Recommended reading on the U-Boats

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Marcus
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Recommended reading on the U-Boats

#1

Post by Marcus » 06 Aug 2009, 18:54

The idea of this sticky is to collect recommendations on good books dealing with the U-Boats.

Please post the title, author and a short (or long) explanation as to why you feel that particular title deserves to be included.

/Marcus

If you buy through the below links you not only get the books you want but you also support the forum while shopping!
* AHF Bookstore
* Amazon.com (UK, Germany)

Phil Nix
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Re: Recommended reading on the U-Boats

#2

Post by Phil Nix » 11 Aug 2009, 12:56

A basic fact file on all the U-Boats "U-Boat fact file" by Peter Sharpe IBSN 1 85780 072 9 Every U-Boat is listed
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hucks216
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Re: Recommended reading on the U-Boats

#3

Post by hucks216 » 11 Aug 2009, 14:13

Wolf Pack by Gordon Williamson (ISBN: 1-84603-141-9) 262 pages - Osprey Publishing.

A very good overview of the U-Boat and it's operations. Covering the development of the U-Boat, the crews, tactics, the U-Boat bases, training, uniforms etc. The book is packed with information and has plenty of photographs & some good colour artwork. A bargain at just short of £7 on Amazon.co.uk (Aug 09).

Business In Great Waters: U-Boat Wars 1916-45
by John Terraine (ISBN: 1840222018 // 978-1840222012) 841 pages - Mandarin Publishing and also Wordsworth Editions Ltd Publishing.

A full history of U-Boat warfare in both world wars, including first hand accounts, and seen from both sides. The Wordsworth publishing version is currently being sold on Amazon.co.uk for a penny! (Aug 09).

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Re: Recommended reading on the U-Boats

#4

Post by Peter » 11 Aug 2009, 17:00

"Hitlers U-boat War" by Clay Blair (Vol.1 covering 1939/42 and Vol.2 covering 1942/45)
Ok they are huge (800+ pages each) but they are written in a very readable way, they have an amazing amount of detail and to have somebody like John Keegan describe it as "a magnificent piece of naval history" really says a lot. Photos, fine details on u-boats, sinkings, survivors, air attacks, counter submarine warfare weaponry........very highly recommended.


"Axis Submarine Successes of WW2" by Jürgen Röhwer
All known attacks on merchant and warships by Axis submarines in all theatres of the war 1939-45. I wouldnt be without it.........very highly recommended. A tabulated reference work, no knowledge of German language needed.


"Der U-boot Krieg" (Busch & Röll) 1st volume
The encyclopaedia of u-boat commanders and their wartime careers in u-boats, some photos of them (but not enough) and excellent detail on the men.........very highly recommended. It is in German but the layout and virtual tabulation mean that anybody with a basic knowledge of the subject will soon be using it with no problem at all.


"Neither Sharks Nor Wolves" by Timothy Mulligan
A superbly written objective view of the men of the u-boat arm, he is a specialist on the staff of US NARA and his book is detailed, very well researched and offers a different viewpoint to the usual one .........very highly recommended.

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Re: Recommended reading on the U-Boats

#5

Post by Peter » 11 Aug 2009, 17:08

"German u-boat losses during WW2" by Axel Niestle
This book has the most recent evaluations of the cause of loss of the u-boats 1939-45. There have been a number of re-assessments in the last 30 years and Axel covers them all briefly with basic details of the u-boat, the name of its commander, date (time if known) of loss, area, position (lat/long), cause of loss (ie: depth charged by - names of ships) and numbers of crewmen lost........there is nothing better on WW2 losses in my opinion.


"Die Ritterkreuzträger der Deutschen Wehrmacht" by Manfred Dörr. Teil IV, Band I & II.
Superb reference work on "Die U-boot-Waffe"
All of the Ritterkreuzträger, their awards, promotions and service aboard ships/shore bases for their complete careers, man photos of most of them, formal portraits and informal photos with the crews and at sea. This is good even with a very basic knowledge of German, if you know a little about the German Navy and have an English/Germany dictionary you will have no problems understanding.

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Xavier
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Re: Recommended reading on the U-Boats

#6

Post by Xavier » 11 Aug 2009, 17:44

U-Boat War by Lothar-Gunther Buchheim , a first person account by a KB of the day to day living aboard a uboat, a classic, made ontoa movie (Das Boot) more than 200 original pictures.... and a personal favorite of mine
Xavier
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hucks216
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Re: Recommended reading on the U-Boats

#7

Post by hucks216 » 11 Aug 2009, 19:47

Black May: Epic Story Of The Allies' Defeat Of The German U-Boats in May 1943 by Michael Gannon (ISBN: 1854105884 // 978-1854105882) 512 pages - Aurum Press Ltd

Tells the story of the turning point in the Atlantic U-Boat war when the Allies routed the U-Boats in May 1943 and it became clear to both sides that the Allies would eventually defeat the U-Boat menace. Currently selling for just £1.50 on Amazon.co.uk (Aug 09).

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Re: Recommended reading on the U-Boats

#8

Post by tiger001 » 13 Aug 2009, 00:03

U-BOATS
The illustrated history of the raiders of the deep
By: David Miller

an excellent book with info on tactics experiments(Sonar absorbing 'Alberich') with u-boats great line drawings of just about every concievable U-boat type/version made (sans the Typ VII A as there are no line pics of this version) history of most of the boats and especially the special purpose ones (MILCHKUH) including some very interesting accidents... armament, crews, powerplants, and other Std equipment an extensive list of the u-boat losses before/during/after the war and ones that were taken by the allies..line drawings and short storys behind the experimental/prototype types....typ III,IV,V,VI.......
Foreign types are also explained UA,UB.....the enigma is also included as is a chart of the u-boats and what they used for navigation
Great pictures
208pp

Kriegsmarine U-boats 1939-45 Vol 1 & 2
Osprey new vanguard series nos. 51 & 55

Great referance of u boats their armaments,powerplants, and other std equip
blah blah blah

aahoo
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Re: Recommended reading on the U-Boats

#9

Post by aahoo » 13 Aug 2009, 07:08

Iron Coffins - A U-Boat Commander's War 1939 - 1945
By: Herbert A. Werner ISBN 952-5186-53-9

Herbert Werner was one of the few U-boat commanders that survived the war, this is his personal diary/story.

Book is excellent, it gives good inside view on U-boat war and on U-boat mens life, with all its successes and horror when hunters became hunted while war went on.

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hucks216
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Re: Recommended reading on the U-Boats

#10

Post by hucks216 » 16 Aug 2009, 12:13

Not a book but a book dealer that specialises in U-Boat & Submarine Warfare books (thought this would be the best place to post the link)...

http://www.sonic.net/~books

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Takao
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Re: Recommended reading on the U-Boats

#11

Post by Takao » 16 Aug 2009, 16:49

Iron Coffins, while a good read, is filled with factual errors a probably should be a fiction book rather than non-fiction. Still, it gives the reader a good idea about the goings on inside a U-boat.

My personal favorite is
Grey Wolf, Grey Sea by E. B. Gasaway. It follows the life and death of U-124.

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Re: Recommended reading on the U-Boats

#12

Post by ewaldvonkleist » 22 Aug 2009, 00:14

_Grey Wolf,Grey Sea_ provided me with some interesting trivia.The U-124 may have set a record for the most interesting fates for former watch officers.Besides Mohr,who went down with the ship there were four other watch officers who later became U-boat commanders and suffered these fates:
1.Hirsacker-sentenced to death for "cowardice in the face of the enemy";his sub,the U-572,is the sub pictured in his Bucheim's book when the two subs cross paths in the storm.
2.Zschech-committed suicide while in command of U-505 and under depth charge attack.
3.Henke-captured by the famous Admiral Gallery;killed while trying to escape from P.O.W. camp.
4.Eck-only U-boat commander executed for war crimes after the war.

Betcha didn't know about this!
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Re: Recommended reading on the U-Boats

#13

Post by JTG » 23 Aug 2009, 05:15

You may wish to revise your post: the correct names ARE documented in other posts.

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Re: Recommended reading on the U-Boats

#14

Post by ewaldvonkleist » 25 Aug 2009, 23:06

I'll stand by what I said.The post about U-124 didn't mention Zschech that I noticed,though he is mentioned elsewhere.
I HAVE noticed after reading several more posts that the level of knowledge here is very high and I suspect that several posters WERE aware that the four officers served on U-124,though I'd bet that many readers here DON'T know.too.Key pont,though,should be that U-124 was an interesting boat.

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Re: Recommended reading on the U-Boats

#15

Post by red devil » 24 Sep 2009, 00:23

The Golden Horseshoe - (Otto Kreschmer) by Terence Robinson (same author as Walker RN)

The Fighting Captain - Alan Burns. Captain Walkers No 1

Relentless Pursuit - Cmdr DEG Wemyss. Captain Wild Goose and Walker's successor.

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