Best U-boat books? [Archive] - SUBSIM Radio Room Forums

desirableroasted

10-06-10, 02:28 PM

What's your fave U-boat book?

I have an Amazon order in the works, and thought about including some U-boat stuff.

I am considering:

Werner, Iron Coffins
Vause, U-Boat Ace (Luth)
Kriegsmarine et al, U-boat Commander's Handbook

As I am ordering about 25 books, I really only have room for 2 or 3 on this topic.

What's your favorite? Are any of these real winners or real dogs? Any that I am missing entirely and should consider?

Thanks, Roasty

frau kaleun

10-06-10, 03:13 PM

I would give a thumbs up to all three of these, I have them and have read all of them.

Werner's book is a classic of the genre, perhaps even more so because of all the contention regarding the accuracy of his recollections (or lack thereof).

Vause's book I loved, also check out his Wolf: U-Boat Commanders in World War II if you haven't already. I found it on Amazon as well, but IIRC I had to order it from a third party vendor.

The Commander's Handbook I didn't even read much about before ordering, just saw it and clicked - expected it to be more of a "novelty" I guess. But it turns out to be a very cool read, lots of detailed info there on what was being taught at the time as SOP for a u-boat in a wide variety of situations.

Jimbuna

10-06-10, 03:16 PM

IMHO one of the definitive works are the two volume Clay Blair books Hitler's U-Boat war...vol 1 The Hunters volume 2 The Hunted.

K-61

10-06-10, 03:17 PM

IMHO one of the definitive works are the two volume Clay Blair books Hitler's U-Boat war...vol 1 The Hunters volume 2 The Hunted.

I acquired volume 2 in a secondhand book store. I have been searching ever since for volume 1 but no luck yet. I think at this point I'd offer one of my kidneys for a copy.

flag4

10-06-10, 03:27 PM

hi Roasty

Iron Coffins; contraversial, he made it up from (memory), does not all check out with history - but still a fine read, a classic. (a hot potato here at subsim!)

luth, u boat ace, excellent! whish i was about to read it.

Handbook - a handbook of do's and donts for the real commander - excellent to pick thru.

i have 5 at my feet.

lothar-gunthar bucheim; u boat war. a pictorial essay/diary in black and white photos - A MUST, if you can afford it!

timothy p mulligan; neither sharks nor wolves; a nuts and bolts of the men who trained and served in the u boat arm. a little dry to read, but totally immersive. maybe pricey£££

michael gannon: operation drumbeat: u boats attack american coast. one of my favorites, i didnt want it to end. it is BRILLIANT!

jordan vause. wolf: u boat commanders in ww2. another fine book by the author. about the more well known commanders. he writes with care and love for his subject.

clay blair: Hitlers U Boat War. The Hunters 1939-1942. some regard this as the bible. it is a 2 parter. the other is The Hunted 42-45. a big job coming in at 800 pages. it covers everything. from amazon: Already acclaimed on publication in the United States, the U-Boat war is here chronicled with authority, fidelity, objectivity, and extraordinary detail. He also writes vivid and dramatic scenes of naval actions with startling new revelations and conclusions about all aspects of the Battle of the Atlantic. he can get a panning from certain critics

....and there are so many more too.........keep on reading:up:

flag4

10-06-10, 03:33 PM

I acquired volume 2 in a secondhand book store. I have been searching ever since for volume 1 but no luck yet. I think at this point I'd offer one of my kidneys for a copy.

hey there K-61, i got vol 1 the other week from america - i live in england. got it for £6.42 + post, from betterworldbooks thru amazon. its a hard back too! good luck:up:

K-61

10-06-10, 03:34 PM

hey there K-61, i got vol 1 the other week from america - i live in england. got it for £6.42 + post, from betterworldbooks thru amazon. its a hard back too! good luck:up:

Danke! I'll look for it again. Cheers! Yes, I am looking for a hardcover to match the volume 2.

flag4

10-06-10, 03:37 PM

...lets do a thread/sticky for books, a library. great for newbs and those that dont yet have...?

Victor Schutze

10-06-10, 03:41 PM

Don't forget to read Lothar-Gunther Buchheim's DAS BOOT.

I got it on amazon in the US for $0.02!

flag4

10-07-10, 11:23 AM

Don't forget to read Lothar-Gunther Buccheim's DAS BOOT.

I got it on amazon in the US for $0.02!

...should be entry level requirement for all new commanders!

...shame his other novels are not translated to english - wonder why?

mookiemookie

10-07-10, 12:07 PM

Vause's books are great, especially the one on Lueth.

It's probably sacrilege to say it, but Blair's U-boat War are great as reference material but they're very dry to read cover to cover. I find Paterson's histories of the First (http://www.amazon.com/First-U-Boat-Flotilla-Lawrence-Paterson/dp/1557502951) and Second (http://www.amazon.com/Second-U-Boat-Flotilla-Lawrence-Paterson/dp/0850529174) U-oat Flotillas to be a bit more lively and interesting than Blair. But as far as completeness goes, you can't take anything away from Blair.

