- My name's Dan Snow,
and I want to tell you about History Hit TV. It's like the Netflix for history. Hundreds of exclusive
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available to fans of Timeline. If you go to History Hit TV, you can either follow the
information below this video, or just Google History Hit TV, and use the code, "Timeline". You get a special introductory offer. Go and check it out. In the meantime, enjoy this video. (triumphant music) (dramatic music) - [Narrator] The bay of Genoa, May, 2010. An Italian diver discovers
an astonishing U-Boat wreck. The submarine is virtually intact, resting nearly 400 feet underwater. Its presence raises a
variety of questions. What is this boat? Why did
it sink in these waters? A team of divers and
historians have joined forces to uncover the story of
this forgotten submarine. (water splashing) 70 years ago, packs of German
submarines traveled the seas, relentlessly attacking
Allied supply ships. These submarines,
nicknamed the Gray Wolves, were true predators. Accounts of their feats
made for great propaganda, and their crews were viewed
as exceptional soldiers. U-Boats were reputedly invincible. However, the research
on the Genovese wreck reveals quite a different reality. - [Narrator] What is the story behind this forgotten submarine, lying off the coast of
Genoa and La Spezia? Roberto Rinaldi is a
former Cousteau crew diver, who has turned to filmmaking, and knows the ocean depths well. For Roberto, the discovery of this wreck brings the promise of a
wonderful new adventure. - [Translator] In the
world of deep sea diving, you hear lots of legends
involving submarines. One day, my friend, Lorenzo Denvanzini, called me to tell me that
a submarine had been found in the waters of Portofino. He invited me to dive with him. I was truly surprised. The last thing I expected
to find here was a submarine stuck underwater in the mud, with its bow pointing upwards. I'd never seen anything like that before. (water splashing) - [Narrator] Roberto has
formed a team to investigate the identity of this boat. Aldo, Marco, and Gabriel are
all highly experienced divers, who have participated in
many underwater expeditions. (water splashing) The wreck is not easily accessible. It is resting at 400 feet
below the surface of the water. Man rarely swims in such depths, because the short expeditions
are extremely dangerous. (somber music) - [Narrator] Unearthing
the identity of the ship; this is not going to be an
easy task for these three men. Marine concretion is
everywhere on the wreckage, covering up any possible clues. There are no numbers painted on the hull or on the conning tower,
no distinguishing Marcs. Inside access is impossible. The entrance to the ship is blocked by overlapping pieces of metal. - [Narrator] The Genoa
Bay wreck isn't giving up its identity easily. In order to move forward, Roberto and Aldo have
decided to bring some skills to the team. (water splashing) Submarine buffs, Luc and Marc Braeuer, are the curators of Le Grand Blockhaus, a museum dedicated to the
Atlantic Wall and its history. They founded this museum inside the greatest German
fortification along the Atlantic. - [Translator] I think
at the end of the war, everyone had the same idea:
to move on, to turn the page. If it had been impossible at the time to destroy the U-Boats, the
underwater headquarters, and the bunkers, it would have been done, if only so people could forget
this terrible and deadly page in our history. It's taken years for us to begin wondering about these things; why they're still around and
what purpose they served. - [Narrator] In the rooms
of this unusual museum, many objects tell the story
of the German submarines. Marc and Luc Braeuer didn't
hesitate for a second when they were contacted
by Roberto Rinaldi. They had been waiting for
this sort of mystery wreck for years. - [Translator] What I find
fascinating in this project is the reconstructing of
the submarine's movements, from its launch to its demise, and also the prospect of adding
to our historical knowledge in this largely forgotten area. It's exciting to feel like
you're participating in history, and not just being a spectator. (plane roaring) - [Translator] Hi, welcome.
