To the Last Salute: Memories of an Austrian U-Boat Commander

Growing up I loved the Von Trapps and have a read books on their life after the War, but until now have never read a book on Georg alone. I absolutely loved this book, my one and only complaint, I wish it was longer

This should have been translated much earlier! Forget about the later success with music--that's irrelevant here. The Kaiserliche und Konigliche Navy is the heart of the book. The Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy, with Emperor Franz Josef of Austria, who was also King of Hungary (hence the Imperial and Royal Navy) was a mixture of nationalities. Naval bases were few, and the Dual Monarchy's emphasis was on its army rather than its navy. Trapp served on torpedo boats for a while, and became commander of a submarine--the K und K's submarines were definitely third-rate compared to those of Germany. The gasoline (rather than diesel) engines meant that after even a short time underwater (with the hatches closed) the buildup of gasoline fumes would incapacitate most of the crew: there are scenes where only 2-3 of the crew are conscious at crucial times. There are also no bunks for the men--a visiting German submarine captain is horrified at the living conditions compared to the superior German craft. Nonetheless, Trapp made the most of his vessel, sinking a French cruiser, an Italian sub, and other ships. There's a map of the Adriatic (another map or two would have been helpful) and plenty of photographs. Much of the story is understated, and there are some mentions of what must have been fascinating tales--such as transporting a camel from Africa. It's all too brief--that's the one drawback. Happily, however, if you've enjoyed the book, there's another book on the same subject--drawn in part, I think, from some of Trapp's experiences. This is a novel--John Biggins' excellent A Sailor of Austria, which I would recommend highly. Biggins also has two other novels with the same protagonist, but these are not as much about the navy. A fourth novel, long hard-to-get but recently reprinted, which is a prequel to Sailor of Austria, is Tomorrow the World, about the protagonist's life aboard the K und K's cadet training ship on its voyages. Trapp also, prior to WW I, was a cadet of such a K und K sailing ship. So for a fictionally expanded view of Trapp's naval experiences--Sailor of Austria and Tomorrow the World will certainly be worthwhile reads.

This is reasonably light read broken into bite-size chapters covering a variety of experiences surrounding the author's service as a WWI Austrian U-boat captain, the boat technologies of the time and the everyday impact of the politics as Austria's empire unraveled. Austria's relationship with it's wealthy and larger German ally is seen from another perspective as well as the polyglot nature of the many ethnic groups belonging to and participating in the Austrian war effort. A fine military account from the man responsible for "The Sound of Music."

To the Last Salute is Georg Ritter von Trapp's memoir of commanding a U-boat in the Austrian Navy during World War I. While his style of writing does take some getting used to, von Trapp provides an engaging and suspenseful tale of life on a primitive submarine during an oft-neglected period of military history. The book also gives us an insight into von Trapp as a man, more insight than one finds in other books on the life of his famous family. His accounts of the horrors of war and the loss of his beloved navy at the end of the war are especially moving. For those interested in von Trapp, the Austrian Navy, World War I, and the history of submarine warfare, the book will be especially useful; anyone interested in the story of an intriguing, thoughtful, and courageous man will enjoy the chronicle of von Trapp's adventures as well.

This book is delightful on several accounts: It's easy to read, Georg Von Trapp is quite humorous, the adventurous stories are one-of-a-kind, and you learn a bit of history all at the same time!

This book has appeal for many different sorts of readers. For the naval history buff its descriptions of life in a WWI submarine are gripping - men fainting from lack of air, the fear, as the air diminishes, of rising to the surface near an enemy ship. For those interested in how a deeply thoughtful man faces the horrors of killing others Chapter III is a must. And for anyone intested in the real Georg von Trapp, rather than the militaistic popinjay of The Sound of Music, this book will illustrate why his fellow seaman and, above all, his children, loved him as they did.