Customer Reviews

U-Boat Adventures: Firsthand Accounts from World War II

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Ms. Wiggins has scooped other World War II and U-boat writers with this excellent rendering of recent and unique first-hand interviews recorded from all levels (admiral to seaman) of German U-boat survivors. The author deftly sets the scene for each of these adventures, but rightfully leaves the telling of their individual stories to their own words. Besides the substance of the tales themselves, what makes the book so special is the realization that without publication at this time, most of the interviews and much of the fine research very probably would have been lost. While some of the U-boat veterans undoubtedly came from backgrounds of naval tradition, most (as in our own US Navy) were just ordinary citizens caught in a wartime situation but dedicated to doing their best while serving their country. Their stories reflect the same hopes and fears, hardship and respite, good luck and bad of all those who go to war; each told in the refreshing light of their own personal experience. The reader is equally struck by the universality of these recollections as those of all who go to sea in ships; noting that regardless of nationality, a sailor's first and last enemy remains the elements themselves. This fine collection of stories Ms. Wiggins presents are fascinating reading for all who may be interested in knowing "the rest of the story" about German U-boat operations in World War II. Her sensitive presentation is simply outstanding.

What a fantastic book! I've been collecting submarine books for 30 years and this is the first one that really gives a view from the personal - human side from ordinary crewmen as well as from little known commanders. I highly recommend this book for anyone who thinks they know about u-boat life. I wait anxiously for her next book and hope that there are many more like this!

What a great book. Melanie Wiggins' writing style is very easy on the eyes, and flows very nicely across the pages. I think what I liked most was that its more like a collection of short stories, which made it even more readable for me.

I would recommend this book to any student of the U Boat war, or someone just looking for an interesting book to read. Ms. Wiggins did her homework on this one, and it shows.

The fine line between the right and wrong of WWII becomes very hazy after reading this book. I found myself cheering along with the U-boats triumphs, and reading with trepidation when they described the threat of the U.S. ships nearby. An excellent story book, as well as historical reference.

This is a great collection of personal recollections about the German side of the U-boat war. Many of them are are by average crewmen instead of commanding officers, so this is a nice change from many of the other U-boat memoirs out there. Also, there are some interesting stories about life as a POW and the long journey back to Germany for some of the men in the book. Definitely one of the best U-boat books I've read which told the story of the common U-boat sailor.

This work contains riveting, never told, personal accounts of WWII German submariners. Ms. Wiggins research,attention to detail and superb writing skill make this a must read for anyone interested in U-boat history. Don't miss it.

This book is a great way to experience Germany's U-boat war from a first-person perspective. Unlike the majority of U-boat memoirs, it isn't just a recollection by a single commander; rather, it is a compilation of the memories of many service men, most of whom were not officers. If you're an amateur U-boat historian, this is a must-read.

For me, it really showed the human side of a dangerous occupation, It showed they were people too.

This book is suffering from massive technical and terminological problems. There are simply too many to begin to list them. It's like the Naval Institute Proceedings meets the Ladies' Home Journal...and loses. It's riddled with errors fore and aft. I reached a point of discouragement where I simply couldn't read another word. I give it one star for effort...not a good effort.