U-Boat, Nine Hundred Seventy-Seven

This is the personal account of Lieutenant-Commander Heinz Schaefer, commander of U-977. He begins his recollection of his years in the German Kriegsmarine (Navy) before his enlistment and eventual commissioning, describing his apprenticeship aboard a cadet schooner in his youth. He gives an interesting account of the training he recieved as an officer-candidate, with much time spent in rigorous drill aboard a Navy clipper-ship in the Baltic Sea...in winter! Mr. Schaefer tells us of his selection into the elite submarine service, and subsequent missions in the north Atlantic. However, he and his crew would gain far more fame for his notorious escape from allied internment, being one of 2 Submarine crews who crossed the Atlantic Ocean to seek asylum in Argentina. His submarine travelled submerged for a record 104 days, unheard of endurance for any submarine in that era, even the well-crafted Type 7 and Type 9 U-Boats. Upon arrival in Argentina, a full 3 months after the war in Europe was ended, his crew was extradited to the United States and interrogated, having been suspected of smuggling [...] This is one of the best accounts from an insider's point of view in the Wehrmacht. Schaefer gives us insight into the naval aspects of the war, such as the attempts to make submarines less vulnerable to air-attack, and even mentions the advent of the Type 21 U-Boat, which was the mother of all modern submarine technology. The German submarine service very nearly won the war for their side, using the vessels they had at hand. If the Type 21 had been built in large numbers from the beginning (as well as many other high-technology weapons that Germany produced), history would have been altered!

I have finished it few days ago. I respect the point of view of the other readers, but without try to idolize the U-boat's captains, they were an incredible self control, strong and courage fullfilled persons.This book reveals some scenes that will be hard to find in other books. The attack with deph charges and the feeling that the writer reflects in the book it's very real, as if you would have been there.The chapter of the trip to Cape Verde islan's and the fun that they found there tells you that they were persons like probably you and me are, but under a very unpleasant and very demanding circumstances. The last part about days and the personal events of the captain after the war need, as someone says above, more paragraphs.Well friends, try to get a copy and read it. To me it's one of the best in this subject.

I read the 1957 reprint of 1952 edition. Paperback. No translator is mentioned and this gives the impression that the book might have been written in English by Schaeffer himself. But reader remains in doubt.Monsarrat's introduction (is he also the translator??) is out of place and unprofessional. We are trying to look at things from German point of view and this guy finds it an occasion to give us another dose of the victor's usual ramblings. The book finishes leaving the reader in want of a few more paragraphs of information on author's life after war, but all that's given a couple of sentences. I wished there were later books by Schaeffer one could read but as far as I know this is the only one he wrote. Like a true soldier, he stays silent about his Nazi feelings instead of lying about it. But the affair about the Brazilian ship is still doubtful. He really could have sunk it.

Don't miss out on this one.You have action packed history:the Gibraltar passage,underwater fuelling,snorkelling,the southern cross,three boat passages of the Biscay,command intricacies and combat,a Nicholas Monsarrat (The Cruel Sea ) introduction and a fantastic tale of escape and surrender to Argentina 3 months after the end of the war,leading to suspicion of a possible Hitler escape.A must read if you can find it.Mind you I have read many many books on U Boat war,including the 2 volumes of Hitler's U Boat war and Operation Drumbeat.Contrary to those history books this one gets you down in the sub.Hold your breath and dive.

The book starts out with Heinz's years in early Nazi Germany. And then he is off to the Germnan Kreigsmarine and then the Grey Wolves. After a few years as a watch keeper he is given the command of a Type VIIC on May 2nd 1945. After the surrender of Germany he takes his boat from Norway all the way to Argentina all for the price of freedom.