Osprey Trade Editions : German U-Boat Crews 1914-1945

An elite part of the German Navy, the U-boat crews were seen as heroes by the public and armed services alike, fighting the elements as well as enemy destroyers. Twice within the space of 25 years they came close to bringing Britain to her knees. But life expectancy in the submarine arm was short, as the crews fought an uneven contest in the icy seas of the North Atlantic. If one single weapon in Germany's arsenal can be said to have come closest to winning the war for the Third Reich, it was without doubt the U-Boat. German U-Boat technology, training, tactics and combat successes far exceeded those of any of the other combatant nations, and even as the Third Reich was crumbling, technically advanced vessels such as the Type XXI, many years ahead of its time, were being put into volume production. Gordon Williamson provides an overview of the achievements of the U-Boat Waffe in both wars, together with a study of the uniforms and insignia worn by U-Boat crews. Illustrations by Darko Pavlovic.