The last major U-boat attack in New Jersey waters during the first half of 1942 was part of one of the most famous exploits of German submariners. With the declaration of war on the United States in 1941, Adolf Hitler wanted to take the fight to America. He ordered his U-boats to begin operations off the East Coast and also approved the plan to train saboteurs to infiltrate and destroy key war production facilities, which would undermine American morale.

The plan was to land two four-man teams in rubber boats, one on Long Island, the other on the northern coast of…