Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
Tanker Dixie Arrow burning following a torpedo attack.
Tanker Dixie Arrow burning following a torpedo attack. Photo: National Archives

BEHIND THE DOCUMENTARY: Hitler's Secret Attack on America

By Matt Dozier


Sanctuary Shorts - Episode 3
"BEHIND THE DOCUMENTARY: Hitler's Secret Attack on America" (6:50)
By Matt Dozier




In the third episode of our new podcast, "Sanctuary Shorts," we talk to Mark Fowler director of Hitler's Secret Attack on America who teamed up with NOAA researchers to piece together the story of this lost chapter in America's maritime history, embarking on an expedition to "Torpedo Junction" off North Carolina's Outer Banks. Here's what he had to say. [MP3 Download]
 

NOAA researchers find themselves face to face with the remnants of a devastating U-boat attack on the U.S. East Coast in the National Geographic documentary Hitler's Secret Attack on Americalink leaves government web site, which premieres on the National Geographic Channel at 9 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Feb.5. Update: Episode will be rebroadcast Wednesday, Feb. 12, at 5 p.m. ET

Director Mark Fowler teamed up with NOAA researchers to piece together the story of this lost chapter in America's maritime history, embarking on an expedition to "Torpedo Junction" off North Carolina's Outer Banks. There, they used cutting-edge technology and historical records to search for the remains of merchant ships and U-boats alike that met their end in the deadly Battle of the Atlantic.


SS Pennsylvania Sun torpedoed by the German submarine U-571 in July 1942
SS Pennsylvania Sun torpedoed by the German submarine U-571 in July 1942. Photo: US Navy

The film recounts the secret war waged just off America's shores beginning in the early months of 1942, which claimed hundreds of ships and thousands of lives, yet was largely unknown to the American public — and remains so today. For the past six years, the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries Maritime Heritage Program has conducted annual explorations of shipwrecks from the Battle of the Atlantic, helping us better understand and share this important piece of our maritime heritage with the public.

For more information on the Battle of the Atlantic, check out these links:

Official Battle of the Atlantic Website:
http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/missions/battleoftheatlantic/archives.html

2011 Battle of the Atlantic Mission (featured in the film)
http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/missions/2011battleoftheatlantic/

VIDEOS:

World War II off the Coast of North Carolina
http://monitor.noaa.gov/obxtrail/videos_wwii_1.html

Battle of the Atlantic 2013 Live Broadcast
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjAzHZt02qw

Battle of the Atlantic Overview
http://vimeo.com/20713112link leaves government web site

U-701 Video
http://monitor.noaa.gov/obxtrail/videos_wwii_3.html

U-85 Video
http://monitor.noaa.gov/obxtrail/videos_wwii_2.html


A NOAA Diver documents the conning tower from the WWII era German U-boat, U-701, lost off the coast of North Carolina.
A NOAA Diver documents the conning tower from the WWII era German U-boat, U-701, lost off the coast of North Carolina. Photo: Steve Sellers/NOAA

 

leaving site indicates a link leaves the site. Please view our Link Disclaimer for more information.
Revised September 12, 2023 by Sanctuaries Web Team | Contact Us | Web Site Owner: National Ocean Service
National Ocean Service | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | Privacy Policy | For Employees | User Survey
http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/includes/np_footer.html