The Wolf Rock keepers broadcast the news of the sinking of U-1209 over an open channel and presumably with this in mind the Admiralty decided to make the news public knowledge by reporting the incident to the BBC. Forty three of the crew of 51 were picked up and 42 sent as prisoners of war after interrogation. There have been claims that the Allied ships torpedoed and sunk the U-boat but in fact she sank before they had arrived on the scene as was confirmed by the Lighthouse Keepers who witnessed the drama unfolding whilst providing a running commentary from Wolf Rock.Ĭommandant Huelsenbeck, at three days away from his 25 th Birthday, was reported to have collapsed and died on board HMCS Montreal. HMCS Montreal and HMCS Ribble were in the vicinity and were sent to pick up survivors and at 12.38 the Montreal reported that the submarine had sunk in 155 degrees, one to one and a half miles off Wolf Rock. It was later reported by the crew that whilst they were abandoning ship at 10.45, that Huelsenbeck threw a Rating off the life raft so he could save himself.Īt 11.01 Charlie Cherrett sent a further signal to Trinity House stating that the U-boat had sunk about one and a half miles off Wolf Rock and the crew had taken to life rafts. Our thanks to Phil Hadley for the new information and the photograph of the funeral. The photograph below, taken by Cornish Guardian photographer George Ellis, shows Claussen's swastika draped coffin being carried through Bodmin Cemetery. He was given a military funeral in Bodmin Cemetary on 23rd December 1944 where he lay until his body was exumbed after the war and reburied in Cannock Chase German Military Cemetary. In March 2018 PLHG was contacted by Phil Hadley with the information that Clausen was actually taken to Bodmin Energency Hospital, where he died on 19th December 1944. In fact, on the fate of Hans George Claussen, Charlie Cherrett's memory seems to have let him down. Although he was picked up by Allied rescue boats, he later died from his injuries in Penzance hospital and was buried in the town. He had been the most popular officer on board according to the interrogation notes. Hans George Claussen (Engineering Officer) stayed below deck to scuttle the boat and was blown out of the conning tower just before U-1209 sank. Submerging again, she pumped fuel oil out to enable her to float to the surface again where the Commanding Officer opened the hatch and was already on the bridge himself when he gave the order to ‘Abandon Ship’. Although the submarine had tried to dive, she was forced to surface but the lack of air pressure on board made it impossible to open the conning tower hatch at this stage. The U-boat had been badly holed aft and was stern heavy with water rising in the diesel and motor rooms. They then reported that a man was seen standing on the conning tower. The lighthouse then reported that the U-boat had slipped off again and was now proceeding westwards. His first signal to Trinity House in Penzance reported that the U-boat had grounded and then the heavy swell had washed it back into the sea, only to throw it back on the rocks once again. His worst fears were confirmed when Charlie heaved himself up onto the small window space and looking down onto the rock he could clearly see a German U-boat sitting high and dry below them.
He and the two other keepers heard a terrifying, metallic scraping noise. On the Wolf Rock Lighthouse, keeper Charles (Charlie) Cherrett was ‘acting keeper in charge’. At the height of their disagreement, U-1209 struck the rock causing fatal damage to the submarine.
The CPO reported that the U-boat was on collision course with Wolf Rock but Huelsenbeck insisted that they were well to the West of it. Early on 18 th December 1944, a heated argument took place on board U-1209 between the Commanding Officer, Ewald Huelsenbeck and a Navigational Chief Petty Officer.
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