Ireland - Londonderry’s Most Historic Day

The historic city of Derry or Londonderry is Ireland’s oldest city and has witnessed a great deal of strife in its 4,000 year history, but none quite as momentous as what occurred in May 1945.

This was the month the war in Europe came to an end, although it still raged on in the Pacific for several months more. Derry or Londonderry as it has been variously named in its long history was the major port on the North Atlantic convoy route from The USA and Canada. It was the first safe landfall after the 3,000 and more hazardous miles from Newfoundland.

Bringing in supplies via this route was vital to the war effort of the allies, particularly to the build up to the D Day landings at Normandy, on the northern coast of France, in June 1944. Knowing how precious this supply lifeline was, the Nazis did all they could to disrupt it by concentrating their most murderous packs of U-boat submarines to track and sink countless ships with the loss of thousands of lives.

With the ending of the war, the U-boat captains were told by the German interim government to surrender to the British Navy.

As a fitting gesture to a brave city which had done so much to win the war, a ceremonial surrender of eight U-boats was taken by Flag Officer Western Approaches, Admiral, Sir Max Horton on VE day, May 8th 1945. The American government was represented by the presence of the USS Robert I Piane.

The bulk of the North Atlantic U-boat fleet — some 34 vessels — surrendered to the British Navy further east, in Loch Eriboll, on the coast of Scotland.

The eight U-boats from Londonderry were then towed out into the Atlantic and sunk.

Joseph Donegal has had a life-long interest in his Irish roots and the history of Ireland and its people.

You’ll find more articles on Ireland at his web site http://www.The-Best-Of-Ireland.com