i beleive Lothar-Günter Buchheim did not like it so much, criticism being aimed at over dramatisation
, unreal dialogue. i think he thought it was a hollywood-style actioner more than a real life film about a U-Boat. here is the link from Wiki...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Das_Boot
i thought the book was fantastic and its ashame that his other works are not available in translation.
flakmonkey: that is true shopping !!