Operational boats at sea survived partly because their crews had little reason to sink them deliberately. Combat left a chance of living, while an Atlantic raft offered a much worse prospect. Norway was among the limited destinations crews could reach, and they expected its resources to retain some negotiating value. German control there collapsed sooner than they hoped, frustrating that expectation.
Notable Point · 32:05-34:49
Why surviving U-boat crews headed for Norway
Crews at sea had strong reasons to keep their boats afloat and reach Norway, where they hoped German-held ports could support negotiations.