Did you have a good trip? (men speaking foreign language) - [Narrator] Marc and Luc
wanted to see the pictures of the wreck as soon as
they stepped foot in Italy. In the hills of Genoa, they're discovering these
images for the first time. - [Translator] You can probably make out the deck's pointed shape. (men speaking foreign language) - [Translator] It would
be interesting to be able to see this discovery all
the way through to the end, to identify the boat, to find its number, and retrace its entire history. We would find out how it ended up here, in front of La Spezia. - [Translator] What should we
be looking for specifically, to be sure? - [Translator] Try to cut through the nets and look for identification
on the rear and on the gun. - [Translator] Understood. (men speaking foreign language) - [Narrator] The historians
have asked Roberto and Aldo to focus on the gun, located
at the rear of the boat. Identifying this gun
would enable the research to move forward considerably, but a diving expedition
400 feet below the sea involves enormous constraints. (water splashing) - [Translator] Roberto's just dived in. Three minutes for the descent,
15 minutes at the wreck, and at least three and a
half hours to come back up very slowly. (tense music) - [Translator] According
to the earlier pictures, there's a huge mass of tangled netting. Who knows if they'll
have enough time to cut through all of it? (muffled scraping) - [Narrator] Roberto and
Aldo immediately realize that they will not be
able to clear the gun. Underwater currents
have wrapped the netting tightly around it. They will not be able to
uncover the precious number that would help Luc and
Marc to identify the boat. (oxygen hissing) - [Translator] We tried to
cut the net, didn't we, Aldo? - [Translator] It's everywhere. There are old and newer nets, cables. - [Translator] And
there's not enough time. - [Translator] Not enough time. After two minutes, you
can't see in front of you. You can't see what you're cutting. - [Translator] The
weather's good, isn't it? - [Translator] Yes. How
about a slice of pizza? - [Translator] Brothers, I
love you. You're the best. (men laughing) (whimsical music) - [Narrator] Roberto and
Aldo's unsuccessful dive Marcs a turning point
in the investigation. (car rumbling) Marc and Luc have decided to consult German military archives. This time, luck is on their side. In Freiburg, they have found a map with the location of U-Boat sinkings, as well as an important clue. Of the 62 submarines that
navigated the Mediterranean Sea, only three are unaccounted for, and the last known
position for one of them, the U 455, was close to Genoa. This information is
essential to Luc and Marc, because there is a place in Germany where you can find lots of
information on the U-Boats. The archives at Cuxhaven contain logbooks, objects, and photos. It is a real goldmine for researchers hunting down information. - [Translator] We are
researching the U-Boat U 455. (men speaking German) - [Narrator] Horst Bredau,
a former submariner himself, is the guardian of the temple. His knowledge of U-Boat
history is unparalleled. - [Translator] Everything
on the U 455 is here. There is a lot of information. - [Translator] It's unbelievable. There's so many pictures of our submarine. That's in Saint-Nazaire. It's incredible. - [Translator] We've acquired
exceptional material. And now, we have a real
foundation to work from, with lots of visual elements. We have pictures of the men,
and the different missions, and the training sessions, the crew's arrival and
departure from Saint-Nazaire. We have lots of references.
This is very important. - [Narrator] In Cuxhaven,
Luc and Marc have met someone essential to the investigation. Axel Niesile is a German
historian who is a regular at the archive library. As a renowned technical expert, he has shed light on the events leading up to several U-Boat sinkings, and has been involved in the
search for many old submarines. - [Translator] The U 455 was
most definitely a seven sea type submarine, but each ship-builder
works slightly differently. This is helpful today
when identifying the boats on the basis of photos. For instance, a distinguishing
feature on the U 455 is this railing along the tower. This type of railing comes
from the Kiel shipyard. And this particular magnetic compass. Boats built in later years
used a different model. - [Translator] In these pictures, you can see the tower in detail. - [Narrator] The photos found
