Politics of U-boat Captains

Van Z · 06-02-07, 07:28 PM

Hello all,
I've recently got into SH3, and from reading these forums I see there are a lot of folks well steeped in the history of the Battle of the Atlantic and the combatants involved (now's a good time to tilt my Captain's hat at those involved with the excellent GWX and SH Commander mods!).
As someone who's interested in history & politics (I'm a right hoot down the pub

) I'm curious as to the political motivations behind the U-Boat captains...
I know that political propaganda was rife on ALL sides of the war, but I'm wondering how seriously the Kaleuns took the National Socialist philosophy.
In the book "Hunt for the Red October", there is a commisar aboard who's job it is to see that crew are politically motivated towards the ideals of the Soviet Union. Did the Nazis employ similar methods? From what I know, the S.S. were die-hard Nazi fanatics, but did this fanaticism extend to the Kriegsmarine?
Personally, I think that the Kriegsmarine, along with the majority of the armed forces of that regime, took their orders as all men of war do... unquestioned to the political motives behind them, and to just do their job.
I'd love to hear people's opinions and any facts on this topic; I'm in the U-9, by the way, a rusty Type II-A. Lovely boat.
Thanks, and see soon!

06-02-07, 07:28 PM	#1
Van Z Nub Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Politics of U-boat Captains Hello all, I've recently got into SH3, and from reading these forums I see there are a lot of folks well steeped in the history of the Battle of the Atlantic and the combatants involved (now's a good time to tilt my Captain's hat at those involved with the excellent GWX and SH Commander mods!). As someone who's interested in history & politics (I'm a right hoot down the pub ) I'm curious as to the political motivations behind the U-Boat captains... I know that political propaganda was rife on ALL sides of the war, but I'm wondering how seriously the Kaleuns took the National Socialist philosophy. In the book "Hunt for the Red October", there is a commisar aboard who's job it is to see that crew are politically motivated towards the ideals of the Soviet Union. Did the Nazis employ similar methods? From what I know, the S.S. were die-hard Nazi fanatics, but did this fanaticism extend to the Kriegsmarine? Personally, I think that the Kriegsmarine, along with the majority of the armed forces of that regime, took their orders as all men of war do... unquestioned to the political motives behind them, and to just do their job. I'd love to hear people's opinions and any facts on this topic; I'm in the U-9, by the way, a rusty Type II-A. Lovely boat. Thanks, and see soon!