A Lost Friend

LOUIS VORNDRON (1341-2002) writes on behalf of his friend, Pastor Frank Smith, who trained at Ft Devon in WW II. He met and befriended a German PoW named Richard Eder. Eder’s father was a tank commander on the Eastern Front, and his brother served in some capacity in the Luftwaffe.

According to Eder, he was aboard a submarine that was attacked in 1943 by three British corvettes. One was sunk, but so was the sub. Eder said that the British sailors turned the machine guns on the men in the water, but 19 survived and were taken prisoner.

LOU’s friend, Pastor Frank Smith, would like to find this German with whom he became friends. Who can tell us where to find Richard Eder of the U-Bootwaffe? Thanks in advance.

U-Boats off South America

BRIAN KORBELICK (6604-2002) is interested in the U-Boat operations off South America and would like to know what books, if any, are available on this subject. Help please?

Wilhelm Kieswetter

This man was born 28 October 1878 in Leipzig. During W W I, he was Commander of UC-56 of the 1st U-Bootflottille in Flanders. During World War II, he commanded UC-1, a captured Royal Navy “B” Class submarine used by the Kriegsmarine as a training submarine. His rank was Fregattenkapitän zV (zV was for special service). He commanded that submarine from November 1940 until May of 1941 and on leaving that command, Kieswetter was 62 years of age – the oldest man to command a World War II U-Boat.

Thanks to EDWARD HSIAO (5779-1999) for this information.

“Wolf Packs”

This is the title of a British documentary film. One of our new Members (and us at HQ, too) would like to know if this film/tape is available and if so, from where. Thanks in advance.

This is your section to ask and answer questions. Thanks to those who have helped here with answers, and to those with questions. We will have the answers soon.