Oskar. Corvette Captain. Bismarck.

In May 18, 1941, the Bismarck and the Prinz Eugen, comanded by admiral Lütjens, weighed anchors at the Baltic sea giving begining to the Rheinübung (Operation Rhin), a plan created by admiral Raeder which pretended to concentrate the currently spread fleet of german battleships in the Atlantic in order to be able to use a naval taskforce strong enough to defeat the allied convoys' defenses. However, in May 26, a group of 15 british Swordfish airplanes from the Ark Royal aircraft carrier succesfully damaged Bismark's starboard helix and the rudder, marking its destiny: in the morning of May 27 the Bismarck was surrounded by the british Home Fleet, comanded by admiral John Tovey, wich proceeded to bomb the german ship. The surviving german sailors scuttled the Bismarck at 10:40 hours, to prevent it from being captured.

The Bismarck under attack

The british managed to rescue only a part of the german sailors on water, the presence of enemy submarines forced a quick retreat. Later in the day the Cossack destroyer received the order to come back, but the only survivor they found was a black cat over a floating table. The cat had a necklace with a medal with the inscription "Oskar. Corvette Captain. Bismarck." next to a broken cross.

The Cossack's officers discussed for hours about what to do with the cat: "He is a nazi officer and he must be arrested" said the engine comander; "But he must be treated with dignity" said a deck inspector. During the assembly Oskar escaped, entered the kitchen, and stealed a piece of meat. After a week, he had explored the hole ship, and had hunted several rats, which he gave to the cooks. When there was combat, Oskar took cover under a bed, and he joined the night guard until dawn. One day the crew improvised a war council and gave him england citizenship and the rank of ensign. He also got a new medal: "Oscar. Royal Navy. 1941."

After 5 months, in October 24 of 1941, the Cossack was sunk by the U-563 in the north of the Atlantic, over 120 british sailors died. But Oscar was rescued with the rest of the survivors by the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal, were he found a new home, and a harder-to-find-kitchen. One day the Ark Royal docked at Gibraltar, were he got out of the ship along with the crew, and suddenly disappeared. Some sailors feared the worst, and others thougth that maybe he had gone with a female cat from the port. After two days he was found wounded and dirty, and was sent back to the Ark Royal for recovery.

Just then, the Ark Royal was commissioned to a mission at the Maltese island, were it was sunk by the U-81, comanded by captain Fiedrich Guggenberger, but only one of the 1663 sailors died.

The U-81

The Royal Navy high comand considered that three sunk ships in one year was enough -after all, he was a black cat- and, after being portrayed for the National Marine Museum (lower photo), decommissioned him and sent him to The Home for Sailors, Belfast, were he had the same rights of any retired officer until his death in 1955, when he was buried with honors.