Did a sortie aboard a Kriegsmarine Atlantique may years ago - all the herren spoke English throughout the trip, and I don't think it was for my benefit (and I could get by in Deutsch anyway).
I'm amazed that they spoke to you at all, if your referred to them as the
Kriegsmarine! That title err, 'went out of favour' in May 1945. The
Bundesmarine was formed in the mid-50s; after reunification with the Ossis'
Volksmarine, the title became
Deutsche Marine.