On the traces of Germany in Newfoundland

Did you know...

...that a German couple in Witless Bay has called to life an initiative to save puffins?

In the town of Makkovik, missionaries of the “Herrnhuter Brüdergemeinde” founded the first mission house at the end of the 18th century.
Bell Island, near St. John's is the only place in North America that was directly attacked by German marines during World War II because of its mineral resources. Today, shipwrecks can be explored off the coast by divers from around the world. Another German trace from wartime is the periscope of a German submarine in St. John’s. It protrudes from the museum that is housed by the "Crow's Nest" Officers Club near the harbour.

Traces

Rescued Puffins © Hardyuno/Colourbox

German Traces in Newfoundland
 The Schau Family – Puffin patrol on Witless Bay

The famous seabirds of Canada’s Atlantic coast strand often on the dry and busy coastal streets due to light pollution. The problem has long been known. Now a German couple with a vacation home in Witless Bay, Newfoundland has called to life an initiative to save puffins.

The mission building and church in Hopedale © Courtesy Destinationlabrador.com

German Traces in Newfoundland
 German Missionaries in Newfoundland

In 1752, a first attempt to establish a Protestant “Herrnhuter” community in Hopedale failed, because Inuit put up resistance. Twenty years later, missionaries were more successful.  

The Officers Club Crow's Nest, where the museum is located © The Crow’s Nest

German Traces in Newfoundland
 ​The periscope and the sinking of the HMSC Esquimalt

The Crow's Nest Officer’s Club in St. John's houses a small museum which displays military artifacts. A particularly interesting piece is a periscope that protrudes from the roof of the multi-storey building. The periscope comes from a German submarine, the “U190” that sank the minesweeper “HMSC Esquimalt” on 16 April 1945.

Dive to a shipwreck in the Conception Bay © Rick Stanley

German Traces in Newfoundland
 Bell Island – when WWII came to Canada

Bell, St. John’s, is the only location in North America that was directly attacked by German marine soldiers during World War II. Today, very little reminds us of this fact. These attacks were due to the mineral wealth: at the time, the largest ore deposits in the world were stored under the small island, which was an essential raw material for steel production.