Edgar's Missing Sub Found

[pzrwest]

My good friend Uboat vet Edgar's missing uboat U650 has been found. It was reported to have been sunk in the North Atlantic but tonight on the History Channel they were showing the finding and naming 4 subs sunk off the coast of England. The last wreck they checked out turned out to be Edgar's old boat U650. If it hadn't been for an accident in port Edgar would have went down with his shipmates when U650 was sunk. When released from the hospital he was assigned to U901 for the duration of the war. Here is a link to the Uboat website and the correction as to it's demise. I called Edgar tonight and told him of the news about his old boat. He said now he and I can have a few hours of talk about his old boat... Harold
http://uboat.net/boats/u650.htm

[Don D.]

I saw that show tonight. It is amazing where technology has taken man.

[pzrwest]

I would have loved to have recorded it but I don't have a vcr anymore and my satellite doesn't have PVR.
Edgar turned 90 this past March. He gave up driving this past July after a stay in the hospital. He is now on oxygen therapy. He gave me his car and I drive him around when he needs to go to dr appointments etc. His sister-in-law is visiting from Germany until Sept27. His mind is still sharp as it was when we first met some 30 years ago

[Annelie]

I would expect that it was exciting but emotional surprise for Edgar.

Could you share anything about Edgars experiences that you can\
remember?
Why did Edgar chose Canada to live after the war? Where did he
become a POW etc.? Anything about his background?

[pzrwest]

If I have time tomorrow I will post some info about Edgar. Will take a lot of typing for sure

[Annelie]

Thankyou, its appreciated.

[pzrwest]

I will start this off reguarding Edgar's mini bio.
Edgar was born in March 1923, he was in the Hitler Youth till he was old enough to serve in the Landjar. When he was old enough to join up he wanted to go into the SS but his father forbad him from doing so. So he chose the uboat service of the Kriegsmarine. His brother Eric also served in the Kriegsmarine but on ships as a sanistat. Eric was killed about a week before the war ended. After his basic training he went into the uboat school and became a torpedomekaniker. He was assigned to U650. The night before the U650 left for it's last sea tour he had an accident while going on watch. The boat was in port at the time. He was going up out of the hatch and since he couldn't carry his weapon an mp40 he hung it on a hook inside the hatch. He went out through the hatch and relieved the current man on watch. The man handed Edgar his weapon and proceeded down the hatch. Edgar handed the man's weapon to him and grabbed his mp40 by the barrel and started to bring the weapon up out of the hatch. The cocking handle caught on the edge of the hatch and when it came clear the bolt didn't engage the trigger pawl and slammed forward chambering a round and fired it. The bullet went into his wrist and exited out and back into his upper arm and wound up in his armpit. He went to the hospital and was there when U650 sailed the following morning. Which never returned from it's tour. At that time it was believed that U650 was lost in the North Atlantic, but we now know it's true resting place. When Edgar was released from hospital he was assigned to U901 for the duration of the war. In November 1944 while the boat was going through the East Sea of the North Sea, Edgar and several crew members were washed of the sub. The boat was travelling through mined section of the area. All non-esentual crew were out of the boat. A wave came and washed him and others off the boat. He said they floated there for about several hours before the boat returned and found them. The worst part wasn't the cold water but the waves that slammed then against the hull of the boat while trying re-board the boat. His boat never got notice the war was over till 9 days after the war was over. They were ordered to sail under a black flag to Londonary but had to refuel in Stavhanger first. The allies were mad at them because they had removed the detonators from the torpedoes and had fired them into the North Sea where they just sank harmlessly to the bottom. He was interred in Ireland till 1947 when he was released. Edgar said when he went into the POW camp he was classified as level C which was fanatical Nazi. People who were in the SS, FJ, uboat services were classed as C since those branches were voluntary services. Upon release he return home to Essen and married his wife Helga.
This is just a brief outline of his history. I will see if he will elaborate more and his choice to immigrate to Canada..... Harold

[Annelie]

Thankyou Harold.

That accident saved his life. Did he tell you more stories
about his life in the uboat?

Annelie

[pzrwest]

Yes he did some funny some deadly serious just to name a few.
One funny story he told me was he and a couple buddies were out drinking and he got very drunk. He returned to his barracks and was about to get undressed for the night when he had to take a leak. He said he went to the john and was urinateing in the stall when his feldwebel let out a roar!!! He wasn't in the john but in the feldwebels bedroom peeing into the feldwebels locker. He said the feldwebel chased him all over the barracks, and didn't even give Edgar time to button up his trouser flap or put his... Edgar's words..."winkie" back into his pants. After that he avoided the feldwebel like the plague.... LOL was funny listening to him describe the incedent.... Harold

[TrondK]

You should bring a recorder, you have little time. There are not many left of these veterans.

[Skyhawk]

I agree with the previous post! Any chance you could "interview" him on video and post to YouTube? His anecdotal stories would be great to hear especially in video format. I could assist with the process and even loan you a video camera if needed.

[SCOTT G]

Harold ,your one on one contact with Edgar bets all my EK's hands down.
Can only agree with the below posts ,Record all you can as you may well be the last link to this mans part in history.
I remember seeing the same documentary ,that's four more subs no longer on "Eternal Patrol" I now only hope with their location they will be left untouched and all those young sailors can rest in peace.