Chapter 286: Honor

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By the time everyone was standing in place on the dock, a destroyer had appeared on the sea horizon outside the port, and everyone could see

By the time everyone was standing in place on the dock, a destroyer had appeared on the sea horizon outside the port, and everyone could see a tiny black dot following behind it.

Everyone began to whisper among themselves. No one was quite sure if the little black dot following behind was the hero they were here to welcome today, the German submarine U-211 that had shocked the world.

Before the sneak attack on Scapa Flow, people’s impression of German submarines was mostly retained from the First World War. Although submarine warfare at that time had cast a shadow over the naval powers of various countries, this shadow had never been so thick. When a submarine could secretly slip into a port and slaughter several capital ships in one go, this weapon had already made the whole world feel a sense of panic.

In the week after the Scapa Flow incident, the United States Navy had investigated the entire process of the German submarine’s surprise attack and had then sent a 70-page report back to their home country. The day after this report reached the relevant US departments, the US Congress had passed a request from the navy to lay minefields as a barrier in naval bases such as Pearl Harbor and to increase the patrol density of their destroyers.

Just as everyone was whispering, the destroyer led the small black dot closer and closer. Everyone could finally make out the silhouette of the small black dot. It was a German submarine of no great tonnage, sailing slowly behind the destroyer. Its deck was crowded with people, obscuring half of the submarine’s conning tower fairwater.

Then people could clearly see the torpedo tubes at the front of the submarine, see the mottled marks on its hull, and see clearly the huge number painted on the conning tower, the number that had long been firmly remembered by naval experts all over the world—”U-211.”

The port’s military band, which had been prepared for a long time, began to play the German military anthem. The melody echoed in the sky over the port, allowing the German Navy to regain its confidence in the struggle for hegemony of the oceans. As the long baton in the conductor’s hand rose and fell, the drumbeats and trombones intertwined into beautiful notes that beat against the hearts of all the reporters.

Before the U-211’s sneak attack on Scapa Flow, if you were to ask people their impression of the submarine as a weapon, most would tell you that a submarine was like a “thief,” sneaking into someone’s backyard, smashing some pots and pans, and stealing a few tulips from the backyard.

But after the U-211’s sneak attack on Scapa Flow, if you were to ask people their impression of the submarine again, this time people would tell you that a submarine was like an assassin, cold and hidden, striking the most fatal blow in the most fatal place, bringing despair yet carrying a hint of pride.

Suddenly, thunderous applause erupted from the formation of naval officers and men on the side, who broke out in cheers of welcome. The return of their comrades-in-arms made them cheer with joy, and the glorious combat record of their comrades inspired them to fight bravely in the future. And so, very reluctantly, the foreign reporters standing there also began to applaud, by no means enthusiastically, and not even close to friendly.

The distance grew even closer. The lead destroyer had already turned around and was heading back to continue its unfinished patrol mission. And that submarine, swaying, came alongside the pier. The military band’s performance was still loud and clear, but the rhythm was slightly off. The applause came to an abrupt halt, as if a flock of noisy ducks had had their necks squeezed.

A special gangway for submarines was placed onto the submarine’s deck. A young sailor in charge was even clumsily laying a red carpet on the gangway. But when the first submarine sailor to walk on the red carpet jumped onto the pier, many people uncomfortably swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

This submarine soldier was wearing a dirty cotton coat. The white naval uniform underneath was no different from grey. The filthy oil stains on his chest were enough to make one feel the urge to vomit. Of course, if you looked at his leather boots, they were so dilapidated it was even more despairing.

The second sailor to walk onto land was even more bizarre. This soldier sized up everyone opposite him with a scrutinizing gaze, and then his dry lips moved twice with a strange expression. He said nothing, looking a bit neurotic.

The third soldier’s face was not seen clearly by the people, because as soon as this person’s two feet touched the ground of the pier, he fell to his knees, crying, and began to kiss the concrete ground. This action of his startled the people around him. An SS officer standing behind Fanny even put his hand on his pistol.

The fourth person to walk down the gangway looked much more normal, because he was wearing the captain’s combat uniform, with a waterproof leather jacket over it. But this man, who should have been Captain Prien, had not cleaned his beard for several days, so people could not recognize who this wild man was.

The first mate following behind him had messy hair, and his eyes were heavily bloodshot. This person was carrying a leather case, which should have contained the combat log, some secret documents, and some personal letters that the crew had prepared to send out.

The Vice Admiral of the Navy, the Commander-in-Chief of the submarine force, Dönitz, left the crowd and walked quickly forward, extending his hand to his trusted and favored general. “Captain Prien! Welcome back to the fatherland! Your combat record has been proclaimed across the four seas.”

