On May 2, 1945, U-977 departed Kristiansand, Norway, on its first war patrol. Following the surrender orders of Admiral Karl Dönitz on May 5, Schäffer chose to disregard the command to return to port. Motivated by fears of the Allied "Morgenthau Plan"—which propaganda suggested would enslave German men—and memories of poor treatment of POWs after WWI, Schäffer proposed a flight to Argentina. He allowed 16 married crew members to go ashore in Norway before embarking with the remaining 32 men on the arduous journey. The Grueling 66-Day Submersion
: After surfacing near the West African coast and crossing the equator in late July, the submarine finally surrendered at Mar del Plata , Argentina, on August 17, 1945. Controversy and "The Hitler Myth" U-boat 977: Heinz Schaeffer: Amazon.com: Books U-Boat 977.The U-Boat That Escaped to Argentina
: The crew endured constant diesel fumes, fluctuating air pressure, and extreme humidity, which brought many to the brink of nervous breakdowns. On May 2, 1945, U-977 departed Kristiansand, Norway,