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Útkall to be published in Germany
A deal was struck last week to publish Útkall – árás á Goðafoss / Rescue – Goðafoss under Attack in Germany. The book is part of a popular series by Óttar Sveinsson, dedicated to true stories of shipwrecks and rescue efforts. The German publishers involved are Stefan and Julia Krücken at Ankerherz Verlag in Hamburg.
“We are very pleased with the collaboration,” says Sveinsson. “Stefan and I think alike in many ways. He's a journalist, writer and publisher, and we have much in common. We're going to work together on partially rewriting the book. He'll come to Iceland later this summer, along with a photographer, for more pictures and detailed interviews with those who survived the attack on Godafoss or were involved in any way. We plan on finishing the manuscript by April, and the book should appear in the later part of 2011 as a contribution to the Frankfurt Book Fair, where Iceland will appear as a guest of honor.”
The picture to the right shows Sveinsson and Krücker at the famed harbor Landungsbrücken, known to Germans as “The Door to the World”. The photograph in Krücker's hands shows Godafoss departing fully loaded from Landungsbrücken, shortly before the war's onset.
The attack on the freighter and passenger vessel Godafoss claimed more Icelandic lives than any other single event during the war. On November 10, 1944, the submarine U-300 attacked and destroyed Godafoss, when the ship was only two hours away from safe harbor. 43 Icelanders were aboard, as well as 19 British sailors, which the crew of Godafoss had saved out of the water only minutes earlier. Of the 19 Icelanders who survived the ordeal, 5 are still alive, as are some of the U-Boat's crew members.
-What significance does the book have for Germans?
“Good question. It is a momentous story, and Germans have expressed great interest in it. I think that the time is right for Germans to read of what really happened out there, off the southwestern coast. During the past few years, Germans have increasingly discussed the war and endeavored to learn more about it.”