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Originally Posted by Gizzmoe
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Nopileo
while I thought it was purely fictional (although based on real events).
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"The story is based, loosely, on an amalgamation of the exploits of the real U-96, a Type VIIC-class U-boat commanded by Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock, one of Germany's top U-boat "tonnage aces" during the war." - Wikipedia
Lehmann-Willenbrock died in 1986:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heinric...nn-Willenbrock |
Buchheim says in a note at the beginning of the book: 'This book is a novel, but it is not a work of fiction. The author lived through the events which are narrated here; they are the sum of the experiences which he had on board U-Boats. Nevertheless, the depictions of of the characters involved are not portaits of people living or dead.'
And in addition to
U-Boat War, you can find some of Buchheim's own photos in his book
Der Film 'Das Boot': Ein Journal, a compilation of some of his thoughts and diary entries during the filming of his novel. He puts his wartime photos alongside photos from the film, to show how faithfully it recreates the look of the era.