Copy No. 3 of 3.
Op-16-Z
 
A6-2(8)
  
 
S E C R E T
 
 
 
 
24 September, 1943.
 
 
 
 
MEMORANDUM for the Director.
 
 
 
 
Subject: Op-16-W Broadcasts to German U-boats.
   
Enclosure: (A) Report of Lieut. Comdr. R. G. Albrecht, USNR, dated 23 September, 1943.
 
 
 
 
1.  The enclosed report is forwarded as being indicative of the possibilities of the Op-16-W broadcasts to the German U-boat services.
 
 
 
 
2.  During an informal interrogation of Kapitänleutnant Müller, confined in the hospital at Fort Meade by wounds, he spoke of "Commander Norden" and expressed a desire to meet him, if possible.  Lieut. Comdr. Albrecht ("Comdr. Norden") visited Müller and spent some two hours with him.
 
 
 
 
3.  This interview is proof that the broadcasts are known to the U-boat service and are sufficiently interesting to them to be watched for and commented upon.  The possibilities, from a psychological warfare angle, are unlimited since our "projectiles" are reaching their target.
 
 
 
 
4.  I feel that a great deal of credit is due Op-16-W and especially to Lieut. Comdr Albrecht for the results obtained.
 
 
 
 
 
                                                                               John L. Riheldaffer.
 
 
     
  Dictated 24 September, 1943,  
  Dictated by Comdr. Riheldaffer,  
  Typed by Viedenkamp.  
     
 
 
 
 

 

 
 

 
 
S E C R E T
     
 
23 September 1943.
 
     
     
  SUBJECT: Interview with Kapitänleutnant Heinrich Eberhard Müller, captured C.O. of German U-boat, at Camp Mead, Md.  
     
          1.        "The Voice of America". - P/W stated that since he became a U-boat captain last February, he had often tuned in on ONI's "The Voice of America" program, and that he had enjoyed particularly the broadcasts by "Commander Robert Norden".  He stated that he was not inclined to believe what was said as it was pure propaganda.  However, he and his officers found the Norden broadcasts highly entertaining by reason of the manner in which they were presented, particularly the use of irony by the speaker and the occasional "barbed shafts" directed at particular personalities.  He recalled having heard Norden's talks mentioning the U-Degen, the award of the Knight's Crosses (Ritterkreuze) to enlisted men in the Navy, and more recently some talks giving lists of casualties of U-boat commanders.  With respect to Norden's announcement that, in view of the numerous sinkings of German U-boats, he would periodically increase the number of names in his report of U-boat casualties, the P/W expressed his disbelief in Norden's ability to do so.  He stated that Norden would be able to keep up his present tempo of announced losses only if he used names already released, over again.  
     
                   It was suggested to P/W that even the officers of the German Navy might not be fully informed concerning U-boat losses.  He readily admitted that the O.K.M. never published such lists, but said that the various naval  
     
 
 
 
 

 

 
 

 
 
academy "crews" kept themselves pretty well informed with respect to what was happening to their own numbers.  When doubt was expressed that that was so, and the P/W was pressed to estimate the numbers of his "crew" of 1936 who had been killed or captured while in command of their own boats as proof of his knowledge of U-boat casualties, he stated that a few less than thirty U-boat captains probably had been lost from his "crew".  It was also pointed out to him that the losses must have been high as commanders and even captains had been given U-boat commands.  He agreed that for a short while quite a number of captains had commanded large U-boats for the purpose of gaining experience at sea prior to taking shore appointment, but he believed that these captains were now all in shore berths.
     
                    P/W's listening to the "Voice of America" took place on the short wave band.  He estimated the time as early evening E.S.T.  He was usually on the bridge of his boat at that time.  His officers who were off watch, would be listening on his radio below.  As soon as it was announced that Comdr. Norden was about to speak, they would call up to him that "Bob" was about to go on the air.  They never missed the Norden talk if they could avoid it.  
     
                    P/W stated that no one on board, other than the officers, listened to Norden, and that the radio men were too busy with their duties while on watch, to listen to other than official broadcasts.  His manner in making this statement might well justify a contrary conclusion.  
     
