 The base was opened in August 1940, and in 1941 the captured French passenger ship was used as a depot ship before being returned to the Vichy French Government in June 1942.Admiral Angelo Parona commanded the submarines at BETASOM under the operational control of "Konteradmiral" (Rear Admiral) Karl Dönitz.Dönitz was the "Commander of the Submarines" ("Befehlshaber der U-Boote") for the German "Kriegsmarine".