Interesting reading
 

While trying to find out what FdU and BdU stand for, I ran across this site..

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

You may have seen this before, but if not, enjoy!!

Furhur de U-boat or something like that. Donitz was promoted to that by Hitler.

The German translator I used was Commander of submarines and the other was Leader of Submarines..

Acronyms are hard enough, but toss in another language :oops:

Donitz was BDU or Leader of Submarines and then promoted to FdU or Fuhrur of U-boats or Commander of submarines. Hiltler thought the U-boats were just swell unfortunate he did not give the materials to build the 300+ Donitz wanted to have operational. Basically Donitz wanted 27 new boat built monthly....ain't and didn't happen.:nope: Donitz figured he need to sink over 3 million tons a month to stay ahead of what the US was building in the shipping industry. It did not quite pan out. The boats were outclassed with advent of Huff-Duff and radar anyway. Donitz realized he need faster speeds will submerged. They had the technology but did not employ until to late.

What is up with the Navy Dude picture under my name? Is he from the Village People or something?

I no longer care what they stand for (well, actually I do, but...)? Herr Russ, thank you for the link; that is an incredible site. Now I just have to find time to read it all.:rock: :sunny:

From what I've been reading, they came real close in '42 to tipping the scales of the Battle of the Atlantic, but without proper support and with America's increased support the u-boots just couldn't keep up. Not to mention the pure hell raining down from Allied air cover. :)

FdU = Fuehrer der Uboote (Leader of...); (mostly) commander of a flottilla or high staff
BdU = Befehlshaber der Uboote (CIC of uboats) big boss Doenitz

BdU = Bernard, das Unterseeboot-n00b

True! When the air gap was closed with the use of Liberators it was all over but the crying:oops:. Donitz based his 27 new boats each month and that figure would cover the loss of boats at sea but when promoted by Hitler his first order of business was to cease the building of German warships so the steel could be used for the U-boats. Donitz found that materials were lacking.