I found Steel Boats Iron Hearts by Goebeler (http://www.amazon.com/Steel-Boat-Iron-Hearts-Goebeler/dp/1932714316/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1286471204&sr=1-1) to be a great book, written from the point of view of an enlisted man. That goes on my shelf as a "Top 5" book on the U-boat war.

You can do a search for the knock-down drag-out catfights that have been had over Iron Coffins in these forums over the years. I'll just say that it's a fine story and very entertaining while being based on grains of truth, but for true-to-life historical accuracy, look elsewhere.

U-boat War Patrol, also by Paterson (http://www.amazon.com/U-boat-War-Patrol-Hidden-Photographic/dp/1591148901) is stuffed full of awesome pictures and tells the story of one of U-564's patrols. That too is an exemplary book that I'd recommend to anyone with an interest in the subject.

I linked you to Amazon, but make sure you order through the Subsim portal here: http://www.subsim.com/store.html It doesn't cost you anything extra and Amazon shares a cut of the sale with Subsim.

frau kaleun

10-07-10, 12:25 PM

Vause's books are great, especially the one on Lueth.

I found Steel Boats Iron Hearts by Goebeler (http://www.amazon.com/Steel-Boat-Iron-Hearts-Goebeler/dp/1932714316/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1286471204&sr=1-1) to be a great book, written from the point of view of an enlisted man. That goes on my shelf as a "Top 5" book on the U-boat war.

U-boat War Patrol, also by Paterson (http://www.amazon.com/U-boat-War-Patrol-Hidden-Photographic/dp/1591148901) is stuffed full of awesome pictures and tells the story of one of U-564's patrols. That too is an exemplary book that I'd recommend to anyone with an interest in the subject.

:yep: I wish Vause would write some more books on the same or related subjects.

I concur with you on the other two mentioned above as well. I just finished Steel Boats, Iron Hearts about a month ago and loved it. For those not already familiar with it, the author served on the U-505 (for all of her patrols, IIRC) and was one of the men who survived as a POW when she was captured by the USN. U-505 is the Type IX that currently resides at the Museum of Science & Industry in Chicago and Goebeler's book provides a great insider's perspective on her combat history.

Can't say enough about the pics in Paterson's book, they really make a good narrative come alive.

flag4

10-07-10, 12:47 PM

Paterson, Lawrence: U-Boat War Patrol: The Hidden Photographic Diary of U-564 [Paperback]

Enid Blyton (http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&search-alias=books-uk&field-author=Enid%20Blyton) (Author)

or)
....maybe i should buy this one, looks like a collectors item!

edit; just out of interest, i have noticed that a lot of these books we read on this subject are becoming very expensive. just looked at MM's link and some of dem prices are crazzee. take for example this one by David Stevens:
U-Boat Far from Home: The Epic Voyage of the U-862 to Australia and New Zealand. comes in at £144 ???
last year i got the same book from australia - delivered here - england, for just under £20
...any thoughts?

Jimbuna

10-07-10, 01:08 PM

frau kaleun

10-07-10, 01:11 PM

Yeah, I didn't pay an exorbitant price for my copy of the Paterson book either... just picked it up off Amazon, IIRC it was directly from them and not a third party vendor. New, oversized paperbound (but very sturdy) copy.

Puster Bill

10-07-10, 02:34 PM

Just wanted to throw in another vote for Clay Blair's two volume set. I just finished Volume I for the umpteenth time, and am reading Volume II for the umpteenth time.

Puster Bill

10-07-10, 02:36 PM

Oh, and don't forget online resources, like the BdU/FdU war diary:

http://www.uboatarchive.net/BDUKTB.htm

Nothing like getting it straight from the horse's mouth.

desirableroasted

10-07-10, 02:38 PM

You were supposed to make my life easier! :)

Thank you all for the reccies. That's just why this forum never fails to amaze me.

I find myself leaning toward the Blair books and the U-boat Commander's Handbook, at least for this round.

Though I do go to Flensburg about once a year, and should read up on Luth before the next time.

So many books, so little time!

I second Flag4's suggestion to make a sticky thread about U-boat books.

flag4

10-07-10, 02:39 PM

...what i am trying to say is that over the years i have noticed the steady climb at the top end of these books.
a few years ago i never saw this type of book/subject matter so expensive at the top end...

Lone Wolf: Life and Death of U-boat Ace Werner Henke
between £20-30-70. i got mine a few days ago from america for just over £11 delivered. this one from england £121.85, yes it is new but my god
for 288 pages?
Clay Blairs tommes range from £11-50 either side of the atlantic.
　
u boat war - bucheim 6 used copies from £23
　
john terraine: Business in Great Waters: U-boat Wars, 1916-45 £95.95 from america, used-new. or 25p ?
　
jordan vause: U-Boat Ace: The Story of Wolfgang Luth £91.99 brand new from england. or you can get one for as little as £3.30 !!
　
timothy p mulligan: Neither Sharks Nor Wolves: The Men of Germany's U-boat Arm, 1939-45 hard cover £25 0r used £4.74
　
Teddy Suhren: Ace of Aces: Memoirs of A U-Boat Rebel [Hardcover] 248pages: £205
　
Steel Boat, Iron Hearts: A U-Boat Crewman's Life Aboard U-505: £9.44 0r £50 hardcover.

