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.

Inside U-889

Two Canadians, one armed with a pistol, stand inside U-889's control room following the submarine's surrender in May 1945.

The control room was the submarine's nerve centre. The helmsman's controls can be seen on the right: a large compass mounted to the right of the watertight door, with the buttons to electrically control the U-Boat's rudder just visible below it. Directly above the compass is an engine room telegraph for controlling the speed of the submarine's diesel engines. Part of the commanding officer's quarters are visible through the watertight door (centre).

George Metcalf Archival Collection
CWM 20070014-018