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**PzV** · 10-22-2014, 01:20 PM

He initially was not with the U-Boot but came to them later

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**PzV** · 10-22-2014, 01:22 PM

he trained with the 8th U-Boot Flotille and went into action with the 6th.

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**PzV** · 10-22-2014, 01:23 PM

his U-Boot actions are listed and the fact that he was killed in action on 23 July 1943

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**PzV** · 10-22-2014, 01:26 PM

a letter to the family is in the group as well as some documentation on how the U-Boot was lost under Holtorf. It is interesting in the fact that this sailor is from Ramstein (where the US air base now is)

Attached Files

**PzV** · 10-22-2014, 01:29 PM

a number of his letters to the family are there including this one which was he announced as his last letter until he came back from his mission as he had submitted all the documentation to be married, which of course never occurred. His Feldpost letters are written as being in France and the port was St. Nazaire

Attached Files

**Eric JB** · 10-22-2014, 05:33 PM

Hi Jim,

Thank you for showing us your nice little Uboot grouping.

I do like such groupings myself as they do show a lot of history.

Where did you get this information "went down with 37 others in U-598" ?

There were 43 crewmembers who died that day and 2 survivors ;
I.Wachoffizier Oberleutnant zur See Heinrich Luschin.
and
Maschinenobergefreiter Josef Machenschalk.

I still don't know the name of the Leutnant M.A. Personalbüro U-Boote as his names is shown in several other MIA and KIA UBoot Wehrpäße.

Best regards

Eric-Jan

**PzV** · 10-23-2014, 01:01 AM

Hello Eric-Jan, there was a letter with the group which describes how the U-Boot went down and it states "over 40", my mistake!

Attached Files

**JUNGCO** · 10-23-2014, 04:25 AM

Nice grouping. Thanks for showing it.
Jeff

**PIERRE.H** · 10-23-2014, 05:58 AM

Hi,
Last moments from U-598 :

On 22 July 1943, planes from Bombing Squadron 107 sighted and attacked a U-boat in position 0415' S., 3305' W. The U-boat dived and no damage was claimed. Planes remained in the vicinity on a hold-down patrol. At about 0645 P, 23 July 1943, one of the planes sighted the wake of U-598 in position 04<SUP>0</SUP>33' S., 33<SUP>0</SUP>30' W. Shortly thereafter, the U-boat was seen fully surfaced on course 120<SUP>0</SUP>T, about six miles away. The aircraft closed for attack, but in disengaging the bow guns, the selector switch was kicked into locked position, and the bombs failed to drop. U-598 opened fire with her 20 mm. guns as the plane crossed over for a second run. Not knowing the cause of the failure of the first attack, the pilot, on the second run, dropped in salvo, forgetting that the bombs were unarmed. Bombs were observed hitting the deck of the U-boat and rolling off into the sea. Fortunately two of them exploded, one under the stern and one about 30 feet aft. .
The prisoner from U-598 stated that these explosions caused considerable damage. The radio equipment was rendered useless, the Diesel engines failed, the diving planes jammed, and oil and fresh water tanks were broken open. The plane circled above the U-boat for some time, signaling for reinforcements. Then two more planes appeared, Holtorf, realizing that the situation was hopeless, gave the order to abandon ship. The rubber boats were broken out and two of them launched. The third was found to be damaged. Six or seven men boarded each of the rubber boats and a few more succeeded in jumping into the sea before the second attack occurred.
<O

</O

At 0828 P in position 04<SUP>0</SUP>35'S., 33<SUP>0</SUP>30' W., one plane made a line attack with six bombs and 15 seconds later, the second plane attacked with six more bombs from abeam. Probably because of the force of the explosion, the first plane fell into the water out of control and disappeared. The U-boat sank rapidly.
At the time of the sinking, about half of the crew of U-598 were trapped below deck. One rubber boat was about 400 yards distant. It drifted out of sight and has not been heard of since. The second was close to U-598 and was sucked under with the U-boat. Two of the men -- the Executive Officer and an engine room rating -- succeeded in remaining afloat. They were in the water about 13 hours when they were sighted by a plane which dropped an inflated raft. Shortly thereafter, they were sighted and rescued by USS Seneca. The two survivors were landed at Recife.

Best Regards
Pierre

**Eric JB** · 10-23-2014, 08:41 AM

"The two survivors were picked up by USS Seneca and were landed at Recife. One was the Executive Officer who was severely wounded. He was hospitalized in Recife where he was interrogated. He proved to be very security conscious and yielded no information.<O</O
The Executive Officer was Oberleutnant (Lieutenant (j.g.)) Heinrich Luschin of the October 1938 naval term. He is a native of Austria and is 23 years of age. Before joining the U-boat arm, he was a signal officer on the cruiser, Prinz Eugen. Luschin is an ardent Nazi and is firmly convinced that Germany will win the war within two years. He has a high regard for Hitler, dislikes Goering, and feels that Goebbels "has a big mouth". The prisoner stated that the crew disliked Luschin whose methods, they regarded, as extremely high handed. He spoke of how Luschin settled a personal grudge with one of the petty officers. He falsely accused him of sleeping while on watch. The man was court martialed and sentenced to six months imprisonment.<O</O
The other survivor, an engine room rating, was brought to the United States for questioning. He is a Bavarian peasant whose security consciousness was surpassed only by his stupidity"<O

</O

**Bjorn S** · 10-23-2014, 11:06 AM

Nice personal U-Boot grouping with interesting research, nice find and thanks for showing!

**albertofl** · 10-25-2014, 12:43 PM

Very nice wehrpass.

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U-598 crew members Wehrpaß

U-598 crew members Wehrpaß

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