German u boats ww2 facts book

Uboat is an anglicised version of the german word uboot, a shortening of unterseeboot. Axis airforces and german uboats earn their reputations. German u boat u530 after its surrender to argentine authorities, mar del plata 1945. Shadow divers by robert kurson meet your next favorite book. Two of the ships that sank during the war were torpedoed less than 100 miles from marco island, and the story that follows illustrates both sides of the conflict, from above. It was scuttled, raised and served in the peacetime german navy until 1982. How did american submarines compare to german subs in wwii. This was hardly the first time such an attack had happened and wouldnt be the last.

Feb 12, 2021 during world war i, three u boats sank ten ships off the tar heel coast in what primarily was considered a demonstration of german naval power. Navy archives and world war ii german naval records to tell the allbutforgotten tale of war in the gulf more than threequarters of a century ago. How did technical innovations by german, american and british engineers determine the ebbs and flows of the naval battles and the ultimate fate of the german u boats. How blabbermouth german uboats got themselves sunk in world. Informative book on the history of the german u boat service thru world war 2. Although at times they were efficient fleet weapons against enemy naval warships, they were most effectively used in an economic warfare role and enforcing a naval blockade against enemy shipping. The former german u boat commander herbert werner navigates readers through the waters of world war ii, recounting four years of the most significant and savage battles. On this site you will find all the german u boats of both world wars, their commanding officers and operations including all allied ships attacked, technological information and much more. British and german submarine statistics of world war ii naval. German uboat commanders of world war ii errata listing. Jan 11, 2019 at the onset of world war ii, the german high command wasted no time in sending u boats to harass shipping along the atlantic coast and in the gulf of mexico. The german submarine was the first enemy warship captured on the high seas.

Get the best deals on original ww ii german books when you shop the largest online selection at. The author has been able to collect numerous emblems, coats of arms and markings during long years of painstaking, detailed work, in memory of some 30,000 german uboatmen, more than 80% of those who served on these boats, who were lost in the war. The story of the uboat in world war ii general military. Werner, one of the few surviving german u boat commanders, served on five submarines from 1941 to. New uboat books torpedo junction world war ii u boat books. Most have not receive a great deal of historical exposure considering their contributions to the german war effort. Navy, merchant marine, and german u boat veterans, translated war diaries, and declassified military documents, torpedoes in the gulf tells a fascinating personal story with two sides. This was not the first time that german u boats had come to united states waters. The book follows fictitious us navy commander george krause, who is in. List of german uboats in world war ii 1599 wikipedia. That time the german navy accidentally fought itself in world. U 166 was hit by a depth charge dropped by lees security boat the uss pc566. German u boat operations form a not inconsiderable body of the historiography of world war ii, with many books having been published on the subject over the years since 1945. Full details of the careers of all germanys u boat commanders are provided.

While most of the passengers made it to the lifeboats, 25 died in the attack. Werner, iron coffins herbert werner served in u boats from 1941 to the end of the end of the war, ending up a u boat captain in the latter stages of world war ii. Details of destruction hardcover july 1, 1998 by axel niestle author 4. See all formats and editions hide other formats and editions. While hundreds of u boats were lost some of the boats are preserved as museums today. The allies retaliated by sinking 781 u boats, which resulted in a loss of nearly 35,000 of the 38,000 kriegsmarine personnel serving in the u boat arm of the german navy there was nothing accidental about this victory at sea. This outstanding, new reference book is a valuable addition to the key works on the naval history of world war ii. German submarine u 977 was a world war ii type viic u boat of nazi germany s kriegsmarine which escaped to argentina after germanys surrender. German uboat commanders of world war ii by busch, rainer.

Over 50 new german u boats were built or already in construction and this impressive submarine fleet proceeded to enjoy much success raiding supply lines and sinking allied vessels. Operation drumbeat the dramatic true story of germanys first uboat attacks along the american coast in world war ii by michael. Ultra and the campaign against u boats in world war ii. The destruction of enemy shipping by german u boats was a spectacular feature of both world wars i and ii. The comparison of these two statistics will be the first piece of evidence which. It is a gripping but ultimately tragic story of early successes, apocalyptic defeat, and miraculous survival. A total of 116 german u boats were scuttled during the operation. Submarine books store used and rare submarine and uboat. Reinforced during the next two or three days by the arrival of two more u boats, the german raiders sank 21 ships totaling about 103,000 tons in the space of two weeks.