im sure someone could explain all this.

these books are not in bad condititon - i guess, because i have ordered them in different conditions over the years and never thought oh christ, im sending that back. they have all been in better condititon than advertised.
　
　
maybe the market has been affected by the economy - or people will buy at these prices, i have no idea. i just know that books related to this subject have gone
up, but VERY up at the top end.
　
i guess its the discrepency between high and low that opens my eyes. its not the like with all, but certain titles have an odd price
　
maybe more people have become interested - hence the hike.
　
we should hold on to them once read. they will be worth a small fortune one day.
　
now i will go back top making an inexpensive broccolli soup with blue cheese.
　

musides

10-07-10, 02:52 PM

It appears you can read portions of iron coffins via google:

http://books.google.com/books?id=yFIAig8jEcUC&printsec=frontcover&dq=iron+coffins+werner&source=bl&ots=5xuQ6Pl0ai&sig=dmsYZevo1Fs7napmTFoIMFtVea0&hl=en&ei=wiSuTPOeKIT4sAOQv_WXDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CCgQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q&f=false

desirableroasted

10-07-10, 03:13 PM

...what i am trying to say is that over the years i have noticed the steady climb at the top end of these books.
a few years ago i never saw this type of book/subject matter so expensive at the top end...

im sure someone could explain all this.
　

The U-boat war is an esoteric corner of WWII. The books discussed here were published in limited numbers, perhaps even privately, by houses with little marketing budget. They never became bestsellers. They ended up in the hands of "nerds" -- like us -- and rarely got passed on.

Now, as the the generation that was the "natural" readership for these books passes on, a lot of the books are going to be tossed by sons and daughters who just see it as a dry, boring subject. Or put out into the flea market/jumble sale market where they will never be seen by an enthusiast.

An example. At a "barn sale" not 500 meters from my own house, I found a good-condition Andrees Handatlas from 1902. As a cartography enthusiast, I had slobbered over one in London not two months before, but felt I couldn't afford it. Here it was for sale for €2. That's right, €2. After I bought it, I asked the guy what he was going to do if it was unsold at the end of the summer. "Oh, take it to the dump."

So a lot of these books are going to become rare and sought after, because they will never return to the market. If you run across a first edition of any of these, at a fair price, grab it.

Thankfully, it's far easier to reprint books these days. So for those of us who cannot afford an original, probably some kind house will reprint at some point, even if the paper is not nearly as good.

frau kaleun

10-07-10, 04:54 PM

Thankfully, it's far easier to reprint books these days. So for those of us who cannot afford an original, probably some kind house will reprint at some point, even if the paper is not nearly as good.

The one upside to the passage of time is the increasing number of people who are able and willing to seek out "niche" publications via the internet. I own books now that I would never have been able to buy 20 years ago, simply because they weren't stocked at the local bookstores and the chances of finding them used somewhere local were almost equally slim. Heck, I probably wouldn't even know of the existence of most of the books I've bought online if I hadn't seen them or heard about them online somewhere.

It's no longer necessary to distribute huge numbers of a title to stores all over creation in the hopes that enough nerds/geeks/enthusiasts will happen on them in their local shops to make it worth a reprint. All you need is an Amazon listing for it, lol, and more and more of your niche demographic will find you. And/or be pointed in your direction because they bought something else on the same subject.

Herr-Berbunch

10-07-10, 05:24 PM

I'm another one for Paterson's U-Boat War Patrol, the quantity of the pictures from one patrol is great. I don't own it though, it's from my local library. Also Bernard Edwards' Dönitz and the Wolf Packs is by my bed and a good read so far :yeah:

ReallyDedPoet

10-07-10, 07:23 PM

I acquired volume 2 in a secondhand book store. I have been searching ever since for volume 1 but no luck yet. I think at this point I'd offer one of my kidneys for a copy.

Save your Kidney's, I see the first volume is currently on Amazon.ca:
Here (http://www.amazon.ca/Hitlers-U-Boat-War-Hunters-1939-1942/dp/0679640320/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1286497198&sr=8-1)

Help this place by getting it through the SUBSIM Store :yeah:

Jimbuna

10-08-10, 11:38 AM

The Golden Horseshoe: The Story of Otto Kretschmer, Germany's Top U-boat Ace (Fortunes of War) [Paperback]

Terence Robertson (http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&search-alias=books-uk&field-author=Terence%20Robertson) (Author)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Golden-Horseshoe-Kretschmer-Germanys-Fortunes/dp/0752420194/ref=sr_1_13?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1286555688&sr=1-13

Picked this interesting read up whilst on holiday recently for £4.99

flag4

10-08-10, 04:37 PM

..have just ordered this The critical convoy battles of March 1943 : the battle for HX.229/SC122 Jurgen (translated by Derek Masters) Rohwer; Hardcover; £3.99

£3.99!! ??

top price £25!.

mine is a first edition, i hope it comes with plates - i think it does. but the imbalance of pricing is bizzar.

follow the link from musides and click on the books. there are titles there i have never heard of like 'Bloody Winter.' about the russian convoys...

