German schnellboote more and more important according to the Dutch newspaper Nieuwe Tilburgsche Courant dated 13 January 1944

The German newspaper Völkischer Beobachter reported that German military authorities thought that schellboote were to play a larger roll in the future. These boats sunk since the start of the Second World War at least 300 war- and merchant ships. At least the loss of 200 freighters and tankers with a total tonnage of about 700,000 tons and 70 warships was certain. The newspapers Drentsch dagblad and Dagblad van het Zuiden voor Eindhoven, Meierij, Peel and Kempenland both dated 13 January confirmed this item.