Almost 1,500 uboats not yet laid down many cancelled in 1943. The book was well conceived and brings to light the lives of several lesser known u boat commanders who served in world war ii. Rainer busch and hansjoachim roll are noted authorities on the development of the german submarine arm and on u boat activity in world war ii. However, germanys construction of 300 u boats while shipyards and factories were being bombed by the royal air force in 1942 as compared to only 250 u boats built the two previous years answers.

German navy uboat submarine headquarters war logs from. The operation was staged in june 1942 and was to be directed against strategic american economic targets. If the might of the u boat was thought to be at its peak in 1917, however, then by the start of world war ii in 1939, they had risen to a whole other level. But by 1942, u boats had become bigger, faster, and more deadly.

In 1991, a group of divers, including john chatterton, set out on. Crew of the uss fanning that sank the u 58 submarine. German uboat with its crew 1918 via smu central university. That german uboat, a long range type ixd2, was the u196.

Feb 17, 2021 aside from stories about u boats and how german admiral karl donitz took over for hitler when the dictator killed himself, you dont really hear much about the german navy in world war ii. Despite their prevalence during wwi and wwii, only four u boats exist. In the early months of the war only five ships were sunk in the gulf waters. American submarines in wwii had significant differences from their german counterparts. The operation was named by admiral wilhelm canaris, chief of the german abwehr, for francis daniel pastorius, the leader of the first organized settlement of germans in america. Submarines of the world contains more than 280 of the most important and influential. The true story of the world war ii sinking of the childrens ship. U 166 was hit by a depth charge dropped by lees security boat. U 595 scuttled and sunk off cape khamis, algeria 111442. On july 30, 1942 while 25 miles from the mouth of the mississippi river, the ship was hit with a torpedo from the german u boat u 166. Top 10 german uboat aces of wwii war history online. March of 1943 was the most successful month of the german u boat fleet during the entire war.

The submarines voyage to argentina led to legends, apocryphal stories and conspiracy theories that it and u 530 had transported escaping nazi leaders such as adolf hitler andor nazi gold to south america, that it had made a secret voyage to. By wars end, 28,000 out of 39,000 german sailors had disappeared beneath the waves. Operation pastorius was a failed german intelligence plan for sabotage inside the united states during world war ii. The battle of the atlantic pitted u boats and other warships of the german kriegsmarine. A chain of men was formed to pass up all books charts etc. Readers will marvel at behindthescenes accounts of german u boat spy maneuvers and as galvestonians, fearing for their lives. An amazing memoir of captain werners experiences in the german uboat campaigns of world war ii from its early glory days to its near anhilation by wars end.

That time the german navy accidentally fought itself in. German u 58 captured by the united states destroyers uss fanning and the uss nicholson. With over 70 naval and merchant ships falling victim to germanys gulf fleet, there was cause for real concern and for the safety of sailors and even residents of the texas coast. Highly recommended for every serious scholar of the atlantic war, and every library in naval history and the history of the second world war.

The u boat war in world war two kriegsmarine, 19391945 and world war one kaiserliche marine, 19141918 and the allied efforts to counter the threat. As speed was essential owing to possibility of u boat sinking although dry throughout i gave orders to send up all books, except obviously reading books, so consequently a number of. It also gives the date, position, and cause of loss of each submarine, with complete details on allied units involved in the sinking, the names and ranks of their commanding officers. His writing is so vivid and engaging that you feel like youre in the uboat with him fearing for your life listening to the screws of the allied destroyers and depth charges that are searching to sink your sub and send you to your grave in an iron coffin. The battle of the atlantic was one of the most savage and strategically significant campaigns of world war ii.

German uboat may be at bottom of labrador river cbc news. Imperial japanese navy type b1 submarine i15 1939 and i37 1943. The brief chronicles and excerpts from firstperson memoirs make the history of the german uboats come alive in an impressive way, and documents the background of their existence. Coast guard cutter ship blasts a german u boat during world war ii. By the end of june 1940, german workers, arms, and equipment began arriving in lorient and, on july 7, u 30 became the. You can also browse our large photo gallery and thousands of u boat books and movies.

Frank was a public relations officer on doenitz staff and a well known author on ww 2 german naval history. British and german submarine statistics of world war ii. Losses to the shallowdraft maracaibo tanker fleet seriously cut the oil production of the huge refineries on aruba and curacao. Readers are introduced to the kids and their chaperones and share their first few. German uboats in the gulf of mexico winter texans online. Mid june 1945 u 2511 was departed from bergen to arrive eventually at lisahally, northern ireland on 21 june for operation deadlight code name for the scuttling of most of the unwanted german u boats which the allies got their hands on after the end of world war two. Over half of the german u boats sunk in the battle of the atlantic by. German u boat with its crew 1918 via smu central university.