in the Cuxhaven archives, and those taken by Roberto are compared. The three specialists are now confident that the submarine in Genoa is the U 455. Finding the boat's identity
is the key to moving forward. With the submarine's number, the logbook of its early
missions can be located. This document contains lots of information on the submarine's travels, but it doesn't answer the primary question that continues to fascinate
Luc, Marc and Axel: what happened to the U 455? The lists of the crew should help move the investigation forward. These lists contain the
names of the various sailors who were assigned to this boat. - [Translator] Here are some leads. Here is an LI, an onboard
engineer, named Savotkot. Here's a Schwarz Gerhard. Schwarz is a pretty
common name in Germany, so that one may be difficult. There's an officer Erbaun. After 70 years, if we
could find three or four of these crew members,
it would be a miracle. - [Translator] It'd be a
miracle if we find one. - [Narrator] Luc and Marc
have only been in Germany for a few days, but Axel Niesile has just
given them some wonderful news. Two of the U 455 crew are still alive and willing to meet with them. These two men had been
transferred elsewhere, just before the boat's final mission, and therefore escaped the shipwreck. - [Translator] I am Luc Braeuer. - [Translator] We spoke over the phone, and we've come from France. - [Narrator] Gerhard
Schwarz worked on the U 455 in the diesel engine room. - [Translator] On here
is his military record. The U indicates that he's a submariner. - [Translator] I had no
idea I was being assigned to the submarines. Everyone born in 1922 was
supposed to join the ranks of the army. Under Hitler, everyone had to serve. This is Spitzer. I'd
recognize him anywhere. This is Spitzer and me again. - [Narrator] Helmut Spitzer
was a trained mechanic, before being drafted into the army. Onboard U 455, he was assigned
to the electric engine room. Although picture taking was
prohibited, Gerhard took many. Thanks to this exclusive testimony, Luc and Marc are learning about the real, everyday life of these submarine soldiers, far from the images circulated at the time by the German propaganda machine. (cheerful orchestra music) (man speaking German) - [Narrator] The case of Gunther Prien is a perfect illustration of
the fabricated cult status enjoyed by submarine commanders, to the fascination of their crews. Prien had the courage to
sink a British battleship within the English of Scapa Flow, which was a momentous achievement. - [Translator] This is the
first instance of propaganda being intentionally used
to showcase the U-Boats. The Fuhrer meets them at city hall. (man speaking German) (Axel speaking German) - [Translator] This event marked the birth of the legend of the Aces, which was consciously
staged for the occasion, in order to introduce the
submarines to the public on a positive note. - [Narrator] Recruiting
new crews became essential. An ever-increasing number
of young sailors was needed to defy Britain. (men speaking German) - [Narrator] Gerhard
Schwarz and Helmut Spitzer, like many young submarine sailors, were trained at the Kiel
base in Northern Germany. - [Translator] We wanted to go. We wanted to achieve great
things like others before us. All the newspapers
(indistinct) the U-Boats and their success. The Deutschland folk in
all the radio stations talked constantly of their victories. For those who weren't in the Navy, it seemed so overwhelming, the things that one boat
could accomplish on its own. The impact. - [Translator] We were all novices and we were somewhat bewildered. We didn't get a chance to
gather our thoughts together. What's going to happen? We were leaving for sea. It was wartime, and you
just had to take things as they came. (upbeat music) - [Narrator] January 15th, 1942. The commander of U 455 made
his first entry in the logbook. "0605. We depart from
Kiel on our first patrol." Helmut Spitzer and Gerhard Schwarz will discover the high
seas for the first time in their lives. The submarine leaves the
bay of Kiel and sets forth for the North. The coast quickly disappears,
the temperature drops. Inside the boat, the men get familiar with their surroundings. Gerhard and Helmut
don't know the objective of their mission. Each sailor has his own theories. Are we sailing towards England? Are we going to lay mines,
or attack a supply ship? The captain alone is privy to
orders from the high command. (radar beeping) Hitler is convinced at
this time that the Allies are planning to arrive
via Northern Norway, in order to cut Germany
