WWI: D.S " BRINK " AND THE GERMAN U-BOAT U 48 - A DRAMATIC MEETING

The Norwegian newspaper " Finnmarken " located in Vardø in the Northern part of Norway reported in 1916 about the sinking of Norwegian ships by German u-boats. Norway was not at war with Germany during the First World War (1914 - 1918). Norway did not sided officially with any of the fighting nations. The Imperial German Navy had introduced an unrestricted u-boat warfare. A neutral flag was no guarantee for safety. Due to  the blocade imposed by the British Navy ,food shortages in German cities became a problem.The German reaction to the British blocade of supplies to Germany was an unrestricted warfare against merchant wessels including Norwegian cargo ships. The sinking of the ships close to Vardø was a result of the official German warfare. " Finnmarken" reported a surprise story in 1916 : " ... early this morning a big u-boat approached the entry of the habour to put ashore the crew from d.s " Brink " from the city of Tønsberg ... the ship had been torpedoed by the German u-boat about 50 nn North East of Vardø ...the attack took place in the Arctic Ocean ...the crew from d.s " Brink " about 20 men were brought to the ship " Varanger " which put the crew ashore..." The Norwegian captain on d.s :" Brink ", Laurits Andersen, was interviewed by the newspaper. He told about the dramatic event.

The ship had left Onega, Russia, bound for Hull in England. The cargo was lumber. He had been warned about a German u-boat which had been seen by a British cruiser.The German u-boat - U 48 - approached the Norwegian cargo ship.  Warning shots were fired from the u-boat. Captain Andersen made a contact with the German commander of the u- boat , Lieutenant- Commander Berndt Buss, who gave an order to sink d.s: " Bink ". The work was not an easy task. The Germans made an attempt to set the ship on fire. It did not work. The timber did not burn. The  Germans fired about 18 shots again the ship. Negative result. The ship did not want sink that fast. A torpedo from the u-boat made it in the end. The ship began to burn. The timber was set on fire. The weather was not good.The lifeboats contenting all the clothes of the sailors, were attached to the u-boat . To save the crew, the German commander Berndt Buss had to take the crew from d.s: " Brink " on board the u-boat and then bring the crew to Vardø. The lifeboats were taken by the heavy sea.The sailors lost all their clothes.  It was a sensation for the people of Vardø to see a foreign u-boat so close to the city. The act made by the German Lieutenant-Commander Berndt Buss was not a common act or policy of the u-boat commanders of the Imperial German Navy. The act of saving the crew was not a common policy. The official navy report of the career of Berndt Buss shows that the saving of the crew of d.s: " Brink " was an  exception. Berndt Buss was responsible for the sinking of six Norwegian ships during the First World War. He saved only the crew from d.s: Brink " which sank in October 4, 1916.

In January 7, 1917 Berndt Buss decided to sink the ship: " Borgholm".
In January 8, 1917 he sank the ship: " Tholma ". " Vestfold " sank in January 12, 1917 and " Esperance" sank in January 16, 1917 and finally, " Navarra " which he put an end to in March 7, 1917. 19 sailors are reported lost. The Norwegian shipping company, Fearnley & Eger, was the operator of " Navarra".What happened to the German commander who could have killed 20
Norwegian sailors in year 1916 but for reasons unknown, he did not do it. What happened to the German u-boat U 48? Berndt Buss was born in September 12, 1882 and he died in March 8, 1917.
He was responsible for the sinking of 19 ships, 1 ship damaged and 2 ships were taken as prize. He was the commander of U 48 from April 22, 1916 to March 9, 1917. I found the report of his death written in French : "... tue dans le kiosque apres abordage par le vapeur " East Point" qu'il attaquait
u-48  bien que tres endommage a neanmoins pu regagner sa base. 19 navires coules pour un tout 46700 tonnes...." so far the report. The u- boat, U 48, was discovered by a British patrol craft scuttling  on the Goodwin Sands. U 48 had an accident on the Goodwin Sands. After a brief exchange of gunfire, scuttling charges were set and the crew abandoned the boat. 19 dead and 17 survivors.
What is the reason for publishing the story of a German commander who let the crew of d.s:" Brink "
survive, you may ask? A good question. My father was among the crew: Konrad Arthur Johansen. Born in Tønsberg, October 24, 1898. He joined the see for the first time in year 1916 as a sailor on the ship d.s: " Brink " or d.s: " Foldsjø" that was the earlier name of the ship. In year 1916 the name of the shipping company which owned the ship, was " Nilsen & Sønner ", Nøtterøy, Tønsberg. My father was a sailor all his life. He was educated as captain in year 1922 at The Tønsberg Official Seamen's School. I met him twice a year. He was a nice man but once a sailor always a sailor. He never went ashore. His life was the sea, the crew, the harbours and new countries every year. A nice man, he was, and a popular sailor with friends everywhere. I miss him.
What about the official maritime declaration concerning the sinking of d.s " Brink "?
October 14, 1916, the maritime declaration of the stratagem of the d.s " Brink " took place in the city of Tønsberg- a shipping town situated in the Vestfold county of Norway ( It takes about two hours by car from Oslo, the capital of Norway, to Tønsberg). The shipowner, Hans Nilsen Bjønnes, who was the representative of the shipping company, " Nilsen & Sønner ", participated at the meeting concerning the maritime declaration. My father took part in the meeting too. His title is: able seaman.
He is 18 years of age. But his name is spelled wrong in the official document of the maritime declaration: Conrad Johannesen is the name used. His  correct name is: Konrad Arthur Johansen.
The court was chaired by Borchgrevink (" byfogd" is the Norwegian title of his official position.)My father is the first person on the left side of the photo on the second row. Students and teachers of the Tønsberg Official Seaman's School 1921- 1922. Degree in seamanship.(Sea- captains.Merchant marine).

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