...man, i whish i was rich:yeah:

donhall

10-08-10, 06:26 PM

You might contact Ken @ http://www.ubootwaffe.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1621

He is selling numerous books.

diesel97

10-11-10, 01:35 AM

So many books, so little time... :). Operation Drumbeat & Black May by Michael Gannon plus U-boat commander by 'Ali' Cremer. Convoy by Martin Middlebrook.

Captain Nemo

10-11-10, 07:25 AM

Sometime ago I managed to obtain on ebay a copy of "The U-boat war in the Atlantic 1939-1945" including all the charts, published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office (HMSO).

It is an account of German U-boat operations written for the British Admiralty (originally classified material) at the end of the war by Günther Hessler with the assistance of Alfred Hoschatt. Both had been staff officers in U-boat command. Hessler had been the commander of U-107 earlier in the war and was Donitz’s son-in-law.

I haven't had a chance to examine it in any great detail, and it looks quite technical, does anyone else have this book and can comment?

Nemo

Herr-Berbunch

10-11-10, 09:10 AM

Sometime ago I managed to obtain on ebay a copy of "The U-boat war in the Atlantic 1939-1945" including all the charts, published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office (HMSO).

Somebody else, outside of this forum, mentioned that the other day so I looked it up - blimey it's not a cheap book!!! :nope: And to make matters worse, my local libraries don't stock it either :wah:.

Enjoy it!

Captain Nemo

10-11-10, 09:39 AM

Somebody else, outside of this forum, mentioned that the other day so I looked it up - blimey it's not a cheap book!!! :nope: And to make matters worse, my local libraries don't stock it either :wah:.

Enjoy it!

I was lucky, I picked it up for about £25 on ebay in mint condition. Copies still appear on ebay from time to time so it's worth keeping an eye out for one. There is a copy currently on ebay in the US (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/U-Boat-War-Atlantic-German-U-Boat-Losses-/140464064516?pt=Antiquarian_Collectible&hash=item20b44f8804), but a starting price of US$175 is expensive:down:.

I'll have to set some time aside to actually read it!

Nemo

Jimbuna

10-11-10, 02:39 PM

STEED

10-11-10, 02:45 PM

The U-Boat Offensive 1914-1945

http://www.amazon.co.uk/U-Boat-Offensive-1914-1945-V-Tarrant/dp/185409520X/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1286826259&sr=1-5

Type VII U-boats

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Type-VII-U-boats-Robert-Stern/dp/1860198554/ref=sr_1_16?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1286826463&sr=1-16

frau kaleun

10-11-10, 02:46 PM

You want a book on U-Boats?

Once purchased this for a good friend....I'm treating myself this Christmas:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/U-boat-evolution-technical-Submarines-Military/dp/0304361208/ref=sr_1_107?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1286825843&sr=1-107

Gee thanks, now I want this one. Only $277 new here in the US! :wah: :O:

Okay it can be got for around $65 used in what looks like reasonably good condition, but still.

Jimbuna

10-11-10, 03:20 PM

Gee thanks, now I want this one. Only $277 new here in the US! :wah: :O:

Okay it can be got for around $65 used in what looks like reasonably good condition, but still.

Worth ever $.....trust me :yep:

frau kaleun

10-11-10, 03:23 PM

Worth ever $.....trust me :yep:

Looks like it, judging by the review. Added to my wish list, which is beginning to rival my Netflix queue. :D

Jimbuna

10-11-10, 03:55 PM

Looks like it, judging by the review. Added to my wish list, which is beginning to rival my Netflix queue. :D

Netflix? :hmmm:

Is that porn or something similar? :rotfl2:

:03:

frau kaleun

10-11-10, 04:15 PM

If it's supposed to be porn then I have to say my last couple of DVD rentals must cater to a very strange niche market. :hmmm: :O:

desirableroasted

10-11-10, 06:02 PM

If it's supposed to be porn then I have to say my last couple of DVD rentals must cater to a very strange niche market. :hmmm: :O:

Bambi and Charlotte's Web. I'm with you.

Venatore

10-11-10, 06:28 PM

Shadow Divers
http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT_Adugsyi_wv4s_I_ziY4ajgt6G_gdE 7yAFtyWJ6-jGjWDk24&t=1&usg=__4hZXpyWtxa_VlmiuzXkKpC6Kx50=
The adventures of deep sea wreck divers and their quest in 1991 to identify a sunken German submarine (U-boat) off the New Jersey Coast. Another excellent book that immerses the reader in the world of explorers who risk their lives for adventure.

