Iron Coffins: A Personal Account of the German U-Boat Battles of World War…

I received this book last week, started reading it Thursday evening and finished it this AM (Saturday). I was fascinated how U-Boat Commander Werner chronicled his journeys in the Germany U Boat service from 1939 through 1945.He describes how at the beginning of World War II the Germany submarine service was technically advance in relation to the Allies. However, the German leadership had high hopes of providing advanced systems that never materialized.

On the other hand the Allies advancement in the technological field of detection systems proved fatal for the German U-Boat fleet. The refinement of Radar, HF Radio Direction Finder (Huff-Duff), Code Breaking, plus the incompetency of the German high command led to their demise.

[Iron Coffins] gave me a view point that I had never considered before. I had always thought the Germans were bad and evil in their sinking our ships. This book has allowed me to see the other side is also human, a Nation with another view point and political arena. In fact at times I found myself rooting for the Germans, this has never occurred to me in my 73 years. ( )

This book was lent to me by Mr. Werner's sister-in-law so it had a particular relevance in that I had an insight into the author from her perspective. ( )

Commander Werner has written a fascinating account of his experiences as a German U-Boat captain during WWII. A variety of books have been written about overall submarine warfare, but this author provides us with an interesting perspective based on his personal experiences.

We quickly learn that the submariner leads a harrowing life in a claustrophobic metal tube where the humidity quickly turns everything into a sodden mess, including the food which turns moldy and covered with slime, but is still eaten. For the men aboard it was a glorious time for the first full two years of the war in which only 47 boats were lost while millions of tons of allied ships were sent to the bottom. Then things changed. In 1943 alone 237 German submarines were sunk. By war's end close to 800 boats were lost at sea.

The book describes an interesting form of evolutionary warfare. Unfortunately for the Germans the Allies evolved more quickly as they developed better radar detection systems, began using more fast convoy escorts, and inaugurated the use of small aircraft carriers to provide air support. An interesting innovation that I hadn't heard of before was the planting of buoys in the areas around England that sent radar signals. A U-boat surfacing would detect these signals and, thinking they were about to be attacked, would submerge again. Werner also slowly becomes aware that the Allies had broken the submarine codes. Everywhere he went the enemy was waiting for him. If you wanted to stay alive you had to maintain radio silence.

Mr. Werner salts his account with descriptions of his life ashore during the war. Going on leave was pleasurable, but as the war progressed he details the gradual destruction of his homeland. Even close to the end he and his comrades expected Germany to win the war. The author concludes the book by discussing his unpleasant experiences as a prisoner of war. ( )

About 70% or so of U-boat crewmen NEVER CAME HOME! That's the highest percentage of losses in any branch of any country's military in WWII. A very good read; if you liked Das Boot, you'll probably like this one. ( )