Attachment 1 to war diary "U-37".
 

Prize report from commander "U-37" concerning

 
 
capture and sinking of steamer "VISTULA",
 
 
Göthenburg.
 
     
 

        At 14.05 hours on 08.10.1939 we stopped the Swedish steam merchant "VISTULA" of Gothenburg in position 61° 13.5'N/00° 08.0'E and ordered her to hand over the ship's papers.

  
     
 
F  i  n  d  i  n  g  s.
 
     
 
Name VISTULA
Size of ship 1018 G.R.T.
Name of owner Rederi-A/B - Sylvia
Home port Gothenburg
Port of departure Gothenburg
Port of destination initially Hull, England, then other English harbors
Flag showed when stopped Sweden
The ship carried Steel goods and timber products
of which is regarded as contraband 100%
 
     
         The ship was neutral, it was carrying 100% contraband.  It was therefore allowed to capture and take her as prize (article 28, subparagraph 2 of the prize regulations) and because taking her as prize would have hampered the further operations of the U-boat or endangered it, she was to be destroyed.  
 

        About 15.00 hours the ship was destroyed by gunfire.

  
 

        The crew of the steamer was released in two lifeboats which were checked for their seaworthy and properly condition by the commander of U-37 and given enough provisions to reach the visible northeastern coast of the Shetlands by sailing in favorable weather.

  
 

        The following ship's papers were taken from the master, which are attached to the first version of this prize report:

  
  1.  The ship's certificate  
  2.  The crew list  
  3.  Loading papers with serial numbers 1 to 67  
  4.  A complete copy of the loading papers for the usage by the master.  
     
 

At sea, on 08.10.1939

  
     
                                                                                                             
                                                                                                        Korvettenkapitän and  
                                                                                                        Kommandant "U-37"  
     
Click the flag to view the above page from the original German KTB