Affidavit concerning the sinking of a ship on 3 September 1939 without warning, and the captain's insistence on keeping the event secret

DOMINION OF CANADA PROVINCE OF ALBERTA.
TO WIT,
I, Adolf Schmidt, Official Number N 1043—33 T, do solemnly declare that:
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1. I am now confined to Camp No. 133, Lethbridge, Alberta.
2. That on the first day of war, 3 September 1939 a ship of approximately 10,000 tons was torpedoed in the late hours of the evening by the U-30.
3. That after the ship was torpedoed and we surfaced again, approximately half an hour after the explosion the commandant called me to the tower in order to show me the torpedoed ship.
4. That I have seen the ship with my very eyes but that I do not think that the ship could see our U-boat at that time on account of the position of the moon.
5. That only a few members of the crew had an opportunity to go to the tower in order to see the torpedoed ship.
6. That apart from myself Oberleutnant Hinsch was in the tower when I saw the steamer after the attack.
7. That I observed that the ship was listing.
8. That no warning shot was fired before the torpedo was launched.
9. That I myself observed much commotion on board of the torpedoed ship.
10. That I believe that the ship had only one smoke stack
11. That in the attack on this steamer one or two torpedoes were fired which did not explode but that I myself have heard the explosion of the torpedo which hit the steamer.
12. That Oberleutnant Lemp waited until darkness before surfacing.
13. That I was severely wounded by aircraft 14 September 1939.
14. That Oberleutnant Lemp, shortly before my disembarkation in Reykjavik 19 September 1939, visited me in the forenoon in the petty officers quarters where I was lying severely wounded.
15. That Oberleutnant Lemp then had the petty officers' quarters cleared in order to be alone with me.
16. That Oberleutnant Lemp then showed me a declaration under oath according to which I had to bind myself to mention nothing concerning the incidents of 3 September 1939 on board the U-30.
17. That this declaration under oath had approximately the following wording: "I, the undersigned, swear hereby that I shall shroud in secrecy all happenings of 3 September 1939 on hoard the U-30, regardless whether foe or friend, and that I shall erase from my memory all happenings of this day".
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18. That I have signed this declaration under oath, which was drawn up by the commandant in his own handwriting, with my left hand very illegibly.
19. That later on in Iceland when I heard about the sinking of the Athenia, the idea came into my mind that the U-30 on the 3 September 1939 might have sunk the Athenia, especially since the captain caused me to sign the above-mentioned declaration.
20. That up to today I have never spoken to anyone concerning
these events. ,
21. That due to the termination of the war I consider myself freed from my oaths and I make this solemn declaration conscientiously believing it to be true and knowing that it is of the same force and effect as if made under oath and by virtue of the Canada Evidence Act.
[Signed] Adolf Schmidt
Declared before me at Calgary in the province of Alberta this day of 9th August 1945.
(Signed) W. B. Gore-Hickman Barrister, Solicitor, Commissioner for Oaths.