off from its ore supply. U 455 is one of the submarines
sent to the Norwegian coast, to await the Allies. (tense music) Gerhard and Helmut's
first outing is hellish. The open waters of Northern
Europe welcomes them with surging waves and violent, icy winds. The boat ricochets back and forth between the rising
walls of water that slam against the hull. The lookouts do not have a moment's rest. The young sailors are
unable to hold down food. - [Narrator] Day in and day out, the crew members learn to
coexist in the limited space the submarine has to offer. Each man keeps his growing
apprehension to himself. - [Translator] Of course
we were rough with it. What was going to happen to us? - [Translator] How does one describe a complete state of fear? It's impossible to describe. I'm incapable of answering
the question, "What is fear?" (water splashing) - [Narrator] U 455 does not
remain in Norway for long. A naval battle has shifted
its theater of operations, and is now concentrated around Britain. On March 21st, 1942, Commander
Hanz Heinrich Gieszler receives a message from Admiral Donitz. He must leave the Norwegian coast and return to Saint-Nazaire. (radar beeping) Just like Brest, La Rochelle, and Lorient, Saint-Nazaire is under German control. These port cities are the
ideal bases from which to hunt down the commercial
ships that supply Britain. Gerhard Schwarz and Helmut Spitzer arrive in the French port after
a mere 10 days at sea. The commander is frustrated. He writes in the logbook,
"Entry into Saint-Nazaire. Moving towards shelter number two. There was no enemy contact
during our second mission. We are feeling increasingly inferior, because we have not sunk anything yet." - [Translator] Arriving in Saint-Nazaire, the sailors of U 455
discovered a massive complex. The German Navy had settled
here to build a giant bunker, including 14 cells that could
accommodate 20 submariners. It was a small city, with 3500 men working on its construction. Everywhere, submarines
were being resupplied, repaired and rearmed with torpedoes. This ant farm is what the
soldiers discovered upon arrival. They had just come from
the tiny port of Bergen. You could not begin to
imagine this huge complex, whose sole purpose was
to service the battle of the Atlantic. (men singing in German) - [Narrator] The United
States' entry into the war will change the outcome of this battle. But for now, the U-Boats
are in their prime. The Americans never imagined
that German submarines might sail right up to their coasts. American ships left
their harbors unescorted, and towns remained lit up all night long. These were ideal
conditions for the U-Boats, who succeeded in sinking many ships. (man speaking German) - [Narrator] In this context,
U 455's first American mission is quite simple: to find supply ships and sink them. (tense music) The crew is determined and
convinced of its strength. Commander Hanz Heinrich
Gieszler records the submarine's first battle in his logbook. "That day, the lookout saw
a tanker on the horizon. It was The British Workman." (bell ringing) Gerhard cuts the diesel engines. Helmut launches the electric engines, in preparation for submersion. The first missiles are loaded
into the torpedo tubes. The commander gives the order to fire. Nothing happens on the first shot. The second torpedo hits its target. 6,994 tons. It's a beginning. Gerhard and Helmut have
finally entered the war. - [Translator] I still remember
when we sunk our first ship, The British Workman. We were given permission
to come on deck and look at the ship in flames. We saw people jumping into
lifeboats, hoping to escape. - [Translator] They
were jumping overboard, trying to save their lives by swimming out into the middle of the ocean. And you know you are the
person who has caused this, who participated in this. Not alone, of course, but
you were still part of it. Would they survive or not? That's what worried us at the time. It worried me, in any case. - [Narrator] Less than a
week after this victory, a cruiser ship catches sight of U 455, and launches an underwater grenade attack. Three, four, five, six. From the first minutes of the attack, the commander orders an
immediate submersion. The grenades won't stop coming. 36, 37, 38. (metallic creaking) Gerhard and Helmut will count
a total of 39 explosions. (muffled banging) - [Translator] You hear the
grenades fall into the water, and you wait. What's going to happen?
How far away is it? How long will this go on? Will it be quick or not?
