“That Oberleutnant Lemp waited until darkness before surfacing.
“That I was severely wounded by aircraft 14 September 1939.
“That Oberleutnant Lemp, shortly before my disembarkation in Reykjavik 19 September 1939, visited me in the forenoon in the Petty Officers quarters where I was lying severely wounded.
“That Oberleutnant Lemp then had the Petty Officers’ quarters cleared in order to be alone with me.
“That Oberleutnant Lemp then showed me a declaration under oath according to which I had to bind myself to mention nothing concerning the incidents of 3 September 1939 on board the U-30.
“That this declaration under oath had approximately the following wording: ‘I, the undersigned, swear hereby that I shall shroud in secrecy all happenings of 3 September 1939 on board the U-30, regardless whether foe or friend, and that I shall erase from my memory all happenings of this day.’
“That I have signed this declaration under oath, which was drawn up by the Commandant in his own handwriting, with my left hand very illegibly.
“That later on in Iceland when I heard about the sinking of the ‘Athenia,’ the idea came into my mind that the U-30 on the 3 September 1939 might have sunk the ‘Athenia,’ especially since the Captain caused me to sign the above-mentioned declaration.
“That up to today I have never spoken to anyone concerning these events.
“That due to the termination of the war I consider myself freed from my oaths.” (D-654)