German U-boat memorial at Möltenort – Heikendorf, Germany


U-Boot Memorial Möltenort
Memorial wall with the 30,000 names of German sailors who stayed at sea – Möltenort Heikendorf, Germany

At Möltenort, the U-boat memorial shows us 30,000 names engraved in a memorial wall. These are all the lost crew members of each German U-boat lost in battle. It also states the (probable) place and cause of loss. It is strange to read how many U-boats still have not been found. You get a good picture of the progress of the battle at sea throughout World War Two and can clearly notice that the Allies were getting better at locating and destroying German submarines. By the end of the war the cause of the loss of most U-boats with 30 to 50 people on board is often just a single allied airplane.

U-Boot Memorial Möltenort
Memorial plaque for the fallen of the German Kriegsmarine of both World Wars at Möltenort, Germany
U-Boot Memorial Möltenort
Paying our respects at the U-Boot Ehrenmal Möltenort – Heikendorf, Germany
U-Boot Ehrenmal Möltenort
German Eagle guarding the memorial
U-Boot Ehrenmal Möltenort
Plaque commemorating the fallen U-Boot sailors of World War Two

The plaque above states:

During the World War 1939-1945 30,003 men of the U-boat navy lost their lives. 739 submarines stayed at sea.

In the Atlantic and the English Channel 18,897 men 458 submarines

In the Baltic Sea 2313 men 80 submarines
In the North Sea 3509 men 76 submarines
In the Mediterranean 1344 men 51 submarines
In the West Indian Waters 427 men 11 submarines
In the Indian Ocean 510 men 11 submarines
In Germany and alien territories 491 men 49 submarines

U-Boot Ehrenmal Möltenort
The entrance of the U-Boat memorial

German U-boats of World War Two lost at sea

Very interesting is a map just outside the memorial, which shows where the U-boats sank, were last seen or where they had contact for the last time. There are so many scattered across the world map.

Lost German U-Boats Map
Map of all German U-Boats lost at sea in World War Two

Visit

You can visit U-Boot Ehrenmal Möltenort freely during the daytime along the seafront in Heikendorf.


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4 thoughts on “German U-boat memorial at Möltenort – Heikendorf, Germany

I visit the memorial two time, when you enter the right side of the wall is dedicate to the WW I lost U-boats and the left side on the WW II.
The complete monument is very impressive.
Don’ t forget to visit also the ” Seaman’ s tower memorial ” and museum in the city of Laboe located at + / – 10 Km

This beautiful and touching memorial honors the brave men from WWI onward who gave their lives in service to their country. The dedication of the volunteers who maintain this memorial is outstanding.

David C. MacLean on

Since they are very much alike, which was first …the memorial to the U-Boat sailors or the American Viet Nam Wall memorial in Washington, D.C.?

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