Where is the cruiser now? Where are we now? These are the things that
race through your mind. (upbeat band music) - [Narrator] On its way back,
U 455 sinks a second ship. 13,900 tons. Commander Hanz Heinrich
Gieszler isn't a U-Boat Ace yet. But two destroyed warships makes
this first Atlantic mission a definite success. - [Translator] They greeted us with music. The head of the flotilla was
there waiting on the pier to greet us. As soon as we were standing
to attention on the deck, he came onboard and shook everyone's hand. (tense music) I was given photos from Saint-Nazaire, where you could see Gieszler
being greeted with his crew. There were women round
them. This really happened. He's a hero. He should
receive a hero's welcome. (cheerful music) - [Translator] It was a wonderful feeling. Imagine, you've spent the last
60 days in this silly place, the same narrow space, in one room. Only one room. We managed to make it
back alive, in one piece, and you say to yourself, "I'm home." It's a very emotional
moment, wouldn't you agree? You feel so free. You
do whatever you want. - [Narrator] U 455's crew stays
in the hotels of La Bolle, or in the rest camps in the countryside. Enjoying the beach, sports and cabarets, the submariners received
very special treatment. Early 1942 was a great period
for the propaganda machine, which makes the most of these successes. However, this situation
will not last for long. (cheerful music) Roosevelt takes stock
of the damages inflicted by the U-Boats. In response, he announces
a ship building program of eight million tons per year. The war has just gone industrial. In Saint-Nazaire, U 455 is
checked, repaired, repainted, and ready to take off
after a two month break. (ominous music) - [Narrator] This time, its
mission isn't so simple. America's new strategy has
forced commercial ships to travel in convoys,
protected by warships. Donitz's invincible U-Boats
cannot approach these convoys. Attacking them seems impossible. Onboard U 455, time is spent
observing Allied ships, but not attacking them. The mood is glum, until the radio operator receives a message: "Strong Sunday boy arrived." Gerhard Schwarz and Helmut Spitzer learn through the boat's PA system
that Commander Gieszler has just had a son. (man singing in German) - [Translator] The commander
was in great spirits, and not at all interested in
hunting or sinking enemy ships. He had an heir. He was very proud. And we all shared in his happiness. - [Narrator] After 50 days back at sea, U 455 hadn't launched a single torpedo. (tense music) The submarine returns to
the base at Saint-Nazaire with an empty score card. Admiral Donitz customarily
greets each commander returning home. He listens to the detailed
account of the mission, hour by hour. Those who don't seem to be up to the task are transferred out. Was this the case for Commander Gieszler? There's nothing in the
archives to indicate this. However, within days, new
captain Hans Martin Scheibe is named commander of the submarine. - [Translator] Scheibe
was much more aggressive. We joked that his neck was
itching for the Knight's Cross. Commanders were obsessed with it. They all wanted the Knight's Cross. - [Narrator] Despite his unbending nature and his thirst for battle, Commander Hans Martin Scheibe will have new problems to face. It is late 1942, and
the tables are turning. The Allies have begun to mobilize. Germany has lost the upper hand in all theaters of operation. In Stalingrad, her forces are surrounded. In Africa, she suffers
setback after setback. The submarine bases on the
French coast are bombarded. The Allied planes the U-Boats
as soon as they leave port. (rapid artillery fire) - [Translator] They wanted
to paralyze the submarines, both in Lorient and Saint-Nazaire, to stop them from going out. - [Translator] We asked ourselves why. What was going on? Had the British or the Americans
suddenly become so smart and powerful that their only concern was with our submarines? (man speaking German) - [Narrator] Is it because he's now part of Hitler's inner circle that Donitz doesn't want to disappoint the Fuhrer? Admiral Donitz persists,
despite the difficulties faced by his crews. (tense music) For its seventh mission, U 455 is sent off to the American coast. After several weeks, the
submarine will need to connect with its supply ship. In the past, this has
been a simple procedure. - [Translator] We had enough
ammunition and supplies to stay out at sea for four to five weeks. But after three extra days,
we were cutting it close. We got a message informing
us that the supply ship had been located somewhere in the area. - [Narrator] This time,
things didn't go as planned. - [Translator] there was a
mass of dark clouds overhead, and the plane was flying
inside these clouds. The pilot was so clever
that when the cloud mass started to break up, he flew straight towards
us in bright sunlight, so that the sentinels and
officers would be blinded. With this blinding trick, he
