A local reporter was able to get an interview with one of the German captains who was described as a "typical dyed-in-the-wool Nazi." Lt. Albert Finster blamed England for the war and also said that Allied bombing had ruined his native town of Hamburg.
Two more German U-boats arrived the next day. At 2 pm, the U-873 was towed into the harbor, followed by the U-1228. That night, a wire service report added to the excitement saying that the USS Sutton had captured a German U-boat near Newfoundland with three high-ranking German officials and two dead Japanese scientist aboard.
On Friday, May 18, the public eagerly awaited the arrival of the fourth and biggest prize of all the U-boats. Rumors circulated about its cargo. The submarine was headed for Japan which was still at war, Supposedly, it carried personnel and materiel to help the Japanese war effort.
The U-234 arrived at Portsmouth at 7:30 am on Saturday, May 19, and was greeted by a swarm of journalists. The high-ranking officers aboard made it a huge story.
The submarine carried a disassembled Messerschmitt Me 262 let fighter, prototypes, technical descriptions of new weapons and several senior weapons technicians.
--GreGen
