How a Nazi warship became the U.S. Coast Guard's Eagle

How a Nazi warship became the U.S. Coast Guard's Eagle

On June 13, 1936, the German Navy launched a steel-hulled tall ship at the Blohm & Voss shipyard in Hamburg while Adolf Hitler and other Nazi officials looked on. The 295-foot long ship was one of five such vessels the Nazi regime commissioned to “circumvent the military restrictions imposed by the Treaty of Versailles, using maritime training as a front to quietly rebuild naval strength,” as Will Sofrin’s new book notes. The Germans named the ship the Horst Wessel, after the man who wrote the lyrics for the Nazi anthem and was treated as a martyr after his killing in 1930. After Hitler’s death and the regime’s surrender in 1945, Allied officials began dividing up the German fleet among the victors. The superintendent of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy suggested obtaining Horst Wessel as a sail training ship for the academy’s cadets. Eighty years later, the Eagle will be leading the parade of tall ships from around the world sailing up the Hudson River — as it did for the 1976 bicentennial — to mark America’s 250th anniversary. Sofrin told me he’ll be on board for the occasion. The ship not only trains Coast Guard cadets, but serves as an ambassador for the United States around the world. Sofrin tells the story in his new book [https://www.amazon.com/USCG-Cutter-Eagle-Legacy-Flagship/dp/1493092626], USCG Cutter Eagle: The Legacy of the Coast Guard’s Flagship, published by Lyons Press. As noted in my conversation with Will, the book weaves in the stories of officers and rank and file members of the Coast Guard who have served on the Eagle. When the U.S. acquired the ship, it needed major repairs and a new engine. It also was short of the crew required to take it from Bremerhaven to the U.S., so its commander had to sail with many German crew members. Upon arrival, they were transferred to a prisoner of war camp and returned to Europe. On the final leg of the journey, from Bermuda to New York, a storm brought 60-knot winds and huge seas. As Sofrin recounted, the ship’s commander Gordon McGowan described the sound of the storm: “There was the sharp tearing sound—the ripping of the fabric of the gates of hell. . . . This tapestry of sound bore the pattern of maniacal majesty.” The fore upper and lower topsails were the first to go. They exploded in a flash, leaving ribbons streaming. The ship hit 16 knots at this point…the fastest the ship had ever gone. This speed was estimated based on their observations of the prop shaft’s revolutions when the clutch was released—something they had studied on the voyage. At this point, the foresail and main upper topsail blew out. The mainsail and main lower topsail held. Sofrin describes the risky maneuvers that were needed that day to keep the ship from disaster on its maiden voyage as the Eagle. Sofrin’s book includes a history of the Coast Guard, which traces its roots back to the U.S. fleet of revenue cutters used to collect tariffs during the time of President George Washington. With this antecedent, the Coast Guard is even older than the U.S. Navy. Why does the Coast Guard have a tall ship more than 150 years after the end of the Age of Sail? Sofrin explains: Sail training holds a vital place in the US Coast Guard and other military maritime forces around the world. Rooted in centuries of tradition, it is more than just a means of teaching seamanship; it also serves as a crucible for developing discipline, risk assessment management, teamwork, and leadership. Operating a sailing vessel demands precise coordination, clear communication, and a deep understanding of natural forces and human limitations. These challenges forge proficiencies in cadets and officers that translate directly into their roles aboard modern vessels. For the Coast Guard, sail training aboard Eagle is a rite of passage, instilling respect for the sea and seamanship principles that remain relevant. Life on the Eagle has changed significantly since June, 1976, when the first women cadets were admitted to the Academy. In 1980, 14 women were in the graduating class, along with 140 men. In 1984, several women played key roles in preserving lives when the Eagle was almost knocked down. A storm front struck it during a race of tall ships heading from Bermuda to Halifax, Nova Scotia; remarkably no one was killed aboard Eagle in that episode. The ship righted itself and suffered no damage. Several hours later, a squall capsized the 115-foot British ship Marques. The tall ship sank within a minute. Only nine of the 28 people on board survived. The Eagle has become a symbol of the United States. It sailed to Australia for that nation’s 1988 Bicentenary and to St. Petersburg, in Russia, in 1996. Presidents and world leaders have come aboard. But perhaps the most notable visitor mentioned in the book was a singer and songwriter. The captain of the Eagle, Ivan Luke, “had long been a devoted ‘Parrothead,’ a nickname famously associated with die-hard fans of Jimmy Buffett, his music, and his easygoing, tropical lifestyle,” wrote Sofrin. “From the moment Captain Luke took command of Eagle, he set his sights on a personal goal: to get Jimmy Buffett aboard the ship…After years of reaching out, Luke finally succeeded in bringing Buffett aboard. It was a surreal and meaningful moment for the captain, as he blended his love of the sea with the soundtrack that had accompanied much of his sailing life.” Buffett sailed on Eagle on a short loop from Salem, Massachusetts around Cape Cod. Aboard with his son, Buffett worked the lines, took part in drills and dined with the crew as well as in the officer’s mess. Buffett’s grandfather, James Delaney Buffett, had been a steamship captain out of Newfoundland and was a big influence on Jimmy. So when Buffett joined the Eagle’s captain (on harmonica) and a seaman (on guitar) for a jam session, they sang, among other songs, “Son of a Son of a Sailor.” This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.nowitshistory.com/subscribe [https://www.nowitshistory.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

