U-Boat Crew Yelled for Help after his Ship was Sunk

Image size: 1600 x 1306 pixel. 1.03 MB

Date: Saturday, 17 April 1943
Place: North Atlantic, Southwest of Ireland, in position 47.53N, 22.04W
Photographer: Jack January

The official Caption is "NAZI SEEKS AID: One of the Germans to escape, when a Coast Guard convoy cutter sank their submarine in the Atlantic, this Nazi lifts hands and voice in a plea for help." The picture itself was taken on 17 April 1943 by Jack January (Photo No. 1567). The German sailor was identified as Obersteurmann Helmut Klotzsch (born 12 February 1914) from U-175.  Some of the U-175's crew later joked that while still on board of the U-boat - just prior to abandoning ship - Klotzsch ordered the men not to call out for assistance once they entered the water! He was then rescued by USCGC (United States Coast Guard Cutter) Spencer. U-175 (commanded by Korvettenkapitän Heinrich Bruns) from 10. Unterseebootsflottille was sunk while preparing to attack Convoy HX-233. USCGC Spencer detected U-175 ahead of the convoy and conducted two depth charge attacks. Forty minutes later the boat was forced to surface and was scuttled by her crew. Spencer and USCGC Duane rescued 44 survivors

Sources:

United States National Archives (NARA). Identification Code: 26-G-1567

http://historisches-marinearchiv.de/projekte/crewlisten/ww2/ergebnis.php

http://www.uboatarchive.net/U-175Rescue.htm

http://www.uscg.mil/history/webcutters/spencervsu175.asp

http://ww2db.com/image.php?image_id=2262