The entire documentary on U-Tube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7U5dxYVtIY&feature=related

Cpt. Martin

10-11-10, 07:15 PM

I just bought this one (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1591149584/ref=oss_product), it hasn't arrived yet, but it sounds great:yep:

"Twenty-two U-boat veterans tell their stories in this collection of their experiences, recorded by the author during several years of travel throughout Germany. While many books have been written about the U-boat war, this is one of the few that focuses on the lives of the submariners, and rarer still is its concentration on the crewmen rather than the officers. Melanie Wiggins interviewed seventeen men of the enlisted ranks, along with five commanders, to take readers into the terrifying world of underwater warfare, where every single crewman made a crucial difference in the fate of his boat. As she searched for and interviewed U-boat men, Wiggins also collected photographs from scrapbooks and archives, and consulted war-era personnel records and secret diaries. Her attendance at a reunion of the crew of U-682 netted a wealth of information as did her interviews with submarine veterans in Görlitz, former East Germany. Her interviews with Admiral Otto Kretschmer just two months before his death and ninety-four-year-old Commander Jürgen Wattenberg in Hamburg add important dimensions to the work.
Among the individual sagas included are Radioman Hans Bürck's description of his 1942 patrol to Aruba and the visit of Japanese submarine I-30 at Lorient; Fireman 2nd Class Josef Erben's explanation of how his boat, U-128, got stuck on a large rock and had to be hauled free; POW Ernst Gö:thling's memories of being wounded in a British prison camp when German planes mistakenly dropped bombs in the area; and Herman Wien's description of U-180 transporting Indian anarchist Subhas Chandra Bose to Madagascar. Every account gives new details about the crews' activities at sea and their experiences in prisoner-of-war camps"

frau kaleun

10-11-10, 07:29 PM

Got and read the Wiggins book a few months back - had it saved on my wish list for a while before it was even available. Got it as soon as Amazon had it to ship and really enjoyed it. :up:

I just ordered these three:

Silent Hunters: German U-Boat Commanders of World War II
Theodore P. Savas

Lone Wolf: The Life and Death of U-Boat Ace Werner Henke
Timothy P. Mulligan

Grey Wolf, Grey Sea
E.B. Gasaway

All used from third party vendors via Amazon at pretty decent prices, each was less than $15 including shipping. Looking forward to receiving them!

Herr-Berbunch

10-12-10, 05:17 AM

I do hope everyone is using the subsim/store link for these purchases :O:

frau kaleun

10-12-10, 07:11 AM

I do hope everyone is using the subsim/store link for these purchases :O:

:yeah:

Captain Nemo

10-12-10, 07:32 AM

You want a book on U-Boats?

Once purchased this for a good friend....I'm treating myself this Christmas:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/U-boat-evolution-technical-Submarines-Military/dp/0304361208/ref=sr_1_107?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1286825843&sr=1-107

Looks interesting, thanks for the link. As it happens my local library consortium has a copy of this available. I have placed a reservation for it, so barring any complications i.e. it's gone missing, I should be able to check it out in a week or two:up:.

Nemo

Herr-Berbunch

10-12-10, 07:33 AM

You want a book on U-Boats?

Once purchased this for a good friend....I'm treating myself this Christmas:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/U-boat-evolution-technical-Submarines-Military/dp/0304361208/ref=sr_1_107?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1286825843&sr=1-107

My local authority library service doesn't have this, but my neighbouring one, which I'm also a member, does :yeah:.

That's saved the kid's christmas :yep:, but subsim misses out :nope:.

Jimbuna

10-12-10, 08:22 AM

Looks interesting, thanks for the link. As it happens my local library consortium has a copy of this available. I have placed a reservation for it, so barring any complications i.e. it's gone missing, I should be able to check it out in a week or two:up:.

Nemo

One of the few books that shows the map locations of the builders yards.

Happy reading http://www.psionguild.org/forums/images/smilies/wolfsmilies/read2.gif

Jimbuna

10-12-10, 08:24 AM

My local authority library service doesn't have this, but my neighbouring one, which I'm also a member, does :yeah:.

That's saved the kid's christmas :yep:, but subsim misses out :nope:.

Don't forget to remind them of their uncle buna, the one they haven't seen since the day they were born....he loves book suprises at xmas http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/2391/bubblegum21.gif

kiwi_2005

10-12-10, 02:01 PM

Favourite Uboat books

U-boat Far From Home - by David Stevens
The epic voyage of U-862 to Australia and New Zealand. Some black & white pictures

Hirschfeld by Wolfgang Hirschfeld

Wolfgang risked court martial and possible death by keeping a diary of his career on U-boats, which lasted from 1940 to the end of the war, this is his own dramatic authentic and at times terrifying story. Some black & white pictures.

The Golden Horseshoe -by Terence Robertson
about Otto Kretschmer Captain of U-99

Unbroken - by Alastair Mars. not a uboat but about the British sub Unbroken in the Med during the war.

frau kaleun

10-12-10, 02:12 PM

Hirschfeld by Wolfgang Hirschfeld

Wolfgang risked court martial and possible death by keeping a diary of his career on U-boats, which lasted from 1940 to the end of the war, this is his own dramatic authentic and at times terrifying story. Some black & white pictures.

Added to wish list. *sigh*

The Stevens book looks good but the cheapest copy at Amazon is over $130 and that's used from a third party vendor. :wah:

Oh well I'll keep an eye on it, maybe the price will come down.