What Theodore Roosevelt learned in the Badlands

When the New York Times published its annual list [https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/travel/places-to-travel-destinations-2026.html] of “52 Places to Go” in 2026, traditional travel destinations like Los Angeles, Bangkok, Memphis, Big Sur and Iceland were included. But so was Medora, North Dakota — in the heart of the state’s Badlands. That is where — on July 4, 2026, more than 107 years since Theodore Roosevelt died —the nation’s 26th president will finally be honored with a presidential library [https://www.trlibrary.com]. It will also be the day the U.S. celebrates its 250th anniversary. In my podcast with TR Library CEO Edward O’Keefe, we explore why the library is sited in North Dakota and how the Badlands helped shape TR’s character and career. Ed is also the author of The Loves of Theodore Roosevelt: The Women Who Created A President [https://www.amazon.com/Loves-Theodore-Roosevelt-Created-President/dp/B0CLHHCVS1/ref=sr_1_1?adgrpid=189438416314&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.U427spP3KhSmcFv_IRUWxzwr0cls4-uDAGdhQLH2ywhBgqoQmmqnQ97Rz1R83p4ohDfQm9Svsn4jo1HmFG-p2HIivR6FAdO9mbptrvPC7Gs2KnhvC04-izpnn9jX5JG7tyjKq1qlhRTkw3qdRYl0OPqSreZJNFq384jYX2BrqhJKpVFEeZrfUG700FXgbfnhHTgZsvAXA11PuG-MNLXuMma7OavyXV3jSwV2fUi6FLo.0NA3q86aJdG6CIEAwhsH_M1QI00a09_GSaf-MXcDRLQ&dib_tag=se&hvadid=792860483026&hvdev=c&hvexpln=0&hvlocphy=9004509&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=7869284724882417496--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=7869284724882417496&hvtargid=kwd-2265650576520&hydadcr=2223_13831042_2447921&keywords=the+loves+of+theodore+roosevelt&mcid=28d35290bf0532e2908f7549964229e5&qid=1774380326&sr=8-1]. [https://www.amazon.com/Loves-Theodore-Roosevelt-Created-President/dp/B0CLHHCVS1/ref=sr_1_1?adgrpid=189438416314&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.U427spP3KhSmcFv_IRUWxzwr0cls4-uDAGdhQLH2ywhBgqoQmmqnQ97Rz1R83p4ohDfQm9Svsn4jo1HmFG-p2HIivR6FAdO9mbptrvPC7Gs2KnhvC04-izpnn9jX5JG7tyjKq1qlhRTkw3qdRYl0OPqSreZJNFq384jYX2BrqhJKpVFEeZrfUG700FXgbfnhHTgZsvAXA11PuG-MNLXuMma7OavyXV3jSwV2fUi6FLo.0NA3q86aJdG6CIEAwhsH_M1QI00a09_GSaf-MXcDRLQ&dib_tag=se&hvadid=792860483026&hvdev=c&hvexpln=0&hvlocphy=9004509&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=7869284724882417496--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=7869284724882417496&hvtargid=kwd-2265650576520&hydadcr=2223_13831042_2447921&keywords=the+loves+of+theodore+roosevelt&mcid=28d35290bf0532e2908f7549964229e5&qid=1774380326&sr=8-1]He talks in this conversation about the profound influence several women had on Roosevelt, including his mother, two wives, two sisters and his irrepressible daughter Alice Roosevelt Longworth. More than most of the presidents of the early 20th century, Roosevelt feels relevant to our time. He presided over the country in an era of extreme inequality in wealth, when immigration stirred controversy and when a muscular foreign policy and the Monroe Doctrine were in the news. As Doris Kearns Goodwin has written, TR took hold of the “bully pulpit” [https://www.nowitshistory.com/p/what-lincoln-would-tell-trump] of the presidency, building a strong relationship with journalists that helped him shape the messages he shared with the nation. No longer was the president a distant, dignified figure far away from the lives of most Americans. He now would become a flesh-and-blood personal leader who played a prominent role in the everyday lives of most people and whose idiosyncrasies would become the topic of talk around the dinner tables of families from coast to coast. One of the unforgettable scenes in Ed’s book recounts TR’s first bison hunt in the Badlands, in September, 1883. After days of looking, he and a hunting partner came across the “great beasts.” Roosevelt aimed for the largest animal’s shoulder but instead hit its ribs, and it galloped away. His partner managed to intercept the buffalo. TR fired again and missed. “As I urged the horse still closer — for it was very dark — the bull turned... and charged me,” Roosevelt wrote. “The lunge of the formidable looking brute frightened my pony, and as he went off he threw up his head and knocked the heavy rifle I was carrying against my head with such force that it gave me a pretty severe cut on the crown, from which the blood poured over my face and into my eyes so that it blinded me for the moment.” Then the “infernal beast escaped after all.” As with other reverses in his life, Roosevelt didn’t let this defeat deter him. He kept hunting and returned to New York with the head of a bison and other mounted creatures he would install in Sagamore Hill, his summer home in Oyster Bay, Long Island. On February 14 of 1884, TR suffered the unimaginable loss of his wife Alice and his mother on the same day in the same house in New York City. To cope with his grief, he journeyed later that year to the Badlands, where the epic scale and beauty of the landscape soothed Roosevelt’s mind. So did the women around him, including his childhood friend, second wife and future First Lady, Edith Kermit Carow. Ed O’Keefe, who was born in North Dakota, explains in our conversation how this mix of influences helped mold one of America’s most distinctive presidents. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.nowitshistory.com/subscribe [https://www.nowitshistory.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

