average age of these four prisoners is 21 years and, although they were
not unduly security-conscious, their lack of experience accounted for the small amount of
information obtained.
(i) Captain
The Captain of "U 706" was Kapitänleutnant Alexander von Zitzewitz, a native of East
Prussia. He joined the German Navy in 1934. In 1937 he served in the destroyer "Leberecht
Maas," and in 1938 he became Flag Lieutenant to the Admiral Commanding Torpedo Boats,
then Konteradmiral Leutjens. He then joined "Z 23" (a "Seetier" class destroyer) as First
Lieutenant.
He transferred to the U-Boat arm in July 1941, and made a patrol in "U 432" under
Kapitänleutnant Heinz Otto Schultze, presumably her first in August, 1941 (See C.B. 04051
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(64).) It is probable that he subsequently carried out the U-Boat Commanding Officer's
Course, before joining "U 706" whilst building.
(vi) General
The ratings to survive were one leading seaman, one able seaman, and an ordinary
seaman. The two former had only joined "U 706" for her last patrol, the latter had joined her
at La Pallice in November, 1942. The leading seaman had served in "U.D. 5" for 18 months,
but the other two had no previous U-Boat experience.
______________________
(i) Survivors:
Officers .. 1
Chief and Petty Officers . . -
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Men .. 3
4
(ii) Casualties:
Officers .. 4
Chief and Petty Officers . . 10
Men .. 28
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