Prien, with a somewhat dazed expression, extended his own hand and shook Dönitz’s. “Thank you. I didn’t think I’d see you again. We did our best. We only truly escaped the danger yesterday.”

His words were no exaggeration. The British Navy’s pursuit fleet had only truly given up their operation to hunt them down the day before. The last two destroyers that had been blockading them had turned back over their heads.

Along the way, they had gone through a life-and-death escape and evasion. When they surfaced at night, they only dared to expose the snorkel to charge the submarine’s batteries. It wasn’t until two days ago that they had dared to surface the conning tower and let everyone take a smoke outside under the moonlight to relieve their near-breaking emotions.

They had lived in the cramped and damp submarine cabin for several days, unable to see the sunlight, feel the sea breeze, or breathe the fresh air. The entire submarine was filled with a foul smell, and almost everyone was driven mad by the oppressive atmosphere.

Before the operation, Prien had destroyed the code machine and the codebooks, so they had lost all contact with Germany. For these few days, they had not known the results of their battle, nor did they know if they could even return to their motherland. Only the sorrow of not daring to commit suicide had supported their belief in continuing to flee.

Because they had remained submerged for most of the time, they had not even dared to use the galley to heat their food, and could only eat hardtack biscuits and dried fruit to stave off hunger. It wasn’t until the night two days ago that they had truly had a luxurious late-night snack, and Prien had also received the signal and guidance to find them.

The U-boat U-211, which had been frequently evading being hunted, only then discovered that they had deviated from their intended course by a full 75 nautical miles. So they had adjusted their course and had begun their true journey home. And it was because they had deviated from their course that the experienced Royal Navy’s blockade had come up empty. This was also the reason why they had encountered the two returning British destroyers yesterday.

“You have suffered! You are the heroes of the Reich! The Führer has personally ordered me to send you to the Felsennest. He wants to see you in person!” Dönitz said with a smile, and as he smiled, tears began to stream down his face. “You are my most precious treasure. Thank God you have returned safely.”

His tears made Prien not know what to do. The several crew members behind Prien also began to cry. They had experienced the most unforgettable adventure but had also experienced the most cruel and dangerous escape. The suffering they, as young men, had endured had long since surpassed the limits of what they could bear. So when they saw their superior’s genuine emotion, they couldn’t help but vent their own.

Seeing a perfectly good ceremony to welcome heroes turning into a funeral of weeping and wailing, Fanny narrowed her eyes and walked out. Soon, the crewmen all stopped their crying, because they saw a voluptuous and beautiful woman walk out of the crowd. Which idiot would want to continue to do something embarrassing at a time like this?

“Gentlemen, the suffering you have endured can be seen from your appearance,” Fanny said, standing in front of Prien. Her beautiful voice, like a magic sound, entered the ears of everyone present. “But the feat you have accomplished has already been recorded in the annals of history. Do you want to leave a coward’s footnote on this glorious mission in the final few hours?”

She looked at the sailors. “Wipe your noses! Go to the rest area, shave your beards, pack your things, and put on your spare dress uniforms. Because in a little while… I am taking you to a hall full of girls. Tonight, are you going to spend the night with a beautiful woman on a soft bed, or are you going to continue to use your left hand? Do I need to give you ideas?”

Fanny glanced at Dönitz beside her, who had already been won over and had long since wiped away his tears. She raised an eyebrow and said, “Translate my words for these sailors again. If you can’t handle it, I’ll have those reporters take pictures of these German sailors just as they are and publish them in the papers. Then I will personally read the news to the Führer in bed one morning.”

“You are the soldiers of Germany! Is there anyone who wants to be a coward?” Dönitz immediately asked loudly.

“No!” everyone replied loudly, shaking their heads.

“Tell everyone who you are!” Dönitz asked loudly once more.

“We are the Reich’s aces! We are the most formidable U-boat men!” everyone replied loudly.

Soon, the interview was able to proceed smoothly.

Dönitz returned to Raeder’s side and, looking at the U-boat men who had originally been listless but were now full of spirit, he quietly turned his head. “I originally thought she only got the minister’s position because of her beauty.”

“And now?” Raeder asked, the corners of his mouth turned up, looking with satisfaction at the beautiful figure not far away.

“I am fortunate to be born in a Germany full of talented people. Although I can no longer be the greatest one, I will strive to be a member of the group of the greatest,” Dönitz said with a sigh.

Raeder took his eyes back and looked at his subordinate. “I will also strive.”