General Discussions
This is the place to discuss general issues related to the U-boat war or the war at sea in WWII.
\"Clear Lower Deck\"
Posted by:
MPC
()
Date: December 31, 2000 09:42PM
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As I was born in London during a World War (the day of the attack on PQ17 - although I missed the action) my formative years were quite heavily influenced by War and all things associated with it - ships, tanks, planes etc. Whilst my peers continued to read books about the war in the desert, Burma, the air etc. somewhere along the line I read a book about U-Boats at the age of about 10-1. Because I found the subject so facinating and interesting I started taking notes in an old note book. (Many years later I discovered that the very first FdU KTB was writtin in pencil in a school exercise book).
Although I felt alone for many a long year, learning about U-Boats and buying the occasional expensive German publication I could find at the time, together with some second hand books of the Great War I kept on with my study. On numerous occasions I was mocked for being interested in the Nazis and Nazi subs. It was about 15 years before I discovered that there were others in the world with the same interest. Having started young and alone I developed a lasting and passionate interest in the subject and was eventually able to help some authors with their research. The most notable of those being - the late Geoffrey P Jones with \"Month of the Lost U-Boats\", Jak P Mallmann Showell with \"Uboats under the Swastika\" and Martin Middlebrook with \"Convoy\".
One benefit I did reap myself was being able to meet/correspond with/telephone some of the U-Boat commanders whose pictures used to adorn my bedroom walls when I was a child. Amongst the commanders I have had some contact with were three from the Great War and a greater number from the 2nd War including such Commanders as Kretschmer, Wattenberg, Jenisch, Prellberg, Merten, Schnee, Wohlfarth etc. a couple of LI one of which was Hans Wessels and quite a few of the lower deck. Oh and of course Gr.Adm. Doenitz & K.Adm. Godt.
I didnt formally interview any of them, just chatted and listened to what they had to say. Because all of the U-boat men I met, without exception, showed me the utmost kindness and treated me as a friend, I am willing to help anyone who is seriously interested in the subject of German U-Boats but, not those who just wish to mock brave men.
Of the two wars I personally find the first U-Boat war slightly more interesting than the second.
Other interests include:-
1 Hilfskreuzers of both wars.
2 to a lesser extent other German warships.
3 a passing interest in things both nautical and military but not of the Air - I have never been inside an aircraft - having served in the Merchant Navy and the Army.
4 Holders of the
\"Victoria Cross\" and \"George Cross\"
both of which are incompatable with any other military award.
Well thats about it - thumb twiddling time is over now.
Sorry for the wait Ying - Fin - RB - William etc -- bet you wish you hadnt asked now!!
The delay ? well that was due to working long hours a couple of months before Christmas and having my girlfriend from Malta here (Yes Ying, she did push me also) [were a bit like Michael Douglas and Cathine Zeta Jones - but without the finances :-)]
So, wishing you all a Happy and Prosperous New Year and a Bright and Happy Future from today onwards because:-
\"Today is the first day of the beginning of the rest of your life\"
Regards
MPC & JoJo
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As I was born in London during a World War (the day of the attack on PQ17 - although I missed the action) my formative years were quite heavily influenced by War and all things associated with it - ships, tanks, planes etc. Whilst my peers continued to read books about the war in the desert, Burma, the air etc. somewhere along the line I read a book about U-Boats at the age of about 10-1. Because I found the subject so facinating and interesting I started taking notes in an old note book. (Many years later I discovered that the very first FdU KTB was writtin in pencil in a school exercise book).
Although I felt alone for many a long year, learning about U-Boats and buying the occasional expensive German publication I could find at the time, together with some second hand books of the Great War I kept on with my study. On numerous occasions I was mocked for being interested in the Nazis and Nazi subs. It was about 15 years before I discovered that there were others in the world with the same interest. Having started young and alone I developed a lasting and passionate interest in the subject and was eventually able to help some authors with their research. The most notable of those being - the late Geoffrey P Jones with \"Month of the Lost U-Boats\", Jak P Mallmann Showell with \"Uboats under the Swastika\" and Martin Middlebrook with \"Convoy\".
One benefit I did reap myself was being able to meet/correspond with/telephone some of the U-Boat commanders whose pictures used to adorn my bedroom walls when I was a child. Amongst the commanders I have had some contact with were three from the Great War and a greater number from the 2nd War including such Commanders as Kretschmer, Wattenberg, Jenisch, Prellberg, Merten, Schnee, Wohlfarth etc. a couple of LI one of which was Hans Wessels and quite a few of the lower deck. Oh and of course Gr.Adm. Doenitz & K.Adm. Godt.
I didnt formally interview any of them, just chatted and listened to what they had to say. Because all of the U-boat men I met, without exception, showed me the utmost kindness and treated me as a friend, I am willing to help anyone who is seriously interested in the subject of German U-Boats but, not those who just wish to mock brave men.
Of the two wars I personally find the first U-Boat war slightly more interesting than the second.
Other interests include:-
1 Hilfskreuzers of both wars.
2 to a lesser extent other German warships.
3 a passing interest in things both nautical and military but not of the Air - I have never been inside an aircraft - having served in the Merchant Navy and the Army.
4 Holders of the
\"Victoria Cross\" and \"George Cross\"
both of which are incompatable with any other military award.
Well thats about it - thumb twiddling time is over now.
Sorry for the wait Ying - Fin - RB - William etc -- bet you wish you hadnt asked now!!
The delay ? well that was due to working long hours a couple of months before Christmas and having my girlfriend from Malta here (Yes Ying, she did push me also) [were a bit like Michael Douglas and Cathine Zeta Jones - but without the finances :-)]
So, wishing you all a Happy and Prosperous New Year and a Bright and Happy Future from today onwards because:-
\"Today is the first day of the beginning of the rest of your life\"
Regards
MPC & JoJo
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\"Clear Lower Deck\"