CAPTAIN ED LAPOTSKY (1788-1991) sends this translation of an article that appeared in a German newspaper recently.

"50 years ago on 28 December 1944 in the Oslo Fjord, two forces were in combat. In early May 1994, German U-Boaters from U-682 and the pilots of RAF LANCASTER bombers met again. Together, the former enemies spent one week on the Mosel River.

A reunion is nothing special. But this one did not bring only friends together but enemies too. The initiator for this was Herbert Wodartz who served on U-682. The background of this reunion is: On December 28, 1944 in the Oslo Fjord near the city of Horton, English LANCASTER aircraft were shooting at U-682 and U-735. U-682 was hit but not destroyed and had no casualties. Different was it for the men on U-735. Only one survived, while twenty four were removed dead from the ice cold waters, and fifteen went down with their U-Boat.

For the people on U-682, this was the 4th reunion in this area. With lots of effort, Wodarz was able to find the addresses of his friends. He thought of uniting his friends with the former English enemies who flew the attack but some were not receptive to his idea. So Wolfgang Müller, I.W.O. of U-682 thought the reunion was only to talk about early war memories but found the reunion to be an exceptional surprise. The wives were there too and they had a positive influence on the reunion.

Wodarz did intensive research into the British Military Archives and he found twenty eight names of the former English pilots. Eleven were still living and joined the reunion along with their wives. After spending five days together, a friendship developed.

At this meeting, the English pilots heard the details of the eventful day back on 28 December, 1944. Because of darkness, the actual damage to U-682 and U-735 in the waters of the Oslo Fjord was not known to the English LANCASTER pilots. Altogether in hindsight, the former enemies agreed that, at the time, combat was a sport and challenge to them.

HARRY'S NOTE - this is just what BOB MAHER (221-1986) of the American destroyer USS BORIE said about combat. In his words, he said that the war was like a game, but with higher stakes.

Herbert Hermann was the only survivor of U-735, and the U-Boaters of U-682 officially adopted him as a member of U-682. He does not hold any grudge against the English pilots who were responsible for the death of 39 of his comrades.

'Everyone was fighting for his country', said his wife Hildegard.

Hildegard Hermann was talking about how successful the reunion was for everyone there. The Hermann's this year, celebrated their golden wedding anniversary, and were married two months before the Oslo Fjord attack took place."