Kriegsmarine U-190

[Steve campbell]

Here's a picture of me next to the periscope of U-190, which surrendered here on the east coast of Newfoundland, Canada on May 12, 1945. It's located here in St. John's not far from my house at an ex officers club. It's fully functional and actuall extends out through the roof so you can see the suronding buildings. The sub was later put into service as Canada's first submarine. They also have a great album of all the crew surrendering and leaving the boat. They seem really happy. There's lots of great photos. Thought someone might enjoy this.

[Guest Rick Research]

I hope the RCN put in a NEW periscope or it mustn't have worked very well submerged!

I thought all (?) the post V-E Day surrenders off our coasts were ordered into Boston, Massachusetts-- did individual subs just turn themselves in anywhere they felt like, or wherever was closest?

[Steve campbell]

Not sure. This one surrendered at Bay Bulls, Newfoundland, which is about a 20 minute drive from St. John;s where the sub then headed and the crew were taken off. There is a picture of the sub in the harbour here at City Hall plus a number of photos at the club whre the pereiscope is.

[John Burchell]

[attachmentid=59705]As a Maritimer and collector of Third Reich militaria and history for quite some time, I have always been fascinated by the surrender of German U-Boats in Canadian waters. The U-190 was one of two German U-Boats which were taken into captivity following their surrender off the coast of Newfoundland at the end of WW2: the U-889 on May 10 and the U-190 on May 11, 1945.

The U-889 was initially sighted by an American Liberator as she was proceeding on the surface flying a black flag. She was taken into captivity by two frigates of the Royal Canadian Navy and initially sailed to Shelburne, Nova Scotia where the formal surrender took place on May 13th. She was eventually turned-over the the U.S. Navy.

Oberleutnant zur See Hans-Edwin Reith, Commander of the U-190, signed an unconditional surrender on May12th and the U-190 was escorted into Bay Bulls, Newfoundland by two RCN corvettes on May 14th. She subsequently sailed to St. John's, Newfoundland and Halifax, Nova Scotia. U-190 was later formally commissioned into the RCN and went on a ceremonial tour of duty and later assumed duties as an anti-submarine training vessel until she was scuttled off the coast of Nova Scotia in 1947 - but not before her periscope was salvaged!

Newspaper reports earlier this year (2006) indicated that a marine archeologist and team of divers plan to search for the U-190.

For those interested, the former Chief Engineer of the U-190, Werner Hirschmann, has written a book describing his wartime service and eventual capture aboard the submarine entitled: "Another Place, Another Time". Following the war, Mr. Hirschmann immigrated to the country where he spent time in captivity as a POW following the war and today lives in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Hope this to be of interest.

John

[Martin W]

Nice photo Steve,followed by a nice little piece of history on the boat by John.Very interesting.

Best wishes,Martin.

[Steve campbell]

Just saw this post. Here's another picture taken in the same place as the U-190. I'm holding 2 shells from the HMS Exeter that was involved in an engagement with the German Pocket Battleship Graf Spee. They have a few interesting artifacts at this place. Maybe someone could fill in the details of this battle. I know it occured down off the coast of South America. They also have an interesting collection of Allied Gunshield Art. Not quite sure what it really is but if anyone is into that stuff I could get some photos.

[Steve campbell]

Oh man wrong photo! I'll fix it.

[Steve campbell]

Here it is . Sorry

[John Burchell]

Yesterday I visited the new Canadian War Museum (CWM) and also attended a seminar there regarding one of their current special exhibits: "Canada Under Attack - The Battle of the St. Lawrence, 1942-44". This exhibit and seminar specifically dealt with the menacing U-Boot activity and patrols that occurred in that area, and their effect on merchant and commercial shipping.

Following are pictures of some U-190 artifacts found at the CWM which I would like to add to this thread and share with forum members: a model of the U-190 (sorry for the glare); painting of the U-190 crew coming ashore following surrender in Newfoundland; barograph and starglobe purportedly from the U-190; the original surrender document signed by the Kommandant; as well as a book and map from the sub.

Regards,

John

[John Burchell]

...

Edited February 14, 2007 by John Burchell

[John Burchell]

...

[John Burchell]

Information from the text panel at the exhibit:

German Prisoners Leaving their U-Boat, Bay Bulls, Newfoundland

Canadian war artist Thomas Charles Wood was present for the arrival of U-190 in Bay Bulls, Newfoundland .

Painted by Thomas Charles Wood in 1945

Beaverbrook Collection of War Art

CWM 1971261-4870

Edited February 16, 2007 by John Burchell

[John Burchell]

...

[smiler]

Hiya,

Cheers John, great thread and very interesting. I like the painting, museum artist?

cheers smiler.

[Laurence Strong]

The sub was later put into service as Canada's first submarine. .

Hi Steve

Cool photo's. Got to love the treasure's hidden in some of the Officers and Sr NCO's messes around the country. However you are about 3 decades late for Canada's first subs. Here's a bit from an article from hazegray.org:

... The RCN's involvement with subs originated on the eve of WWI, when the Premier of British Columbia purchased two submarines. They were built in Seattle, and intended for the Chilean Navy, but were sold to BC when Chili defaulted. Named CC1 and CC2, the two subs resembled the 'C' class of the Royal Navy, and were commissioned into the RCN. After three years of training on the West Coast, they were ordered to Europe by way of Halifax, NS. There it was determined that they would most likely not survive a trans-Atlantic crossing, and they were sold for scrap.