This silent footage from 1945 shows the surrender of german u boat submarines at a port in lisahally, northern ireland. Austrohungarian navy submarines were also known as uboats. The thing is, those all over the map stories are mostly no more than a number of individual stand alone histories promulgated by people with their own agenda. When the united states formally entered the atlantic war in december of 1941, great britain had been struggling to survive against german u boat for over two years. The tonnage figures and sometimes the number of ships sunk is still being debated among historians. Despite their prevalence during wwi and wwii, only four uboats exist. List of most successful uboat commanders wikipedia. Iron coffins is a superb memoir of the battle of the atlantic in world war ii through the eyes of herbert werner, a german uboat captain.

This is a book with lots of facts and statistical data, and it is highly. Fulton, robert torpedo war, and submarine explosions swallow 1971. Chicago public library best informational books for older readers 2019. The uboat war in world war two kriegsmarine, 19391945 and world war one kaiserliche marine, 19141918 and the allied efforts to counter the threat. Germany was the first country to employ submarines in war as substitutes for surface commerce raiders. Mar 01, 2009 the german uboat attacks on shipping along the us atlantic seaboard during wwii, combined with a focus on german submarine u123 and its commander reinhard hardeman, provides a look at the overall operation from german side of the naval war and the operations and of one specific submarine. From wikipedia, the free encyclopedia the list of most successful uboat commanders contains the topscoring german uboat commanders in the two world wars based on their total tonnage sunk. Frances uboat bunkers survived the warand thrive today. How does greyhound compare to the world war ii novel by c. Get german uboat commanders of world war ii now at. Orange beach touched by world war ii as german uboats.

As a result of the extremely grave situation, an interallied conference was held in washingtonthe atlantic convoy conferenceto explore all sides of the problem and decide upon an allocation of planes for antisubmarine purposes. The german military submarines known as uboats that were in action during world war ii were built between 1935 and 1944, and were numbered in sequence from u1 upwards. The u505, a submarine from hitlers deadly fleet, is captured. The main part of the book lists by hull number each u boat s date of commissioning, its commanding officer, and the date and port of departure for its last patrol. When world war ii was fought off north carolinas beaches. An important piece of history from the second world war may be sitting in a river in labrador. Jan 01, 2005 the heart mender by andy andrews presents two compelling and engaging stories. Iron coffins completed the picture, and showed both the early phase of the battle, when the u boats nearly swept. Shadow divers published in 2004 is a nonfictional book by robert kurson recounting of the discovery of a world war ii german u boat 60 miles 97 km off. The author stales that the period from the scuttling of the imperial high seas fleet in scapa flow on 21 june 1919 until construction started on the battle cruiser deutschland in 1928, was one. The heart mender goodreads meet your next favorite book. The german military submarines known as u boats that were in action during world war ii were built between 1935 and 1944, and were numbered in sequence from u 1 upwards. Germanys world war ii u boat fleet represented the elite of their naval personnel. Allied losses in the midatlantic were so great that this was the only point at which britains leaders feared they may lose the war.

The german navy commenced world war ii with fiftysix submarines, of which only twenty four were suitable for operations in the atlantic. This book is an incredible true story about a u boat captain who survived the entire war, one of about two dozen to do so. German submarine activities on the atlantic coast, 1920. The main part of the book lists by hull number each u boats date of commissioning, its commanding officer. Early in the story, krause, pursuing a submerged uboat in a circular patt. The movie u 571 is not based on the actual circumstances of the naval career of the german submarine named u 571. The german uboats the most successful uboat of wwii, u48 returning to base after a successful patrol. History in the april addition of world war ii magazine, the table pg 48 in the article, gloves off, if accurate indicates that at the end of the war the germans had over 400 serviceable u boats.

The u boat had obviously been abandoned in great haste as books and gear were strewn about the place. To beginwith, they were much larger, weighing as much as 300 tons more and being typically about 60 feet longer and 10 feet or so wider in the beam. The main part of the book lists by hull number each u boats date of commissioning, its commanding officer, and the date and port of departure for its last patrol. Ultra and the campaign against uboats in world war ii.

The u boat fleet sank large tonnages of allied shipping, both warships and merchant ships. There are a lot of reasons for this, and like most problems with the nazis, much of it is due to incompetence of leadership. Front cover, the german navy in world war ii by edward p. When the war ended, 156 u boats surrendered, 221 were scuttled by their own crews and two escaped to argentina.

