UNITED STATES ATLANTIC FLEET
HEADQUARTERS OF
THE COMMANDER FOURTH FLEET
C/o FLEET POST OFFICE, NEW YORK, N.Y.
  S-E-C-R-E-T    
Preliminary Report on U-Müller
 
Sunk 21 July 1943
 
     
          Kapitänleutnant Heinz Eberhard Müller was born in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1916.  Married, he now has a son one year old, and his wife now resides in a suburb of Flensburg.  He entered the German Naval Academy in 1936.  In 1937 he made a trip to the Far East as a cadet on the "Emden".  In 1938 he served as IIWO on U-45 under Gelhaar, and made a trip to Spain.  From the jist of a certain conversation he may also have served under Schepke, possibly as IWO.  (Note:  if so, this would have been prior to 17 March 1941 as U-Schepke was sunk at that time).  Before becoming a commanding officer, about 5 months ago (c. March 1943), he was a torpedo instructor.  As a commanding officer he has 17,000 tons to his credit.  Müller insists however, that he sank nothing on this his last trip.  He says he had U-boat of "mittlere Grösse" which he confirmed as being a 500 tonner.  
     
          On the day previous to the sinking of his U-boat Müller had driven away 3 airplanes with anti-aircraft fire, suffering no damage himself.  He was not taken by surprise by the attacking plane on the day of the sinking but remained surfaced as he felt he could defend himself adequately.  He marveled at the nerve and steadiness of the pilot of the plane because the latter was not deterred from his attack though his plane had been hit by the U-boat's anti-aircraft fire.  Müller and about 9 ratings were on deck at the time of the attack, most of them being on the aft part of the deck.  One bomb landed right alongside the boat, another hit the U-boat itself.  Müller was blown into the air, and when he came to, he was in the water about 400 meters away from 3 of his men.  The latter told him the sub sank stern first almost immediately, which confirms the attacking plane's report.  Müller says this must have been caused by the water, being driven to the stern of the U-boat by the forward motion of the U-boat itself.  Six of the ten men topside must have been killed immediately.  The four survivors climbed into the rubber boat thrown to them by the plane.  (Müller says they had a Schlauchboot in the U-boat but none topside.)  For seventeen days they remained on this rubber boat without food or water until spotted by an aircraft and finally rescued by ship.  (see Action Report for details).  
     
 
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UNITED STATES ATLANTIC FLEET
HEADQUARTERS OF
THE COMMANDER FOURTH FLEET
C/o FLEET POST OFFICE, NEW YORK, N.Y.
  S-E-C-R-E-T    
Varia
     
          Müller says that the "Wintergarten" is also known as the "Rosengarten".  He claims that he never heard the word "Rosengarten" used to denote a sea area.  
     
          Müller often allowed his men to go swimming.  When this was the case their rubber boat was used.  He allowed the men to dive from the deck but never from the conning tower, the memory of Mützelburg's death being very strong in his mind.  Two men with guns stood guard against swordfish.  
     
          Müller disclaims part of the "Schepke's Tonnage" story.  He claims that Schepke did overestimate his tonnage somewhat but that he was not obliged to put to sea again immediately to make up the difference.  Malicious tongues cooked up that story, Müller said.  
     
          In a conversation about other U-boat officers I thought I heard Müller make the remark "Mohr Fährt nicht mehr" (Treat with reserve).  
     
  When I asked him what his Stutzpunkt was, or what the names of his other officers were, Müller politely excused himself saying he was not allowed to tell me that.  
     
          Müller had a suggestion that might be of value to us, particularly to survivors.  He said that the plane which dropped him food dropped it on the windward side of the boat.  That meant the men had to paddle into the wind to reach the package as the boat would drift faster with the wind than the package.  If the survivors are weak, paddling into the wind is a severe task.  Müller suggested that in such instances food be dropped to the survivors on the lee side of the boat letting the boat catch up with the package.  
     
          Müller is good friend and classmate of Massmann, and also knows Ziesmer.  
     
     
     
 
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UNITED STATES ATLANTIC FLEET
HEADQUARTERS OF
THE COMMANDER FOURTH FLEET
C/o FLEET POST OFFICE, NEW YORK, N.Y.
  S-E-C-R-E-T    
ANALYSIS
     
          Muller is a pleasant, cultured man, easy to get along with.  In political discussions he showed restraint and a willingness to look at both sides of the picture.  I believe quite a bit of information can be obtained from him by informal discussions and indirect methods.  I didn't pose as an IO but as one having a few days shore leave, desirous of visiting him to keep him company and to brush up on my German.  I was known to him as Leutnant Miller, but I think it wisest that no one in Washington knows me.  I told him what other U-boat officers he would probably meet, having obtained a "list" of P/W officers from "Navy Headquarters" here.  He was quite surprised and pleased to see so many of his classmates on the list and is eagerly looking forward to being in camp with them.  He has an absolute fear of being sent to Canada.  I said that I would do what I could "with the authorities" to see that he wouldn't be sent to Canada.  He is extremely appreciative of the excellent medical care given him.  Presently he is pretty helpless, his left arm being in a sling, his right hand in a brace.  He has to be fed and dressed.  His wounded knee is coming along fine, in fact I walked him around a bit.  His nerves seem to be very taut, and he complained of the "heat" here when it actually is pleasantly cool.  I feel if a "friendly atmosphere" can be maintained results will be forthcoming, especially from indirect methods.  
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
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