Nazi Submarines Off Deerfield

Local Watch Towers

According to local pioneer, Molly Wiles Butler, there were watch towers on Deerfield Beach to watch the coastline for Nazi boats and planes during WWII. Germany sank 24 ships off the Florida coast during the war, most during 1942.

Ms. Butler, her husband, her father J.B. Wiles and others took turns manning the 2 two story towers. They would call the offices at the Boca Club to report sightings.

Reports of Germans coming ashore from submarines off Palm Beach County have been controversial since World War II ended. It is likely that a few of the enemy made it to shore, and most were promptly and quietly caught.