German submarine u 977 was a world war ii type viic u boat of nazi germanys kriegsmarine which escaped to argentina after germanys surrender. The battle of the atlantic pitted u boats and other warships of the german kriegsmarine navy and aircraft of the luftwaffe air force against the royal navy, royal canadian navy, united states navy, and allied merchant shipping. Searchers believe theyve found a german u boat buried in the sand on the bottom of the churchill river. Ww2 german submarine u boats of the kriegsmarine ww11.

While the german term refers to any submarine, the english one refers specifically to military submarines operated by germany, particularly in the first and second world wars. Permission to come aboard four surviving ww2 uboats you. Rather, it is a fictional narrative, loosely based on events involving several different german submarines during world war ii, including u 110, u 570, u 559, and u 505 background on events involving german submarines boarded by the u. Inspire a love of reading with amazon book box for kids discover. Wwii u boat history books rc u boat model u boat plan u boat picture u boat models. But in may 1942, enemy submarines sank 41 ships, totaling almost 220,000 gross tons.

Shadow divers published in 2004 is a nonfictional book by robert kurson recounting of the discovery of a world war ii german u boat 60 miles 97 km off the coast of new jersey, united states in 1991. News herald staff reporter ed offley, who has written two books on german uboat operations in world war ii turning the tide, basic books, 2011, and the burning shore, basic books, 2014, has combed the u. This was the secret war off the us coast during world war ii. Find out the full story of the furthest u boat patrol of the war, when u 862 conducted operations in the pacific ocean and around australia from a secret u b. Mar 25, 2009 german u boats that once prowled the gulf of mexico have left a legacy of mystery, tragedy and intrigue and 56 sunken ships that still rest on the sandy seafloor today. The u boat arm was the most dangerous branch of the german military to serve inthis much is certain. Robert kurson is an american author, best known for his bestselling book, shadow divers, the true story of two americans who discover a sunken world war ii german u boat and for crashing through, the story of an entrepreneur who regains his eyesight after a lifetime of blindness. The german navy regularly terrorized the caribbean sea, making it part of the hunting ground for u boat raiders until the war came to a close. Their presence in american waters was not intended for show but to help win world war ii for germany. It was restored to its wartime configuration and is on display in germany.

How does greyhound compare to the world war ii novel by cs. The uboat fleet sank large tonnages of allied shipping, both warships and merchant ships. Orange beach touched by world war ii as german uboats were. The battle of the atlantic, the longest continuous military campaign in world war ii, ran from 1939 to the defeat of nazi germany in 1945, covering a major part of the naval history of world war ii. The first story, which consists of parts 1 and 3 of the book, tells the story of andrews discovery of world war ii german u boat artifacts in his gulf coast yard and his own personal journey to uncover the origins of how these items got into his yard. This article explores the role of ww2 technology in the battle of the atlantic. German submarines also destroyed brazilian merchant ships during world war ii, causing brazil to declare war on both germany and italy on 22 august 1942. The united states had been involved, however, for some time before december 1941, as american vessels were being sunk on the high seas enroute across the atlantic. Furniture shook, glass and knickknacks rattled, and books fell from shelves as a thundering roar vibrated through the walls of the. May 31, 2014 the u 2450, a type xxi, was one of the last german u boats to be built in world war two. Veteran wwii veteran statistics institute for the study of war and democracy. Most of the uboats were ultimately lost in combat or were scuttled.

Unlike records of most of the known uboats, the background facts of u196 are literally all over the map. Are there any good books about german uboats, during the. Jun 30, 2014 an appendix neatly summarizes data on the disposition of surviving u boats at the end of the war and provides valuable statistical data on german u boat losses. German uboat commanders of world war ii details the service records of some 1,400 officers of the german kriegsmarine known to have commanded a u boat between the commissioning of u 1 in june 1935 and the final surrender of u 977 to argentina in august 1945. In the good shepherd, the germans do not get any speaking parts, and. Admiral doenitz discusses, among other topics, uboats in world war i, uboat building policy from 19351939, a detailed account of german submarine u boat operations, and the battle for control of the north atlantic sea lanes from 1939 to 1943. Most of the u boats were ultimately lost in combat or were scuttled. Nine years in the making, hitlers u boat war is destined to become the definitive account of the german submarine war against the allies, or the battle of the. The wargame that revealed a nazi uboat tactic time. The world war ii memoirs of admiral karl doenitz 18911980.