Interesting free u-boat EBook

johnno74 · 07-13-07, 01:39 AM

Hi Guys,

I read "Diary of a U-Boat commander" ages ago, but I've just now found out the book is actually now in the public domain and is a free download from project gutenberg.

Its set in WWI not WWII, but it seems the u-boat technology didn't change that much between the wars - but anti-submarine technology and techniques were much less developed.

The book is basically a journal of a german u-boat officer (who commanded his own underseeboat by the end). His journal was confiscated when he surrended his u-boat at the end of the war, and at some point it was published as a book.

It gives some very interesting insights into life aboard a u-boat, tactics and the general horror of war. At the start of the book the author looked down his nose at the enlisted men, and he was absolutely convinced of german superiority over the british and he expected a swift german victory.

By the end of the war his outlook had completely changed.

Anyway, its a very good read, and its not too long - 144 pages according to MS Word

http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/7947

The text or html versions can be downloaded from the links on the bottom of the page
[edit] Oh yeah, incase it isn't clear from my post, this is a non-fiction book. Its an actual diary from a u-boat captain.[/edit]
Enjoy

Johnno

kiwi_2005 · 07-13-07, 02:35 AM

Great find!

WilhelmSchulz. · 07-13-07, 03:53 AM

Nice find!

SmokinTep · 07-13-07, 05:32 AM

Sweet.........

07-13-07, 10:59 AM

For those interested:

The Diary of a U-boat Commander by Stepehn King Hall (Unknown binding - 288pp in English) was published by Hutchinson & Co in 1920. The ASIN is B00088KONM

U122: The Diary of a U-boat Commander by Karl Von Schenk (Paperback - 136pp) was published by Diggory Press in 2006. The ISBN is 1846850495 and is avaliable from Amazon for $12.99

The Diary of a U-boat Commander by Anonymous with an Introduction and Explanatory Notes by Etienne (Paperback - 142pp) was published by BiblioBazaar in 2006. The ISBN is 1426426755 and is available from Amazon for $10.99

The Diary of a U-boat Commander by Anonymous (Paperback - 144pp) was published by Kessinger Publishing in 2004. The ISBN is 1419159275 and is available from Amazon for $16.35

The Diary of a U-boat Commander - 1920 by Anonymous (Paperback - 308pp) was published by Book Jungle in 2006. The ISBN is 1594623880 and is available from Amazon for $17.45

Amazon also lists a Paperback and Hardcover published in 2003 which sell for $89.99 and $95.99 (a little pricey!)

Another book of this vintage (which I have) is The Journal of Submarine Commander Von Forstner by Commander Von Forstner, translated by Mrs. Russell Codman published in 1917. The story goes that it was translated into English and published to help stir up hatred for the Germans during WWI, thus to help push the US to declare and enter the war.

Not to forget one of the most well known books of this era, Raiders of the Deep by Lowell Thomas, first published in 1928.

As you might guess, I collect books on U-boat warfare, the Kriegmarine, The Battle of the Atlantic, etc. Hope this is helpful.

Jimbuna · 07-13-07, 11:14 AM

Nice one...thanks

danlisa · 07-13-07, 11:21 AM

I've started reading this in Wordpad and my eyes hurt! I think I'll wait until I get home and have the PC read it back to me.

Lazy, Me!!

bigboywooly · 07-13-07, 11:22 AM

I was listening to Stephen Hawkins reading to me
Gave up on that

Kpt. Lehmann · 07-13-07, 11:37 AM

Thank you.

Gezoes · 07-13-07, 01:40 PM

Most insightful! Thanks for sharing this find

Jimbuna · 07-13-07, 03:16 PM

Here's a site well worth a look

http://betah.co.il/BooksCatalog.aspx...ry=War%20Ships#

dmlavan · 07-13-07, 04:30 PM

Jimbuna - good site, too. May give me some light reading when things are quiet at work!

johnm · 07-14-07, 12:15 PM

Grand story.

As far as reading the text files, I found an excellant program yBook which emulates a paperback read. It is free from www.spacejock.com where there are several good programs, all free, including one which will read it to you!

Jimbuna · 07-15-07, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmlavan

Jimbuna - good site, too. May give me some light reading when things are quiet at work!

