U858 and her Crew Arriving off Cape May, New Jersey on the morning of May 14, 1945, German submarine U-858 was a Type IXC/40 U-boat of the German Navy during World War II. She was ordered on 5 June 1941, laid down on 11 December 1942 and launched on 30 September 1943. She had one commander for her three patrols, Capitan lieutenant Thilo Bode

She was sent by Germany at the end of the war to cause havoc along the East Coast of the US, in an attempt to repeat the success of Operation Drumbeat. However, she saw no combat in that mission, and did not sink or damage any allied ships during the war. Her Captain surrendered her on 14 May 1945 at Lewes, Delaware. After surrendering, she was used for publicity in War bond drives.