Jimbuna

10-12-10, 02:17 PM

The Golden Horseshoe -by Terence Robertson
about Otto Kretschmer Captain of U-99

just finished reading that yesterday :sunny:

kiwi_2005

10-12-10, 02:47 PM

Added to wish list. *sigh*

The Stevens book looks good but the cheapest copy at Amazon is over $130 and that's used from a third party vendor. :wah:

Oh well I'll keep an eye on it, maybe the price will come down.

omg $130! I brought Uboat far from home about 10yrs ago and it cost me $39.95 back then and I thought that was overpriced. lol

Depending on how bad you want the book I found it on Trademe here (New Zealand) you can register and bid for the book, so far bidding is at $8 and ends on friday. Only one other bidding atm. Most sellers accept overseas customers you can ask the seller on the bottom of his auction page if hes willing to send of to America.

Sign up here: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Default.aspx

And heres the link to Uboat far from home:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Books/Rare-collectable/NZ-published/History/auction-323205624.htm

If I remember right you don't have to add any money to your account before you can buy, if you want to sell you have to add $10 or more.

frau kaleun

10-12-10, 02:59 PM

Thanks, but I'll just wait and see what happens with it on Amazon. I've got plenty of other things on my wish list to keep me occupied in the meantime. :D

kiwi_2005

10-12-10, 03:17 PM

Thanks, but I'll just wait and see what happens with it on Amazon. I've got plenty of other things on my wish list to keep me occupied in the meantime. :D

No problem. :up:

I just took a look at amazon where the dearest copy of Uboat far from home is $273 :o Man I'm selling my stuff on the wrong auction site! Amazon here I come. :haha:

frau kaleun

10-12-10, 03:22 PM

Yeah, I don't know what goes into the pricing - and those seem like really high prices for used copies of anything, unless it's a collectible of some kind. But prices fluctuate so I just keep stuff on my wish list and wait it out. If someday it's the last u-boat book in the world I still don't have, and it's still that expensive, paying that much might not seem so bad. But right now I can get 10-12 other decent used books that I want just as much for the same money.

flag4

10-12-10, 04:16 PM

hi hunters

started reading Lusitania - Saga and Myth by David Ramsay. its just begining to pick up a head of steam!

...and joy of joys, my copy of Lone Wolf: The Life and Death of Werner Henke has come today too :DL

and a really good copy too. hard back excellent condition all the way from America for $18 !

its going for £20-£70 on Amazon

do you think we have started a book-rush of buying with this thread?

EDIT: another way of looking for the book you want is to do an ISBN search. its the bar code number on the back of the book at the bottom. there are many sites to run the ISBN number into, and this will give you global sellers with the title and price and shipping details.

Jimbuna

10-12-10, 04:35 PM

do you think we have started a book-rush of buying with this thread?

I'm beginning to get tempted to pricing up my collection for retirement and offering first refusal to SS members.

frau kaleun

10-12-10, 06:58 PM

:D

Well I can only speak for myself, but I had a bill coming that I expected to be a coupla hundred dollars or more with our new health insurance... but when I got the EOB from my insurance it turns out that stuff I thought would be going to deductible on the new plan is actually not subject to deductible after all. So my bill ended up being less than a third of what I had set aside for it. :yeah:

In short, I had extra money to play with, and $50 in Amazon gift certificates on top of it... actually I was saving those to buy a new lamp I had my eye on. Which I did buy, the books were just a bonus 'cause EXTRA MONEY! Money I thought was already "spent" anyway.

Elektranaut

10-12-10, 09:04 PM

ARTIC CONVOYS by Richard Woodman gives a comphrehensive and detailed overveiw of the Artic campaign.Gives you a good insight into the brutal conditions.

flag4

10-13-10, 01:07 PM

I'm beginning to get tempted to pricing up my collection for retirement and offering first refusal to SS members.

...and what will required reading be then?

...surely you would hold back a few favorites?

..what lesser known titles do you have? for example, i have just discovered one called Bloody Winter about the Russian Convoys. i have been reading the history for five years now and that one i have never heard of..

Jimbuna

10-13-10, 03:15 PM

...and what will required reading be then?

...surely you would hold back a few favorites?

..what lesser known titles do you have? for example, i have just discovered one called Bloody Winter about the Russian Convoys. i have been reading the history for five years now and that one i have never heard of..

I don't recall owning the title you mentioned.

I've most of the book collection boxed in the loft but will get to it sooner rather than later.

There are also some rare Napoleonic books up there as well as an extremely rare 'Final Moments Of HMS Hood' limited edition print (still in its delivery tube).

http://www.military-art.com/mall/more.php?ProdID=16029

I've a second one that belonged to my late father which has faded a bit because he had it framed and mounted on a wall.

Herr-Berbunch

10-14-10, 02:16 AM

ARTIC CONVOYS by Richard Woodman gives a comphrehensive and detailed overveiw of the Artic campaign.Gives you a good insight into the brutal conditions.

I've read his 'Malta Convoys', which was great, Arctic is about fifth on my to read list :nope:.

Jim, I'll give you a crate of Nukey for you collection...

Jimbuna

10-14-10, 08:44 AM

I've read his 'Malta Convoys', which was great, Arctic is about fifth on my to read list :nope:.

Jim, I'll give you a crate of Nukey for you collection...

