Despite the provisions of the Versailles Treaty in 1919, denying Germany construction and use of submarines, the German Naval Command fully intended to remain au fait with all matters relating to the subject, To do this it was planned that Germany should construct and test U-boats in other countries. From 1922 the opportunity was provided by setting up N.V.Ingenieurskantoor voor Scheepsbouw (IVS). This firm, capitalised by three German yards, had its head office in the Hague.
In 1925 Naval Ministry funds were put into IVS and an order was obtained from Turkey for two U-boats; there was also the prospect of building part of a new boat program for Spain. Korvetten Kapit�n Canaris thus ordered the establishment of a special submarine office under the nomenclature Au (Ausbildung - Training). In charge was Admiral Spindler. He outlined his field of activity in his first action report of 12.11.26, which coincided with Canaris' recommendation. A significant part of the report related to the factors affecting the choice of U-boat type to be supplied to fill the future German naval requirement: one main factor was the teaching materials available for the needs of crew training.
Spindler also needed a combined team of active-service seamen and engineer branch officers to take part in testing the boats for the Turkish Navy. Naval Command considered that on political grounds only retired personnel should be involved, together with highly experienced civilian staff. The connection with the Turkish Navy resulted in two of the officers, who were in the transit crew, being asked by the Turkish Navy to set up a U-boat training school for their own crews.
