Canada's Naval History

Second World War
Battle of the Atlantic - The U-Boats Surrender

With Germany's defeat in May 1945, its U-Boats (submarines) were required to surrender to Allied forces. The Royal Canadian Navy was involved in the surrender of U-Boats in European waters, while U-190 and U-889, surrendering to Canadian forces in the Western Atlantic, were brought to ports in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia.

Artifact Record

German Prisoners Leaving Their U-Boat, Bay Bulls, Newfoundland

Canadian war artist Tom Wood's watercolour depicts German sailors being transferred from U-190 on 14 May 1945.

Wood, assigned to paint subjects in eastern Canada and Newfoundland, was present when Canadian ships escorted U-190 to Bay Bulls, south of St. John's. There, Canadians removed the last of the U-Boat's crew, who had been operating the vessel under guard. The majority of U-190's crew had been taken onto Canadian ships at the time of the submarine's surrender.

German Prisoners Leaving Their U-Boat, Bay Bulls, Newfoundland
Painted by Tom Wood
Beaverbrook Collection of War Art
CWM 19710261-4870