What's 'Nukey'? :hmmm:

Not your southerners name for brown dog I hope :DL

flag4

10-14-10, 08:46 AM

I've read his 'Malta Convoys', which was great, Arctic is about fifth on my to read list :nope:.

Jim, I'll give you a crate of Nukey for you collection...

you may have to come up with a finer blend in that crate for a collection like this might be...

Herr-Berbunch

10-14-10, 09:06 AM

Jimbuna

10-15-10, 10:05 AM

I've heard you northern folk say Nukey, so don't give me that crap :hmmm:

And I'm not (in my book) southern! I'm just not from as far north as you, but I'm still more north than Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, Doncaster, Oldham and Skelmersdale. But not as far as Rochdale, Chorley, Huddersfield, Wakefield, Pontefract, or 'Ull. :D

I was out one night, many moons ago, when my friend and I were at a taxi rank with a Geordie lass. My friend started with the old "why aye, pet", to which she replied, "people from Newcastle dinna say why aye, pet". My friend then said, "what do they say then, 'byker grove'?

She hit him. Hard.

I laughed :D

Two crates then? (I know their weakness... :hmmm:)

Can't honestly say I've heard the term.....now broon dog or broon ale, those are the fashionable/recogniseable terms.

The crime being Newcastle Brown is no longer brewed here but somewhere down sarth of these hallowed parts :nope:

So your not a southerner then? :hmmm:

Remember....anything south of the Wear is often considered something queer :O::03:

Tessa

10-16-10, 07:21 PM

I acquired volume 2 in a secondhand book store. I have been searching ever since for volume 1 but no luck yet. I think at this point I'd offer one of my kidneys for a copy.

Imo these is the best set of books that cover the entire war, and does its best to only include political garbage when it interferred or crippled u-boat operations. I think of this as the u-boat Bible in a manner, as it a chronological accounting and history of every u-boat and major (and minor ones) events of the war from a very non-partisan point of view. The facts are presented as how they were perceived at the time things happened, then compared to historical records so that mistakes (over claiming on tonnage) can be corrected.

For a book that is purely a history book, when I pick it up it reads very easily like a good novel or book I would read for pure pleasure. It's not as dry as it sounds!

Frequently since the game doesn't provide intelligence reports (other than major ones) I'll pick up the book before my patrol, flip to the appropriate time period and read through the section when my patrol is going to happen, and make note of any intelligence reports they had at the time when they suspected a convoy or task force was going to be moving through a certain area and go there to try and find or intercept it.

I got really lucky, found my (Hardbound) set at the library. They're quite overdue ;) but luck appears to have wanted me to have those books as I've never gotten any overdue notices or charges from them (knock on wood).

LiveGoat

10-17-10, 05:02 PM

The U-boat by Eberhardt Rossler

Great Technical Book but expensive lots of deck plans and dry info. One of my faves that sadly was sold to pay the rent.

http://www.amazon.com/U-Boat-Evolution-Technical-History-Submarines/dp/0304361208/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1287351956&sr=1-1

An affordable alternative is U-boat: the Illustrated History of the Raiders of the Deep:

http://www.amazon.com/U-Boats-Illustrated-History-Raiders-Deep/dp/1574884638/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1287352084&sr=1-1-fkmr0

Also just read Bucheim's U-Boat War. A friend bought it for me on Amazon used (Library copy with plastic dust jacket cover. Nice condition).

Currently on volume two of Blair's book. Probably my favorite books on TBotA so far.

Oh, BTW if anyone's interested a pdf copy of the BdU KTB, here it is:

http://documents.scribd.com/docs/7xweif7f7hehg4g3pxo.pdf

Was disappointed while reading it to find that Donitz doesn't dish any gossip, though. "That Raeder was being a real bitch to me again today. I could scratch his eyes out! Oh well, everyone knows the Fuhrer likes me better. Oh, there's some boudoir pics of Goering floating around that... oops, here comes Roessing, more later."

Gargamel

11-09-10, 04:40 AM

So, it sounds like Blair's books are the best place for a noob like me to start?

If not, whats the best all around, best reading, most informative, cheap, place to start?

Subhuman230

11-09-10, 07:00 AM

-Das Boot the boat a true classic 10 on amazon
-Donitz Crews very good but very expensive 70 used or new
-The encyclodedia of U-boats from 1904 to the present
one of my favorites 30 on amazon

Herr-Berbunch

11-09-10, 07:46 AM

On Amazon.co.uk (via the subsim link!) The U-Boat: The Evolution and Technical History of German Submarines, is now available (used) for £15 +2.75 P&P. That's the cheapest you'll ever see this book that usually goes for more that four times that price. :yep:

Only one copy though!

Subhuman230

11-09-10, 11:16 AM

I now have two on my computer and one book of it It is very good though so I'm happy
What's your fave U-boat book?

I have an Amazon order in the works, and thought about including some U-boat stuff.

I am considering:

Werner, Iron Coffins
Vause, U-Boat Ace (Luth)
Kriegsmarine et al, U-boat Commander's Handbook
As I am ordering about 25 books, I really only have room for 2 or 3 on this topic.