There's a lot of good stuff on there

07-13-07, 01:39 AM	#1
johnno74 Planesman Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 197 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Interesting free u-boat EBook Hi Guys, I read "Diary of a U-Boat commander" ages ago, but I've just now found out the book is actually now in the public domain and is a free download from project gutenberg. Its set in WWI not WWII, but it seems the u-boat technology didn't change that much between the wars - but anti-submarine technology and techniques were much less developed. The book is basically a journal of a german u-boat officer (who commanded his own underseeboat by the end). His journal was confiscated when he surrended his u-boat at the end of the war, and at some point it was published as a book. It gives some very interesting insights into life aboard a u-boat, tactics and the general horror of war. At the start of the book the author looked down his nose at the enlisted men, and he was absolutely convinced of german superiority over the british and he expected a swift german victory. By the end of the war his outlook had completely changed. Anyway, its a very good read, and its not too long - 144 pages according to MS Word http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/7947 The text or html versions can be downloaded from the links on the bottom of the page [edit] Oh yeah, incase it isn't clear from my post, this is a non-fiction book. Its an actual diary from a u-boat captain.[/edit] Enjoy Johnno Last edited by johnno74; 07-13-07 at 04:36 AM.

07-13-07, 02:35 AM	#2
kiwi_2005 Eternal Patrol Join Date: May 2004 Location: Aeoteroa Posts: 7,382 Downloads: 223 Uploads: 1	Great find! __________________ RIP kiwi_2005 Those who can't laugh at themselves leave the job to others.

07-13-07, 03:53 AM	#3
WilhelmSchulz. The Old Man Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Virgina Beach Posts: 1,301 Downloads: 17 Uploads: 0	Nice find! __________________ "Some ships are designed to sink… others require our assistance."

07-13-07, 10:59 AM	#5
von Zelda Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	For those interested: The Diary of a U-boat Commander by Stepehn King Hall (Unknown binding - 288pp in English) was published by Hutchinson & Co in 1920. The ASIN is B00088KONM U122: The Diary of a U-boat Commander by Karl Von Schenk (Paperback - 136pp) was published by Diggory Press in 2006. The ISBN is 1846850495 and is avaliable from Amazon for $12.99 The Diary of a U-boat Commander by Anonymous with an Introduction and Explanatory Notes by Etienne (Paperback - 142pp) was published by BiblioBazaar in 2006. The ISBN is 1426426755 and is available from Amazon for $10.99 The Diary of a U-boat Commander by Anonymous (Paperback - 144pp) was published by Kessinger Publishing in 2004. The ISBN is 1419159275 and is available from Amazon for $16.35 The Diary of a U-boat Commander - 1920 by Anonymous (Paperback - 308pp) was published by Book Jungle in 2006. The ISBN is 1594623880 and is available from Amazon for $17.45 Amazon also lists a Paperback and Hardcover published in 2003 which sell for $89.99 and $95.99 (a little pricey!) Another book of this vintage (which I have) is The Journal of Submarine Commander Von Forstner by Commander Von Forstner, translated by Mrs. Russell Codman published in 1917. The story goes that it was translated into English and published to help stir up hatred for the Germans during WWI, thus to help push the US to declare and enter the war. Not to forget one of the most well known books of this era, Raiders of the Deep by Lowell Thomas, first published in 1928. As you might guess, I collect books on U-boat warfare, the Kriegmarine, The Battle of the Atlantic, etc. Hope this is helpful.

07-13-07, 11:14 AM	#6
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,473 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	Nice one...thanks __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

07-13-07, 05:32 AM	#4
SmokinTep Ace of the Deep Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Suffolk, Virginia Posts: 1,027 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Sweet.........

07-13-07, 11:21 AM	#7
danlisa Navy Seal Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Cornwall, UK Posts: 5,499 Downloads: 45 Uploads: 1	I've started reading this in Wordpad and my eyes hurt! I think I'll wait until I get home and have the PC read it back to me. Lazy, Me!! __________________

07-13-07, 11:22 AM	#8
bigboywooly Rear Admiral Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Swindon, England Posts: 10,151 Downloads: 35 Uploads: 0	I was listening to Stephen Hawkins reading to me Gave up on that __________________ My mediafire page http://www.mediafire.com/?11eoq19bq9r41

07-13-07, 11:37 AM	#9
Kpt. Lehmann GWX Project Director Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: The Republic of Texas Posts: 6,993 Downloads: 124 Uploads: 0	Thank you. __________________ www.thegreywolves.com All you need is good men. - Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock

07-13-07, 01:40 PM	#10
Gezoes XO Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 435 Downloads: 22 Uploads: 0	Most insightful! Thanks for sharing this find __________________ If I wasn't a little mad, I'd go mad.

07-13-07, 03:16 PM	#11
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,473 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	Here's a site well worth a look http://betah.co.il/BooksCatalog.aspx...ry=War%20Ships# __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

07-13-07, 04:30 PM	#12
dmlavan Weps Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 351 Downloads: 69 Uploads: 0	Jimbuna - good site, too. May give me some light reading when things are quiet at work!

07-14-07, 12:15 PM	#13
johnm Navy Dude Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: North of England Posts: 173 Downloads: 68 Uploads: 0	Grand story. As far as reading the text files, I found an excellant program yBook which emulates a paperback read. It is free from www.spacejock.com where there are several good programs, all free, including one which will read it to you!