Quite some years ago, Vice Admiral ‘Fritz’ HARLFINGER (2554-+-1992), Skipper of USS TRIGGER asked about a German skipper with the same family name, Kapitänleutnant Harlfinger, Skipper of U-269. We were never able to confirm if they had any family connection, but Col. WILHELM HÖHN (789-1988) just sent the following information about Harlfinger of U-269 which came from the book ‘The Admiral’s Wolfpack’.

On the last patrol of Harlfinger, he reached Bergen on 20 March 1943 after a harrowing cruise in the frigid arctic. It was noted that the arriving officers and men emerged on deck with sunken eyes, emaciated bodies and numerous injuries suffered from the stormy voyage. The brass band on hand did little to lift their spirits.

Just before Harlfinger gave the order to return home, they found a cargo ship in serious trouble with a damaged rudder that was not able to keep its bow into the waves. It was rolling wildly and almost awash. U-269 readied tubes 1 and 3, maneuvering in to 500 yards but just as Harlfinger was about to fire, a blinking light was seen on the ship. W.O. Schäffer read it immediately as “Help Us”. Harlfinger apparently replied, “Do they want us to tow them?”

Too late, as the cargo ship rose up on the crest of a gigantic wave, then dropped into the trough and broke in two, sinking immediately. It was then that Harlfinger decided to return to Bergen.

Shortly before this incident, U-269 had been pursuing another ship but before they could get into an attack position, they heard a large explosion. They spotted the ship dead ahead but with her aft section already awash. They spotted a lifeboat with four men and a woman in it, and the woman was holding a baby. As they got to within 30 yards of the lifeboat, it was swamped by a wave, rolled over and disappeared without a trace.

It was noted that Harlfinger was severely depressed on his return to Bergen on 20 March. The following day, he committed suicide.

Thanks BILL. Some really sad stories come out of wars.