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	Translation of draft letter prepared by Kapitänleutnant (lieutenant) HORST DEGEN (U-701) at Camp Devens, Massachusetts during latter part of July 1942, and believed intended for the B.d.U. (Admiral commanding U-boats).
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	My dear Admiral:
	Much to my regret it is not accorded me to report back to my Commander in the usual manner.  A cruel fate, regrettably aroused by the personal fault and negligence of one of my watch officers, has wrested the weapon out of my hand.  I assume that the few names of the survivors have been received by you through official Red Cross report.  It is extraordinarily galling for us here to be prisoners of war while our comrades out there are continuing to do their duty.  But even though misfortune has been our lot, one is nevertheless thankful that it has been foreordained that our petty lives should be left to us, especially since one had to fight for it so very hard in these oily, salty, luckily very warm, waters.  Heaven has presented us with much hardship, and when one no longer has firm ground under one's feet, then one must simply SWIM.  With only a few personnel and some discarded life vests, few indeed would be able to hold out, in a rough sea, for 50 hours.  We who remain drifted in all 90 sea miles; that is the reason we were found so late.  After a few days in the hospital we became human beings once more.  We are presently quartered in a very pleasantly situated military encampment (similar to Döberitz).  We are treated correctly and well, and the food is good.  May I not at this time request the award of the following decorations:  Iron Cross, 1st Class - to Obersteuermann (quartermaster of warrant grade) GÜNTER KUNERT, who has stood his man very well on all undertakings and who has contributed to the successes of the ship.  Iron Cross, 2nd Class - Funkmaat (radioman 3 class) H. GROOTHEER, Maschinengefreiter (fireman, 3 class) G. SCHWENDEL, Mechanikergefreiter (Seaman, 2 class) W. SELDTE, Matrose (apprentice seaman) FAUST.  (All have stood their man).
	U-boot Abzeichen -
	I hope that these lines will reach you, sir.  We shall keep our Führer and our country in our thoughts.
	With German greetings,
	Respectfully yours,
	DEGEN
	(Translation prepared by Op-16-F-9)
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