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The Mystery of U-534
On May 5th 1945, U-534 was underway in the Kattegat, north-west of Helsingor, Denmark, and although
Admiral Donitz had ordered all his U-boats to surrender as from 08.00hrs on 5th May, for some unknown
reason U-534 refused to do so.
U-534 was heading north towards Norway, when it was attacked by RAF aircraft.
U-534 took heavy damage and began to sink by the stern. Forty-nine of the fifty-two crew members
survived, including five who escaped through a torpedo hatch as she lay on the sea bed.
In August 1993, the wreckage was raised from the seabed in the hope of finding hidden treasure on board.
Nothing was found. However, the mystery of why U-534 refused to surrender remains to this day.
There was speculation that it was taking Nazi looted treasure to Argentina, but none was found when the
boat was eventually salvaged. The captain always remained tight-lipped about why he tried to carry on his
voyage, until his suicide a few years later.
Further information
The Merseytravel's U-boat story is superb for group visits and school visits. A supporting education pack
is available, with discounts for pre-booked schools and groups. Free coach parking is also available if
pre-booked.
For more information on passenger leisure travel, why not join our Local Transport or Transport Studies
Forums? See our web site www.ciltuk.org.uk for more details.
PASSENGER
TRANSPORT
CASE STUDY
The choice facing Mersey
Ferries a decade ago was either
reducing its ferry commuter
services and running a
loss-making business, or
investing in the future by
repositioning Mersey Ferries as
a high-quality visitor attraction
There was speculation that
U-534 was taking Nazi looted
treasure to Argentina when it
was sunk

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