Das Boot - what 'boot' is it?

[Nopileo]

My apologies if this is a very stupid question, but I've seen the movie a few times, and still haven't picked up what type it is.

From the exterior (and interior) shots it looks like a VIIC. Is it?

Thanks,

Nopileo

[Gizzmoe]

Yes, it is a VIIC.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Das_Boot

[1916]

or

http://www.uboat.net/boats/u96.htm

[Nopileo]

Thanks guys!

Hmm.. Reading some of the stories under the links you provided indicates that the story of 'Das Boot' could actually be a true story, while I thought it was purely fictional (although based on real events).

But I'm not so sure anymore. Was there a U-96 that experienced what we see in the movie?

This part is especially interesting:

Buchheim was ordered aboard as an official artist to send back renderings of the German Navy in action for propaganda purposes. A camera was to aid his work. Over 5,000 photos survived the war and 205 of these form the epic photo-essay U-Boat War. All the photographs in U-Boat War were taken by Buchheim with the exception of a few taken by U-96 engineering officer Fritz Grade.

Anyone know if these pictures are available somewhere?

[stratege]

I beleive none pictures survive history, but some fine art can be find here http://www.naval-art.com/u96.htm

[Gizzmoe]

Originally Posted by Nopileo

while I thought it was purely fictional (although based on real events).

"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

[Dowly]

Originally Posted by stratege

I beleive none pictures survive history, but some fine art can be find here http://www.naval-art.com/u96.htm

Yes, there are pics. There`s a book that has over 900 (If I remember right) photos taken by the what-ever-was-his-name.

Here`s the link for some photos:
http://forums.ubi.com/groupee/forums...3/m/8631071743

[magick]

visit uboat.net , that's a very interresting U-boat site! You will find all your answers there,

[don1reed]

You can also view Buchheim's other photo-journalistic treasures about U-96 in his photo book "U-Boat War". I purchased a used copy from:

http://dogbert.abebooks.com

cheers,

[KL Seestern]

Originally Posted by Gizzmoe

"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.

[Dowly]

Atleast the ending of the movie is true, U-96 were sunk by allied aircrafts when it was docked somewhere (can`t remember the place) in 1944 or 1945.

[Floater]

U-96 was destroyed on the 30th March 1945 in Wilhemshaven harbour during a raid by the 8th USAAF.

What I wonder about Das Boot is that the interior set was modelled on U-505 at Chicago, yet U-505 is a IXC.

[KL Seestern]

Buchheim (in the book I named above) mentions both U-505 and U-995, a Type VIIC open to visitors at Laboe, near Kiel (see http://www.deutscher-marinebund.de/u995 ). He doesn't comment on the oddity of using a Type IX for the film, but I wonder if it might be to do with the size? Maybe a little extra room was helpful to squeeze in the camera and crew.

[Nopileo]

Thanks for all the great info, guys.

I didn't know that they modeled 'Das Boot' after a 9B. I get a distinct feeling they are inside a 7C when I watch the movie - at least in reference to SH3.

Then again SH3 might be inaccurate, or they have kept the larger space of the 9B while trying to model the gauges, radio room etc. after the 7C?

Anyway that 'behind the scenes' film on the DVD was quite interesting (although short). How they all had to practise for weeks on how to move quickly inside the cramped boat, and yes, the camera crew had a hard time finding suitable places to film. But as you remember even they run through the boat, filming while they jump thourhg those small hatches. Pretty well done.