U-505 page 19

 U-505 page 19 by ric gustafson

Commander Ernst Kals of the Second U-boat Flotilla knew U-505 needed a new Skipper. Kapitanleutnant Harold Lange was appointed. Lange was tall and had a deep baritone voice. At 40, he was the oldest U-boat Commander. Grand Admiral Doenetz picked Lange to unite the crew of the U-505 as a father figure rather than a disciplinarian. Because of his age, the crew of the U-505 had already given him a nickname. It was ' The Old Man'.

On Christmas Eve 1943, the U-505 quietly tried to leave it's U-boat pen. As it entered the Bay of Biscay, the boat encountered a raging battle. German destroyers were engaging against British warships. The German destroyer Z-27 was sunk by the British light cruiser Glasgow. U-505 was ordered to try to find survivors. U-505 ended up rescuing 34 sailors. 

U-505 returned the sailors to Brest instead of Lorient.

research help: ' Codename Nemo' by Charles Lachman

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric