General Discussions
This is the place to discuss general issues related to the U-boat war or the war at sea in WWII.
RE: the submarine role in German expansion - help!
Posted by:
AL Wellman
()
Date: April 24, 2001 06:02PM
<HTML>Fredrik -
I suggest the most significant role of the submarine in German expansion prior to the second world war would be establishment of the 1st u-boat flotilla in 1935. This action was a largely symbolic defiance of treaty conditions placed on Germany following the first world war. The number and capability of these first submarines was relatively modest in comparison to other naval powers, but it served to demonstrate Germany\'s unwillingness to be bound by treaty restrictions. While u-boat construction proceeded at a relatively rapid rate thereafter (by peacetime standards of the great depression) the u-boat force was not initially planned as the dominant naval presence it became with the availability of French Atlantic bases in 1940. The subsequent construction program which produced the great u-boat battles of the winter of 1942/43 was a belated response to opportunity. Arguably, by the time the required number of u-boats was available, the opportunity for expansion had passed; and the u-boat force served more defensively to restrict flow of war material to the Soviet Union and the British Isles during the turning point battles in the Soviet Union and North Africa.
I also suggest you examine first world war u-boat operations and possibly consider modification of your statement about the second world war being the first large scale use of submarines. =AL=</HTML>
I suggest the most significant role of the submarine in German expansion prior to the second world war would be establishment of the 1st u-boat flotilla in 1935. This action was a largely symbolic defiance of treaty conditions placed on Germany following the first world war. The number and capability of these first submarines was relatively modest in comparison to other naval powers, but it served to demonstrate Germany\'s unwillingness to be bound by treaty restrictions. While u-boat construction proceeded at a relatively rapid rate thereafter (by peacetime standards of the great depression) the u-boat force was not initially planned as the dominant naval presence it became with the availability of French Atlantic bases in 1940. The subsequent construction program which produced the great u-boat battles of the winter of 1942/43 was a belated response to opportunity. Arguably, by the time the required number of u-boats was available, the opportunity for expansion had passed; and the u-boat force served more defensively to restrict flow of war material to the Soviet Union and the British Isles during the turning point battles in the Soviet Union and North Africa.
I also suggest you examine first world war u-boat operations and possibly consider modification of your statement about the second world war being the first large scale use of submarines. =AL=</HTML>