          2.        Alleged Sinking of U.S.S. Ranger. - The P/W himself raised this subject and asked what light I might shed on the subject.  He stated that in April 1943 he had been operating on the North Atlantic close to Kapitänleutnant Otto von Bülow when the latter reported to the O.K.M. that he had obtained two torpedo hits  
     
 
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on an aircraft carrier which he believed to be the RANGER.  He said that he knew, therefore, of his own knowledge, the von Bülow had never claimed that he had sunk RANGER.  P/W had been surprised to hear that von Bülow had been credited with the actual sinking of RANGER, in view of official American denials that RANGER had been near the scene of alleged sinking, and had been rewarded with the Oak Leaves (Richenlaub) and promoted to Korvettenkapitän.  Upon apprising the P/W of our knowledge of similar curious exaggerations on the part of the German naval authorities, he stated that von Bülow must feel "embarrassed" by the honors showered upon him.  He also said that he had listened to comments on this episode by Radio Atlantic, the British station, and the statement that von Bülow had taken pictures of the actual sinking.  P/W stated that no pictures could possibly have been taken as it was already too dark to use a camera when the alleged sinking took place.  (Note:  the German radio had announced that the sinking had taken place in daylight.)  Among the examples cited to P/W of exaggerations in reported sinkings by the OKM, was that of the Italian U-boat commander Enzo Grossi who had reported having sunk U.S.S. MARYLAND and U.S.S. MISSISSIPPI.  P/W was then informed that Grossi who commanded the Italian U-boat Flotilla at Bordeaux, had just turned over all Italian submarines to the Germans.  P/W's rejoinder was "oh, are there any left?"  He then delivered himself a tirade against the Italians in general, and their army and navy in particular, and attributed the failure of the North African and Sicilian campaigns to the complete breakdown in the lines of supply for which the Italians had assumed all responsibility.
     
                    He told the following story to illustrate the general German contempt for Italy:  When Italy entered the war in 1940 the news was received late at night at Hitler's H.Q.  Fieldmarshal Keitel went to Hitler, who was asleep and reported:  "Mein Führer, the Italians have declared war".  Still  
     
 
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half asleep, Hitler ordered:  "Send three divisions to the Brenner".  "No, no", said Keitel.  "they have entered the war on our side".  "In that event", Hitler replied,  "send twenty divisions".
     
          3.        British Radio Broadcasts. - P/W claims never to have listened to the Admiralty broadcasts.  He admitted listening to Radio Atlantic and to B.B.C. programs.  In commenting generally about British broadcasts, he expressed the opinion that it was a mistake to attempt to jazz German music.  An effort to jazz "Liebestraum" particularly offended him.  
     
          4.        German Propaganda. - P/W gave the impression that he disapproved of Goebbel's propaganda.  He admitted his tremendous energy and apparent success to date, but when I volunteered that he would be found out in the end, the P/W seemed to agree.  He also admitted that the statements of the German leaders had proven untrue on a number of occasions, notably with respect to the "imminent" fall of Stalingrad.  I suggested that our most effective propaganda among the Germans might be to reproduce old newspapers containing such exaggerations by Hitler, Goebbles etc. and drop them over Germany.  He nodded assent.  
     
          5.        Flak on U-boats. - In discussing the recent changes in the armament of U-boats, I tried to ridicule the theory that approved of U-boat fighting it out on the surface with enemy aircraft.  P/W disagreed strongly and stated that the present trouble with front U-boats was that their A.A. armament was still inadequate, that they should have installed more effective guns with which to fight off attacking aircraft.  He said that he spoke feelingly, for during the last few days before it was sunk, his U-boat had been attacked four times from the air.  These attacks were very unpleasant.  The next to last attack had been altogether too close for comfort, and the last attack had proven  
     
 
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disastrous and had confirmed the premonition of disaster with which he had felt would overtake him when he departed his base for the final patrol.
     
     
                                                                                     
                                                                                         Ralph G. Albrecht,  
                                                                                 Lieutenant Commander, USNR.