FKPT JÜRGEN WATTENBERG (154-1985) began his ETERNAL PATROL this past 27 November.

He was an officer of the ‘old school’ and was Training Officer on the cruiser EMDEN during their ‘round the world cruise in the early 1930’s. He had 2 cadets on this cruise who kept him on his toes with their antics - something to do with buying US Navy underwear rather than using the German issue. The names of these cadets were KRETSCHMER & Schepke. We know of the time the cadets rode the train to Yokuska and all sat rigidly at attention - all except their Instructor WATTENBERG. He stood at attention the entire train ride so he would not wrinkle his pants.

When the war began, he was Navigation Officer of PanzerSchiff GRAF SPEE and after the end of that ship, he made his way back to Germany and eventually was given commend of U-162. The photo above was taken in the Caribbean with a ‘prisoner of war’ named Douglas - the name of the ship they sank. They saved this and another pig. The other wound up on the table, but Douglas was spared - until they returned to Lorient and he was given to the Flotilla Commander, Viktor Schütze.

During another Caribbean patrol, U-162 was sunk off the island of Barbados and all but three of the crew were saved and made prisoners of war. During the time at Papago Park POW camp in Arizona, WATTENBERG led an escape in which more than two dozen prisoners tunneled out, but all were soon caught.

After the war, WATTENBERG returned to Hamburg, where he became an executive with St. Pauli Girl Beer. He was with us during our 1988 visit to Germany. JüRGEN WATTENBERG was well into his 90’s when he died.