Book Reviews

U-BOAT 977

by Dick Cole (204-A-1986)


"U-BOAT 977" by Schaeffer, Heinz

Hardbound edition first published by Norton, New York in 1952 containing 260 pages, no photographs.
Paperback edition first published by Ballantine Books, New York in 1957, containing 148 pages, no photographs.

This book is a translation of a book by the captain of U-977, the boat that arrived in Argentina several months after Germany had surrendered. Written shortly after the war, this book has been the subject of much discussion. Schaeffer tells the story of his complete wartime career, but doesn't provide many names, dates or boat identities until he assumed command of U-977 late in the war. He relates more in detail his controversial trip to Argentina, during which he says the boat was submerged for 66 consecutive days. He denies the claim (which continues to this day) that the boat was involved in any sort of special mission transporting Hitler, Hitler's body, Martin Bormann, NAZI relics, treasure etc. to Antarctica or Argentina.

Copies of this book should be easy to find, and it is a 'must' for anyone studying the special missions theory..

(HARRY'S NOTE - In my opinion, this story was a deliberate piece of disinformation by Schaeffer. He was known by ERNST SCHMIDT (10-1983) and according to a conversation I had with ERNST many years ago, Schaeffer became an executive with Volkswagen of Argentina after the War. I had tried to locate Heinz Schaeffer several times, but each time his death was reported, we learned that he really was alive, but planted a false story to protect his privacy. I guess that Schaeffer may be dead by now, but am not entirely convinced.

Reading our INTELLIGENCE PAGE, you will see how this voyage of U-977 is more and more suspect. U-977 was not the only boat to head for ports around the globe after the end of the War. U-530 under OTTO WERMUTH (1344-1990) came into the same town in Argentine as did U-977, but U-530 arrived there a week or so earlier. We know of another boat that was fully provisioned and fueled for a trip to depart Norway on 10 May, 1945 with Tahiti as her destination. This boat did not depart, as the Skipper nixed the plan.

Keep reading our INTELLIGENCE PAGE and you will see how the port used by U-530 and U-977 after the War was not unknown to Germany DURING the War.

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