These photos were generously provided by Alan Reinl.  Alan's father, Oberbootsmaat Werner Reinl, served aboard aboard U-118 from the boats commissioning on 6 December 1941 to her loss on 12 June 1943.

U-118 Commander Korvettenkapitän Werner Czygan and two sailors prepare to raise the flag during the boat's commissioning ceremony at the Germaniawerft, Kiel

Korvettenkapitän Werner Czygan addresses the crew - the boats circular UAK symbol is visible on the Conning Tower just forward of the life ring

The flag is raised and U-118 is formally commissioned

The crew in ranks on the afterdeck salute as the boat is commissioned (officers from L to R - I WO Oberleutnent Brammer, Oberleutnent (Ing.) Götze, II WO Leutnant Falke) - the covers for the mine shafts are visible at left

The band plays and guests salute as the boat is commissioned

U-118 officers (L to R - II WO Leutnant Falke, I WO Oberleutnent Brammer, CO Korvettenkapitän Werner Czygan)

Distinguished guests Kapitänleutnant Karl-Heinz Moehle, 5th Flottille Commander speaks with an unidentified Korvettenkapitän

The crew assembles for a formal portrait - (officers from L to R - I WO Oberleutnent Brammer, CO Korvettenkapitän Werner Czygan, Oberleutnent (Ing.) Götze, II WO Leutnant Falke)

Korvettenkapitän Werner Czygan in the forward hatch

Ice on the Conning Tower in the Kiel Bay

CO on the bridge with II WO Leutnant Falke - the head of the partially extended search periscope has a protective cover installed and the well for the attack periscope is coverd by a cloth

CO and I WO Oberleutnent Brammer on the bridge

CO looking down the Conning Tower hatch

II WO Leutnant Falke on the bridge

II WO Leutnant Falke on the bridge

II WO Leutnant Falke on the bridge

Looking forward from the bridge the housing for the forward mine shafts is visible on the fore deck - the boat is probably in the Vistula (German: Weichsel) river entering Danzig.

U-118 and U-117 alongside an unidentified steamer (possibly the torpedo supply ship Ürdingen) moored just forward of the accomodation ship Iberia at the southern end of Holm Island on the west bank of the Vistula river.    

Sailors stand on the ice that surrounds the boat in Danzig - a cover is installed at the bow to protect against damage from ice - to the right is the passenger liner Iberia which served as an accomodation ship moored at the southern end of Holm Island on the west bank of the Vistula river

The boat's 37 mm cannon - buildings of the Danziger shipyard are in the background

Crewen relax on the afterdeck in Kristiansand

Crewmen relax on the dock at Kristiansand

II WO Leutnant Falke (left), I WO Oberleutnent Brammer (right)

II WO Leutnant Falke

U-117

U-117