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In Great Waters: The Epic Story of the Battle of the Atlantic, 1939-45 Paperback – September 1, 2000

by Spencer Dunmore (Author)

3.9 3 ratings

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It was probably the most important battle of the Second World War. The German attempt to stem the vital trans-Atlantic flow of men and supplies to Britain would cost the Allies more than 2,600 merchant ships, 30,000 merchant seamen’s lives, 5,000 aircrew, and about 2,500 aircraft. The battle ranged across the ocean: from the waters of the St. Lawrence, through the treacherous open sea of the North Atlantic, to the fjords of Norway and the Bat of Biscay.

Spencer Dunmore traces the complete history of the Battle of the Atlantic, giving equal time to all aspects of the conflict: in the air, on the water, and below its surface. He follows the action from the earliest days, when surface raiders – such as the infamous Bismarck – were seen by the Allies as the greatest danger at sea, through the heyday of Germany’s U-boats and the catastrophic damage the dreaded Wolfpacks wrought on the heavily laden convoys steaming their way to Britain. His is also one of the few books to acknowledge the pivotal role of the air-force in determining the final outcome fo the battle.

Dunmore tells the story from the perspective of both sides, and includes the first-hand accounts of individual participants, both Allied and German. For all involved – whether on board merchant ships or their escort vessels, whether in submarines prowling below or aircraft patrolling above – life was a combination of awful anticipation of attack and nerve-shattering tension when it came.

Behind the scenes were the politicians and strategists, fully mindful of the stakes of this epic battle; the ingenious scientists and their race to improve radar technology, torpedoes, and depth charge; the brilliant code breakers of England’s Bletchley Park; and, most remarkable of all, Admiral von Donitz, the extraordinary mastermind of Germany’s U-boat campaign and eventual successor to Adolf Hitler himself.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Dunmore’s In Great Waters is the best book I have read of the many histories of the Battle of the Atlantic.…His research is impeccable.”
–Globe and Mail

“A splendid narrative of a battle that alone could have lost World War II.”
–Toronto Star

“Dunmore brings a considerable amount of fresh research into recounting the horrifying challenges facing the North Atlantic convoys that kept Britain alive through the darkest days of the Second World War.”
–Regina LeaderPost

“Spender Dunmore is, unquestionably, one of Canada’s best writers of military history…Dunmore brings to the task his usual thorough research, thoughtful organization and superior writing skills.”
–St. John’s Telegram

“An engrossing account of an epic battle between two great navies.”
–Hamilton Spectator

From the Inside Flap

It was probably the most important battle of the Second World War. The German attempt to stem the vital trans-Atlantic flow of men and supplies to Britain would cost the Allies more than 2,600 merchant ships, 30,000 merchant seamen’s lives, 5,000 aircrew, and about 2,500 aircraft. The battle ranged across the ocean: from the waters of the St. Lawrence, through the treacherous open sea of the North Atlantic, to the fjords of Norway and the Bat of Biscay.

Spencer Dunmore traces the complete history of the Battle of the Atlantic, giving equal time to all aspects of the conflict: in the air, on the water, and below its surface. He follows the action from the earliest days, when surface raiders – such as the infamous Bismarck – were seen by the Allies as the greatest danger at sea, through the heyday of Germany’s U-boats and the catastrophic damage the dreaded Wolfpacks wrought on the heavily laden convoys steaming their way to Britain. His is also one of the few books to acknowledge the pivotal role of the air-force in determining the final outcome fo the battle.

Dunmore tells the story from the perspective of both sides, and includes the first-hand accounts of individual participants, both Allied and German. For all involved – whether on board merchant ships or their escort vessels, whether in submarines prowling below or aircraft patrolling above – life was a combination of awful anticipation of attack and nerve-shattering tension when it came.

Behind the scenes were the politicians and strategists, fully mindful of the stakes of this epic battle; the ingenious scientists and their race to improve radar technology, torpedoes, and depth charge; the brilliant code breakers of England’s Bletchley Park; and, most remarkable of all, Admiral von Donitz, the extraordinary mastermind of Germany’s U-boat campaign and eventual successor to Adolf Hitler himself.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ McClelland & Stewart (September 1, 2000)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 360 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0771029365
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0771029363
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.25 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.25 x 9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #10,932,510 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,438 in 20th Century Canadian History
- #60,730 in World War II History (Books)

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Pat

So close to defeat

Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2000

Verified Purchase

Have you ever read a murder mystery where you already know the outcome, but you still plow on in an agony of suspense? This history of the Battle of the Atlantic is a very readable one-volume rendering of the battle we almost lost, and although you know the outcome, you will hold your breath as the German U-boats sink enormous numbers of ships while the high-ranking officers of the Allied Command haggle and bumble their way along the high seas, refusing to cooperate or use the latest weapons. And the ending happily comes just in time as you say "How did we win? The cost was almost unbearable. The book is a well-done wartime history in the excellent style Dunmore has done before.

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Melvin Scott

I couldn't finish this one.

Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2004

I love both history and war books. In the few chapters that I read, this one seemed sufficiently researched. However, when the author continuously started describing first person accounts of the anxiety and emotion of sitting in a cockpit, weathering a depth charge attack in a submarine, or heading into battle without crediting the source specifically the person who was actually in those shoes, it was more poetic license than I could take. If I wanted to read good fiction, I would have picked up a Farley Mowat book.

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