In KTB #107 we read of the U-Boat Skipper nick-named ‘the GANGSTER’ by his fellow officers because he always carried a pistol, something that U-Boat officers almost never did. DICK COLE (204-A-1986) sent a few clippings from various books that have a slightly different twist to this story.

In KTB #108 last month, we read how this Skipper’s death was told by John Hammond in his book THE FAUSTBALL TUNNEL; here we read how William Y’Blood wrote it in his book HUNTER-KILLER.

“As the crew began to abandon ship, a strange drama was being enacted in the bow compartment. Höltring (Skipper of U-604) had been lying down when the attack began. He rushed into the bow compartment where a U-185 sailor, wounded in an earlier action, was lying. The youth, unable to walk and knowing he would die from the chlorine gas, begged Höltring to shoot him. Höltring obliged, then shot himself in the head.”

Two other books tell their version of this action, but due to space limitations, we will print another of them next month. DICK, many thanks for this information.

More 'Gangster'

The 'Gangster' [KTB 107]
Update on The 'Gangster' [KTB 108]
Another Update on The 'Gangster' [KTB 109]