was sure he would succeed. If his aim was good, we would be finished. - [Narrator] How did U 455
escape the Allied planes? The memories of this
mission are quite foggy for Gerhard Schwarz and Helmut Spitzer. The logbook doesn't
contain any real detail of this attack either. So, Luc and Marc have decided
to contact Tim Mulligan, director of military
archives in Washington. They want to know if the
Allies recorded any interaction between their plans and U 455. (ominous music) Tim Mulligan has found a report written by lieutenant RL Sterns, the pilot who attacked the submarines. He describes an extremely violent combat. - The appearance of the aircraft immediately alerted the
Germans to their situation. They threw up a wall
of anti aircraft fire. Three more American
aircraft were then vectored to the area. The supply U-Boat stayed on the surface almost to the last. Sterns made the final attack himself, and he observed a massive
explosion underwater. He believed he had sunk the supply U-Boat. From subsequent research,
done in the 1990s, we now believe that
during the early stages of the combined Allied action, U 455 followed what was
always a common sense dictum when you're under air
attack: dive and live. - [Narrator] U 455 has
miraculously escaped from the fighting. What might sound like a
happy ending actually marks a turning point for these submarines. The U-Boat, once considered
to be a merciless hunter, has become an easily destroyed prey. - The consequence of the
Allied victory at sea in the spring and summer of 1943 meant that the flow of supplies and troops and equipment from North
America to the British Isles would be uninterrupted, essentially, by the U-Boat menace. This was the precondition
that Roosevelt, Churchill, and all the Allied leaders had realized was necessary before an invasion of Europe could be launched. - [Narrator] The U 455 returns
to the base in Lorient, with a damaged tower. The sailors no longer feel victorious, and the water suddenly looks like lead. Bad news circulates silently
from one boat to the next. The last Mediterranean ports under Field Marshal Rommel's control fall one by one, passing
under Allied command. Donitz is forced to reposition
his U-Boats once again. U 455 has escaped British
and American forces in the North Sea, in the
middle of the Atlantic, and along the African coast. It must now join the fight
in the Mediterranean. On January 6th, 1944, Gerhard Schwarz and Helmut Spitzer leave Lorient. In the early days of the war, the submarines were
cheered on by the crowd as they left port. Today, they depart in silence. The two men look out to
sea as a new obstacle rises in front of the boat stem: Gibraltar. - [Translator] For German
submarines during World War Two, passing Gibraltar was a real challenge. The Strait's very narrow. It's a British fort,
whose team of escorts, planes and radar are on
the watch 24 hours a day. - [Narrator] This expedition
is once again an ordeal. The British have sunk nine
U-Boats in the past few months. 10 others had to abandon
the idea of passing through the Strait following heavy combat. How can U 455 succeed
where so many have failed? (ominous music) - [Narrator] Given the
amount of enemy traffic, Commander Scheibe decided to pass through the Strait at night, and take advantage of the currents entering the Mediterranean. - [Translator] We couldn't
navigate with the diesel engines. We had to move in complete silence, propelled only very slightly
by the electric engines. We had to wear cork-soled shoes,
so as not to make any noise when walking on the metal. We weren't allowed to speak either. Succeeding in passing through Gibraltar was a truly heroic act in those days. - [Narrator] After 40 hours underwater, U 455 finally surfaces. The oxygen level inside
the submarine is very low, and the men are close to fainting. But who cares? They made
it through the Strait. They are returning from
their ninth mission. (gentle music) - [Narrator] Is it because
they escaped great danger, or are they simply relieved? In any event, a curious bond
has developed between the men and their boat. An order awaits Helmut
Spitzer and Gerhard Schwarz upon their arrival in Toulon. High command informs
them that they will be returning to Germany, to enroll in sub officers' training. They leave U 455 to its destiny. (dramatic music) What happened during U 455's last mission? The answer to this question
isn't found in German archives. It isn't in British or
American archives either. The circumstances surrounding
the sinking of U 455 are still unknown. - [Translator] There are
several possible causes for the sinking of a submarine. The first and most plausible
one, in my opinion, would be a mine. Then, there's the
possibility of an air attack, or a sea attack by a destroyer. - [Translator] If we could find an anchor, it would support the mine theory. - [Narrator] At this
point, the investigation has become more complex
for Luc, Marc, and Axel. Additional means are
required to move forward. The Comex, a French maritime