What's your favorite? Are any of these real winners or real dogs? Any that I am missing entirely and should consider?

Thanks, Roasty

Subhuman230

11-09-10, 11:19 AM

U-boat adventures is extremly good compiled by Melanie Wiggins

bandit484

04-25-13, 04:54 PM

Clay Blair has a nice 2 volume set about the u-boat war. The first is called Hitlers u-boat war the hunters 1939-1942, the 2nd is called the hunted 1942-1945. I would highly recommend reading them, they give a complete depiction of the u-boat war during world war 2. :up::up::up::up:

Sailor Steve

04-25-13, 04:59 PM

Page 1, post #5.

desertstriker

04-25-13, 05:21 PM

Sailor Steve

04-25-13, 06:23 PM

What failures would those be? Failures like being a major contributor to beating the Japanese, while the Germans still lost?

desertstriker

04-25-13, 07:44 PM

well failure compaired to the success of the germans heck it says alot when Churchill says "The only thing that really frightened me during the war was the U-boat peril". I need to find the book though (its in a box because of moving and i still haven't unpacted everything) but i think Blair even said that the Uboats never came close to accomplishing the goal of choking britans supplies, but if that where true why so much effort to ASW, and even said that the electroboat was technologically behind. give it a good reread.

sharkbit

04-25-13, 09:45 PM

He does say that they never came close to strangling Britain. It has been a few years since I read them, but IIRC he seems to back up his conclusions with statistics.

:)

Jimbuna

04-26-13, 05:54 AM

Page 1, post #5.

Page 1, post #3

He does say that they never came close to strangling Britain. It has been a few years since I read them, but IIRC he seems to back up his conclusions with statistics.

:)

Rgr that.

Sailor Steve

04-26-13, 10:28 AM

Page 1, post #3
Him too. :yep:

RustySubmarine

04-26-13, 11:34 AM

This is a good read, written by an ordinary crew member, from a diary he kept whilst on board a British S Class Sub, HMS Safari during 1942/43 based in the Med. It just wasn't the U boats that had successes, this boat alone, from 14th May 1942 to 30th August 1943 had sailed 31,312 nautical miles, had spent 259 days at sea, 139 of these submerged Had 59 actions against German & Italian shipping, 30 by torpedo attack & 28 by gun attack Sunk definite 34 ships and 4 more by fire and caused 3 further ships to beach. Missed during 7 actions either by gunfire or torpedo. Fired 1,035 rounds of 3" shells and fired 72 torpedoes, hitting the targets with 30 of them Total tonnage of sinking's confirmed was 72,051 tonnes. and had 129 depth charges dropped on her. Besides this it was partially involved with the invasion of Sicily and was involved in landing special forces with follboats on eight separate occasions.

The book is called CRASHDIVE written by Artur P Dickison

Another book written by one of the Captains of the same boat is called
One Man Band by Ben Bryant currently out of print.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51HSCTY8PFL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

RustySubmarine

04-26-13, 11:57 AM

Another couple of good reads are these two.

Attack & Sink, The Battle for Convoy SC42 by Bernard Edwards.

Darkest Before Dawn, U482 & The Sinking Of The Empire Heritage 1944 by John Peterson.

Ok the above two titles dwell mainly on Convoys, but are interesting all the same.

If your interested in the Enigma then this has to be the best book on the subject.

SEIZING THE ENIGMA, The Race To Break the German U Boat Codes 1939 - 1943, by David Kahn. I got a copy in paper back, which is 300 plus pages in quite small print, but it would have doubled the book's size if the print had been larger. It can get a bit heavy in parts of the book, but very immersive and interesting and nothing about the enigma is left untold.

Marcello

04-26-13, 03:17 PM

Got to be careful with blair though while reading he posed some shall we say extreme hatred to the Uboats... couldn't help but think he was jealous by the success of Uboats verses the failures of the American and even British subs(failure in comparison at least) but it is a good read.

It is apparent that he lets his nationalism and perhaps jealousy at the amount of attention/admiration towards the u-boat get in the way of objectivity. Sometimes he makes statements that seem, quite frankly...almost retarded. It must be admitted that one often hears even more unreasonable stuff on the opposite side of the spectrum so....
That said it is true that the germans were never on the verge of cutting off Britain, and this he shows quite nicely, albeit it is quite one thing to investigate with the benefit of hindsight and quite an other live it at the moment, without the full knowledge of how things would play out. Bet there were moments on the british side when things weren't looking rosy, perhaps not in the sense of "if the next couple of convoys don't make it we will have to ask for terms" but "another six months like this and we will have to delay operation XY and what not".
It is also true that the american submarine effort against Japan was actually comparatively much more successful, but of course Japan had fewer resources, both in terms of ASW assets and the ability to replace lost merchants.

Sailor Steve

04-26-13, 05:39 PM

...it is quite one thing to investigate with the benefit of hindsight and quite an other live it at the moment...
Very, very true. I've long been an aviation buff and have read a great many books on the Battle of Britain. It's amazing how an author can, within the same book, say "We were on the verge of being strangled" and "They never had a chance", and not see the slightest incongruity. :sunny: