Grey Wolves: The U-Boat War, 1939–1945
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About this ebook
A visceral portrait of the men who fought and died beneath the surface of the Atlantic in one of the most critical battles of WWII.
In the early years of the Second World War, an elite force of German submariners known as the U-Bootwaffe came perilously close to perfecting the underwater battle tactics that would sever Britain’s transatlantic lifeline. To the Allies, these enemy sailors were embarking on a mission of unequivocal evil.
Each member of the U-Bootwaffe understood that he must take pride in being part of a unique brotherhood. It was the only thing to hold on to as he was setting out—in claustrophobic, unsanitary, stench-filled, and ultimately hellish conditions—on a journey that would test his mental and physical endurance to the very limits, and which he had little chance of surviving. Those that did return soon ceased to take comfort in friends or family, dwelling on the knowledge that another patrol awaited them. By the end of the war, 27,491 of the 39,000 men who went to sea in the U-boats died in action. 5,000 of those who didn’t perish at sea were made prisoners of war. Of the 863 U-boats that sailed on operational patrols, 754 were lost.
Through letters, diaries, journals, and more, Grey Wolves memorably captures life and death on board a U-boat in the midst of a global conflict.
Philip Kaplan
Author/historian/designer/photographer Philip Kaplan has written and co-authored forty-seven books on aviation, military and naval subjects. His previous books include: One Last Look, The Few, Little Friends, Round the Clock, Wolfpack, Convoy, Fighter Pilot, Bombers, Fly Navy, Run Silent, Chariots of Fire, Legend and, for Pen and Sword, Big Wings, Two-Man Air Force, Night and Day Bomber Offensive, Mustang The Inspiration, Rolling Thunder, Behind the Wire, Grey Wolves, Naval Air, and Sailor. He is married to the novelist Margaret Mayhew.
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Reviews for Grey Wolves
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- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A View from the Other SideGrey Wolves is the story of the U-Boat War between 1939 – 1945 which has been well researched by Philip Kaplan and is a wonderful addition to the history of Naval War History. This book captures the life on board and is taken from letters, diaries, journals and poetry.This book points out that the submariners where not mere volunteers but were hardened men of the sea. What comes through this book is the harshness of life below water in the hunt for allied shipping how claustrophobic hot and quite unsanitary it was.Kaplan has managed to capture the feel of being onboard a U-Boat and he writes and edits the documents in such a way that you get a very vivid picture of the men who fought and for those who died. The battles the U-Boats took part in are often overlooked but they had a task which they carried out knowing they were being hunted like wolves as allies knew it was kill or be killed. The battles above and below sea were important to keeping Britain in the war, fed and supplied. This book gives the men’s view of that war in what was a massive ongoing battle across the six years of war.Let’s remember that there is a U-Boat memorial near Kiel that records the death of the men who went to sea and never able to go home and the figures really do make you think! Of the 39,000 men that went to war under the sea 27,491 were killed in action, some 5,000 became POWs. There were 863 U-Boats that eventually went to war, of which 754 were lost.This is poignant books that brings their hopes and despair to life and is a great addition to the Naval War Canon.