RARE U-boot U57 quality wooden rabbit desk ornament

Description

Hard to find Kriegsmarine U-boat mascot of the submarine U-57. Finely hand carved wooden sitting rabbit, boat name “U 57” engraved on both sides of the base. Slight signs of age, slightly chipped on the ears. The figure was the mascot of U 57 and was kept in the commander’s cabin. Size L: 15cm, W: 7cm, H: 16cm

U 57 was a German Type II C submarine. Launched on September 3, 1938, commissioned under Lieutenant Claus Korth.

The boat belonged to the U-boat flotilla “Wegener” in Kiel until December 31, 1939. After the reorganization of the flotillas, U 57 belonged to the 1st U-boat flotilla in Kiel from January 1, 1940 to September 3, 1940. On September 3, 1940, the boat collided with the Norwegian steamer Rona in Brunsbüttel and sank. Six crew members of U 57 died. In the following days, the submarine was raised. After repairs and recommissioning, the boat was assigned to the 22nd flotilla in Gotenhafen on January 11, 1941 as a training boat, and from July 1, 1944 to May 3, 1945 to the 19th U-boat flotilla in Pillau and Kiel. During its service, U 57 undertook ten combat missions, on which it sunk 13 ships with a total tonnage of 66,484