At the tail end of the First World War, the Navy obtained two members of the British H Class which had been built in North America. hazegray.orghazegray.org They are named CH 14 and CH 15. These were considered by the British to be excellent subs at the time, but they didn't see much service in the RCN before being paid off.....

Here are CC1 and CC2 in port, they were sold for scrap in 1920. CH 14 and CH 15 were paid off on 30 June 1922 and sold for scrap five years later.

Edited February 14, 2007 by Laurence Strong

[Steve campbell]

Thanks. That's what I was told concerning the sub, but this tells a different story. Interesting no matter what.

[John Burchell]

Hello "smiler"!

I have added details on the painting, as you requested, in my posting above where the item appears.

Regards,

John

[Steve campbell]

The album and photos they have at the Crow's nest in St. John's are really nice. Lots of shots of the boat and crew, kriegs flag etc. Many of the crew can be seen wearing Iron Crosses and Sub Badges. I know there are alot of photos out there but these are neat because it's in Canada and about 10 minutes from my house. The pictures are larger than the normal wartime shots too.

[John Burchell]

Thanks, Steve. You and Forum members may be interested to know - if you do not already know - that the official photographs taken of the surrender of the U-190 (probably the ones to which you refer above) were all done by a professional photographer - a Newfoundlander named Cyril Marshall. He was given an "exclusive" to photographically cover the event, and was given an escort while doing so. That escort was Lieut. Scott Young, who went on to become a famed sports journalist and author, and was also the father of singer-songwriter Neil Young. They, and other RCN personnel, boarded a Navy vessel and put to sea that day in May, 1945 to intercept the submarine being towed toward Bay Bulls. They subsequently boarded the U-190 some 150 kilometres out at sea. His photos depict the submarine's arrival in Bay Bulls, the crew on the deck of the submarine and proceeding ashore to the wharf. There are also subsequent pictures of the U-190 in St. John's Harbour.

It was my honour and pleasure to have been in direct contact with Mr. Marshall exactly 9 years ago in Februray, 1998. He very kindly provided me with copies of many of his copyrighted pictures on this event. As well, he gave me a photocopy of the letter dated June, 1945 from Lieut. Young, on Department of National Defence stationery, sending him a photostatic copy of the surrender document - the original of which now resides at the Canadian War Museum (shown above).

History is so nice when one can communicate with someone who was actually there.

Regards,

John

Edited February 17, 2007 by John Burchell

[John Burchell]

As an adjunct to the above information and my ongoing interest in the U-190, members may be interested to know that three years ago I accidentally came across photographic documentation and items in an antique shop in New Brunswick, which subsequently led me to the daughter of a former RCN man who was also there when the U-190 was taken into captivity. He was a Leading Seaman and a member of the Navy's elite Underwater Demolition Team stationed at that time in St. John's, Newfoundland, and was on one of the vessels that escorted the U-190 into Bay Bulls.

Following the war, this man joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, going directly into the RCMP Marine Division, where he had an equally interesting career.

This man was my second direct link to this specific history. Nice to be able to share it with an appreciative audience.

Regards,

John

[Martin W]

Great story John.Can you post some of Mr.Marshall's photographs?

Regards,Martin.

[Laurence Strong]

You guys are amazing! Thank you so much. I will now see if I can acquire this photo from the owner.

Best regards,

John

Back at you John Amazing info. Do you still have all those photo's, My Dad scooped a set of bino's off a sinking U-Boat during the war....I was supposed to receive them after he died, but I think my sister sold them.

Edited February 17, 2007 by Laurence Strong

[John Burchell]

Thanks, Martin and Laurence. Yes, I still have the photos and will post a few here, as requested.

1. The U-190 following arrival and moored in Bay Bulls Harbour on May 14, 1945.

2. The Q 095, a RCN Fairmile B-Type Motor Launch, on which the Leading Seaman and UDT member whom I mentioned above was aboard, which met and guided the submarine to her moorings in Bay Bulls harbour.

3. Crew members of the U-190 after arrival in Bay Bulls, looking rather pleased that the war is over for them.

4. The nine ratings who had stayed on board the U-190 to assist running and bringing her into port, shown here assembled and ready to head-off as POWs wearing their grey KM Leathers. On the right breast of number seven, not in leather, can be seen a KM U-Boat Combat Clasp above his U-Boat War Badge.

5. View of the U-190 entering the inner harbour of St. John's. At the famous narrows entrance can be seen the buoys of the submarine net and on the left is Signal Hill, the site where Marconi received the first trans-Atlantic wireless message.

6. U-190 flying both the White Ensign and the Kriegsflaffe in St. John's inner harbour with the skyline of the city in the background.

7. U-190 officers.

Edited February 18, 2007 by John Burchell

[John Burchell]

#2.

[John Burchell]

#3.