Germany: the last crew member of the U 96 submarine has passed away
Joining the Third Reich's Navy in 1935, Grade became an officer and served on U 96 as an engineer, responsible for the unit's technology and engines
Joining the Third Reich's Navy in 1935, Grade became an officer and served on U 96 as an engineer, responsible for the unit's technology and engines
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Berlin
October 17, 2023
© Agenzia Nova -
Friedrich Grade, the last living member of the group, has died at the age of 107.crew of the German submarine U 96 which, operational from 1940 to its sinking in 1945, inspired the film “Das Boot” by director Wolfgang Petersen (1981) and the series of the same name on Sky. Born in Buedelsdorf on 29 March 1916, Grade died peacefully in a nursing home in Bornheim on 13 October, as reported by the newspaper "Bild". Joining the Third Reich's Navy in 1935, Grade became an officer and served on U 96 as an engineer, responsible for the unit's technology and engines. In 1958, the World War II veteran joined the naval forces of the German Democratic Republic, engaging in submarine development until his indefinite discharge in 1974 with the rank of captain.
Fellow soldiers described the veteran as “more of a hobbyist than a soldier.” In this regard, “Bild” reports that, even in his old age, Grade “repaired everything for his friends” in the Bornheim retirement home, in particular household appliances. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the former naval officer created a naval battle game over the phone to combat boredom with the facility's guests.
In 2017, Grade published the previously unpublished diaries he had written on board the U 96. The novel “Das Boot” is dedicated to the operations of the submarine, published in 1973 by Lothar-Guenther Buchheim (1918-2007), aboard the unit as an officer and war correspondent. This is the work from which Petersen based the 1981 film of the same name, nominated for six Oscars.
Berlin
October 17, 2023
© Agenzia Nova -
Friedrich Grade, the last living member of the group, has died at the age of 107.crew of the German submarine U 96 which, operational from 1940 to its sinking in 1945, inspired the film “Das Boot” by director Wolfgang Petersen (1981) and the series of the same name on Sky. Born in Buedelsdorf on 29 March 1916, Grade died peacefully in a nursing home in Bornheim on 13 October, as reported by the newspaper "Bild". Joining the Third Reich's Navy in 1935, Grade became an officer and served on U 96 as an engineer, responsible for the unit's technology and engines. In 1958, the World War II veteran joined the naval forces of the German Democratic Republic, engaging in submarine development until his indefinite discharge in 1974 with the rank of captain.
Fellow soldiers described the veteran as “more of a hobbyist than a soldier.” In this regard, “Bild” reports that, even in his old age, Grade “repaired everything for his friends” in the Bornheim retirement home, in particular household appliances. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the former naval officer created a naval battle game over the phone to combat boredom with the facility's guests.
In 2017, Grade published the previously unpublished diaries he had written on board the U 96. The novel “Das Boot” is dedicated to the operations of the submarine, published in 1973 by Lothar-Guenther Buchheim (1918-2007), aboard the unit as an officer and war correspondent. This is the work from which Petersen based the 1981 film of the same name, nominated for six Oscars.
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