During World War II, Adolf Hitler devised a bold plan to cripple American infrastructure by targeting critical bridges, tunnels, and industries. In the summer of 1942, four Nazi agents landed on Long Island’s beaches, armed with explosives and malicious intent. Their mission, part of “Operation Pastorius,” ended in failure thanks to the sharp instincts of a young Coast Guard seaman, John Cullen. Here’s the incredible story behind the Nazi saboteurs on Long Island:
The U-Boat Invasion Begins
- Just weeks after Pearl Harbor, four Nazi U-boats were dispatched to the East Coast to disrupt American war efforts.
- On January 13, 1942, a U-boat sank a tanker near Montauk Point, marking the first Nazi assault on Long Island waters.
- Nazi submarines prowled the South Shore beaches, targeting cargo ships silhouetted by city lights.
A Rising Tide Saves a Stuck Submarine
- U-202, captained by Hans-Heinz Lindner, got stuck on a sandbank off Long Island.
- The crew revved the engines at full power and escaped to deeper waters on a rising tide.
Operation Pastorius Lands in Amagansett
- Four Nazi saboteurs, led by George Dasch, landed on Amagansett Beach under cover of darkness in June 1942.
- Equipped with explosives, their targets included aluminum plants and Jewish-owned department stores in New York City.
- Dasch nearly drowned while rowing ashore in an inflatable raft.
Seaman John Cullen’s Heroic Encounter
- Coast Guardsman John Cullen, patrolling the foggy beach at midnight, stumbled upon the group.
- One man claimed they were fishermen whose boat had run aground, but another spoke German, raising Cullen’s suspicions.
- The Nazis attempted to bribe Cullen with $300 (though he later realized it was only $260).
- Cullen pretended to cooperate, then rushed back to his station to sound the alarm.
The Saboteurs’ Downfall
- The Coast Guard uncovered buried explosives but found the Nazis had fled.
- The saboteurs boarded the Long Island Rail Road to Manhattan, planning further attacks.
- George Dasch, shaken by Cullen’s bravery and near-death experiences, surrendered to the FBI in Washington, D.C.
The Secret Military Trial
- Dasch revealed invisible-ink plans and led agents to his team.
- Eight saboteurs (four from Long Island and four from Florida) were arrested before executing any attacks.
- Six were executed on August 8, 1942, while Dasch and another conspirator were imprisoned.
Long Island’s Legacy
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- John Cullen, recognized with the Legion of Merit, remained a Coast Guard hero and later a sales rep in Westbury, NY.
- In 2018, the Amagansett Coast Guard Station was commemorated with a historical marker honoring Cullen’s role.
- The thwarted sabotage attempt marked a triumph for American counterintelligence, though Nazi U-boats continued wreaking havoc in the Gulf of Mexico through 1943.
Photo: William G. Pomeroy Foundation (www.wgpfoundation.org)
