Planning and construction of the Memorial
up to its opening in 1930

The opening of the memorial created under so great efforts and spontaneously suggested by Kiel submariners in 1919 finally took place, on June 8, 1930. It was Whitsun Sunday. In a quadrangle all around the memorial deputations of the imperial naval, the naval associations and veterans associations, the submarine associations and a large crowd of spectators had lined-up.

Beside the head of the naval station the Baltic Sea, Rear Admiral Hansen, were the "lion of Flanders", Admiral a. D. Ludwig von Schröder, Rear Admiral a. D. Eschenburg who had rendered outstanding services to the memorial, Vice Admiral a. D. Michelsen as the chairman of the memorial committee, the Lord Mayor of Kiel, Dr. Lueken, the vice-chancellor of the University of Kiel, Professor Höher and numerous other personalities appeared. Also the youth was strongly represented. The ceremony was initiated with a field service. After the Choral " Lord, we praise you " spoke at first the naval chief-vicar Dehmel.

After his words the music corps of the 1th naval artillery department played "I have resigned myself ". Then there spoke the Catholic naval priest Arnkens. After the Dutch thanksgiving admiral Michelsen seized the word. He greeted the persons present and thanked all which had helped in the creation of the memorial.

With the words "Now the memorial may be revealed" the opening took place. Besides, he exclaimed: "We consecrate this memorial to the memory of the courageous fallen of the submarine weapon. If it may be a collective point for the survivors and a serious reminder, try to follow in the footsteps of the fallen companion. This honor of the fallen also may be a consolation the dependants. However, to us to all this memorial is a proof and a symbol of loyal comradeship and hot love to our German native country."

Then Michelsen proposed a triple Hurray on the native country and the music corps played the German national anthem.

Then a wreath laying followed this. It was accompanied by the song "l had a companion". With thus the ceremony which has been also transferred by the broadcasting company closed.

Before the wreath-laying ceremony the head of the district council of Heikendorf, Wilhelm Ivens, took the memorial in charge of the municipality. At the same time the memorial committee dissolved. However, this act freed the committee members not from the worry of the rest financing. Today sums, on one would lose only few words, also furthermore put burden on the responsible as of a note in the newsletter of the U-boat Veterans Association from June/July, 1931 is to be inferred:

The inauguration of the first Memorial on the June 8, 1930
Photo: Municipality of Heikendorf

"After now all bills concerning the U-boat Memorial are cleared, the still a rest liabilities of 699.42 Imperial Marks and an interest-free debt of honor of 5000 Imperial Marks owed to a donator exists. The bank debt which gobbles up 9 percent interest rate must be cleared under any circumstances as soon as possible. Hence, the main board of directors sees itself constrained to point beseeching to the deposit of 0.50 Imperial Marks monthly for the memorial funds, " 50 pfennig! This was the equivalent of a bread in a time in which Germany deplored millions of unemployed people, among them also many of about 9000 former submariners. In such facts it becomes clear which high measure of loyalty was required in order to let the memorial come into being. It was to be owed to a famous Kiel ship owner, that in the end that the debt was erased on time.