book review The U-Boat Commanders

[Matrim]

The U-Boat Commanders - Knight's Cross Holders 1939-1945

 

Company: Pen & Sword Books Ltd
Author: Jeremy Dixon
Kit No:  ISBN  978 1 52671 873 0
Pages: 323
Retail Price: £ 25.-  ($49.95 U.S)

 

 

This is a very detailed book a very specific subject which follows the biographic approach often seen in such reference books.  It provides detailed career information on every U-boat commander granted the Knights Cross and on average covers two pages worth of detailed information on each. This ranges from full career details to their actual combat record and command histories. Finally it also covers (should the officer have survived the war) briefer details of post-war jobs and events.

 

It is is not a book for a casual reader to dive into but would appeal to anyone with an interest in the German Navy, the submarine/convoy war and German Naval operations especially as the information contained within would be difficult to obtain elsewhere.

 

It is the sort of book where you either utilise it for information on a specific officer or interest (or officers if researching a particular submarine or sinking) or  read perhaps an officer a day. It does provide some fascinating insights into the men who commanded these ships and the German Navy as a whole plus shows some of the difficulty the U-Boats operated under during the second world war.

 

Example pages