1994 Interview with Reinhard Hardegen, former U-boat officer and Knights Cross winner

Thanks for meeting with me. I would like to start by asking what attracted you to join the Kriegsmarine and go into the U-boat arm?

Reinhard: Well, I always loved the sea since an early age so you could say it was in my blood. I joined the Rechsmarine early on in 1933, our fleet was very small so I trained on sailing ships and aged small ships. I was rec…