exploration company, has provided the team with precious help, by making the Remore available to them. As the mission's technical expert, Axel has been chosen to
lead the study of the boat. This is a first for him. He
has never done a wreck dive. - [Translator] When I was a child, I always thought, "Wow, it
must be impressive to dive." And now, I'm going into
the blue. It's fantastic. (tense music) - [Translator] There it is. That's the boat. It's incredible. - [Translator] Hi, Axel. How's
everything going down there? - [Translator] It's a marvelous sight. I didn't think it was possible to have such an incredible view of a
boat at the bottom of the sea. This is one of the most
beautiful moments of my life. I'm 400 feet under the sea, and I can practically touch
the boat, just by reaching out. (man speaking German) - [Translator] Can you see anything? - [Translator] We're inspecting the tower, and we've noticed that the
periscope's extended slightly by about 12 to 15 inches. That is rather unusual. - [Narrator] This is a first clue. The periscope was up when the boat sunk, which means that the
submarine was navigating close to the surface at the time. - [Translator] Axel, can you
see any signs of an explosion on the boat? - [Translator] We are now
right above the sea floor. At least 30 feet of the
stern appear to be missing. The absence of such a
large section of the stem would indicate that a strong
explosion had taken place, and possibly destroyed the
entire rear of the boat. - Perfect. Danke. - [Narrator] After
inspecting the submarine for over an hour, Axel is able to offer
a more detailed picture of the last moments of U 455. - [Translator] There is an essential point that needs to be taken
into account, I believe. The boat is pointing upwards
at a 45 degree angle. This means that there was
still some air in the front, at least initially. The idea is a gruesome one,
because even if there was air remaining in this part of the boat, the crew had virtually
no chance of survival, due to the steepness of the slope. Imagine that inside the boat, people could barely move around
under normal circumstances. In this position, it would
be like climbing to the top of a mountain. There must have been panic and confusion. Escape would have been impossible, assuming there were even
any survivors left onboard. - [Narrator] In Genoa, the
Remore diving expedition has not gone unnoticed. Paola Bottini, in charge of underwater archeological surveys in Italy, remembers a recent discovery. (Paola speaking Italian) - [Narrator] During the
exploration of a field of amphorae located
not far from the wreck, divers stumbled upon a strange object, apparently a mine. The existence of this mine
sheds considerable light on the circumstances
surrounding the sinking. Thanks to this discovery, the investigation is about to
take another unexpected turn. (people speaking Italian) Axel Niesile has been able
to find German, Italian, and British mine maps of the zone. These maps have a big surprise in store for the three historians. - [Translator] The boat
had received the order to rally to this spot for 2200 hours, so it could be escorted by a surface ship. Unfortunately, on the way, the submarine encountered
a German mine field. - [Translator] Didn't
the commander have a map of the German mine locations? - [Translator] Apparently not. This information was obviously top secret, and it seems like someone
forgot to provide the submarine with these maps. And this tragic oversight
caused the death of 50 men, who, spotting the
coastline in the distance, surely thought that they had made it home. (ominous music) - [Narrator] After escaping
underwater grenades and resisting Allied air
attacks over nine missions, U 455 was in fact the victim
of this invisible trap. (metallic creaking) - [Narrator] The team has
invited Gerhard Schwarz to come to Genoa for a last
tribute to his fallen comrades. For the research team,
this is a solemn occasion. (melancholy music) (men speaking German) - [Gerhard] My best friend in there. I remember more names, now. - [Man] I understand. - Enough, finished. - [Man] Yes? - Genug.
- [Man] Okay. - Genug. - [Man] Do you want to go
to the surface? Yes, okay.
That's an amazing wreck, spooky as hell. I scrubbed through the video to get to the underwater sections so may have missed it, was there a sonar picture? It's hard to tell just how vertical it is- looks to be 70° or so, and they say the stern was blown off so I wonder how on earth it's staying upright like that.
Strangely, I was about to post this over the weekend too, and here we are- I can say I've only seen a couple wrecks like that who've foundered on an oblique angle due to an obvious physics anomaly. One theory is that yes, there may actually still be air in this old decaying war grave, but we'll never know, so may they rest in peace, and may we rest with this odd mystery.
dude, the audio english dub over atrocious.... good vid though
Air pockets? So someone could have lived a little longer after it hit the bottom?