When presidents become monarchs

Through his books and podcasts, constitutional law professor Corey Brettschneider [https://substack.com/profile/20138685-corey-brettschneider] has been a keen observer of how presidents can overturn constitutional safeguards — and how citizens can work together to restore them. I asked Corey where we are on a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being a normal U.S. government, 5 representing a constitutional crisis and 10 being the end of democracy. His answer: we’re between a 7 and an 8 — in grave danger of losing our 250-year-old democratic form of government. I hope you will listen to our conversation. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.nowitshistory.com/subscribe [https://www.nowitshistory.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Albert Einstein made history — and then went sailing

Sailing a small boat confidently takes knowledge of how tides and currents, winds and waves can shape your course. So who would have been better than Albert Einstein, the greatest physicist of the 20th century, at piloting a small boat — his 17-foot craft, the Tinef (Yiddish, for junk) — in the waters around Long Island Sound? It turns out that the creator of the Theory of Relativity wasn’t a very good sailor, and had to be rescued numerous times, as Steve Israel writes in his compelling new spy thriller, The Einstein Conspiracy. [https://theodoresbooks.com/search?q=einstein%20conspiracy] In August, 1935, the New York Times ran a front-page story headlined: “Relative Tide and Sand Bars Trap Einstein; He Runs His Sailboat Aground at Old Lyme.” Einstein’s sailing problem is far from the only part of Steve Israel’s new book that is based in fact. There really were plots by the Nazis to kill Einstein; there was a substantial pro-Nazi movement in 1930s America, including Camp Siegfried in Yaphank, where one street was named after Adolph Hitler. Crucially, Einstein not only sailed in the waters around Nassau Point on Long Island’s north fork. It was there that he wrote a letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt warning that the Nazis were working on the physics involved in creating a uniquely powerful bomb. That gave FDR the impetus to launch the Manhattan Project that developed atomic weapons. As Steve notes on the back cover of the book, he is the only member of Congress to retire to open an independent bookstore, Theodore’s, in Oyster Bay, Long Island. In my conversation with Steve, he explains how running a bookstore influenced the writing of his new book. I hope you enjoy the conversation. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.nowitshistory.com/subscribe [https://www.nowitshistory.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Democracy and the Dems

On so many levels, U.S. democracy is being tested and so is the party named for it. The Democrats are facing tough choices on how to respond to the second Trump presidency, around the upcoming prospect of a government shutdown as well as next year’s midterm elections. It was a great pleasure to chat today with one of the most insightful scholars of democracy and my colleague at New America, Lee Drutman [https://substack.com/profile/603707-lee-drutman]. Lee is the author of Breaking the Two-Party Doom Loop: The Case for Multiparty Democracy in America [https://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Two-Party-Doom-Loop-Multiparty/dp/0190913851]. His previous book, The Business of America is Lobbying won the 2016 American Political Science Association's Robert A. Dahl Award, given for "scholarship of the highest quality on the subject of democracy." He writes Undercurrent Events [https://leedrutman.substack.com/] on Substack. I hope you enjoy the conversation. Now It's History is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.nowitshistory.com/subscribe [https://www.nowitshistory.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]