"For forty-seven hours we have been hunted like a rat, and now, with the pressure hull leaking in three places, and the boat half full of chlorine, we are struggling back on the surface, practically incapable of diving at least for more than ten minutes at a time. Even on the surface, with all the fans working, one must wear a gas mask to penetrate the fore compartment. Oh! these English, what devils they are! "
The diary of a World War One U-Boat commander gives a fascinating glimpse of life on the German U-boats during the intense submarine blockade. Full of technical details and combat info. We read too of the intimate thoughts and intense love of a man longing for his sweetheart, a woman he cannot hope to win, but cannot live without. Authentic military fiction.
This is a public domain story and can be downloaded free on the web. The book has some illustrations and is made for people who would like a nice print bound copy. The proceeds support Subsim.
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People Reviewed This Item
By Dan Stickler
Oct 15, 2009
"How did I miss this story?" This is a republished version of a really good story. The writer (anonymous or Stephen King-hall) really did a great job capturing the enthusiasm most people felt for the first world war. The young officer in the story is assigned trench duty while waiting for a U-Boat assignment, and he gets a good view of what the war means--meaningless death. But once he is able to get to sea aboard his U-boat, he directs his patriotism to sinking enemy ships. I was not aware how fragile the first WW u-boats were, they are a lot like the first areoplanes. When he is on shore he meets an attractive woman and a very believeable and sweet romance begins. There is a lot of give and take, a lot of tactical maneuvering between the officer and his adorable Zoe as he seeks to win her love. Back to sea, under a drunkard captain, and he rises in the ranks until he is a U-boat commander… then disaster strikes, a stunning epiphany! This is a good war story and a great... More > love story. Very good read!< Less
"Hmm.. realism out the window" As an ex submariner, I am afraid that this left me quite unmoved. Yes, the early boats were fragile the operators were heros. But this 'fiction' was written by a person who lives in a world of fantasy, not real world experience.
