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Another Place, Another Time: A U-boat Officer's Wartime Album Paperback – April 15, 2011
Using his wartime diaries and remarkable photograph albums, as well as historical documents, Werner Hirschmann recounts the many interesting episodes in his naval career, including serving on a destroyer that escorted Bismarck on her last operation, U-boat operations in the Atlantic and Mediterranean, being besieged by the Americans at the U-boat base at Lorient in France, and his last patrol to North America in 1945, on which his submarine, U-190, sank HMCS Esquimalt, the last Canadian warship lost during the war.
Hirschmann provides a unique view of the day-to-day life of a U-boat officer who, like young men on both sides, did his best to enjoy life while trying to do his duty. An epilogue describes his postwar life as a prisoner-of-war in Canada and Britain. After the war, he moved to Canada, where he pursued a successful career and eventually became an honorary member of the veterans’ association of HMCS Esquimalt.
A key feature for many readers is the technical section that provides a detailed pictorial tour of the Type IX/C40 U-boat, including many previously unpublished photographs discovered in Canadian archives.
This paperback edition is printed on the same high-quality paper as the original hardcover to ensure the best reproduction of the many superb photos.
- Print length256 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherRobin Brass Studio, Inc.
- Publication dateApril 15, 2011
- Dimensions7.9 x 0.6 x 7.9 inches
- ISBN-101896941648
- ISBN-13978-1896941646
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“When studying the U-boat war, we tend to forget that the sailors involved had families, girlfriends, wives, and children on the home front. Trying to maintain some semblance of normalcy amidst increasing decay in Germany was daunting, yet Hirschmann puts a very human face on all that was happening. He likely would have remained invisible to history save for the efforts of Donald Graves. … Future generations will be grateful. Unfortunately, this book will never be as celebrated as Iron Coffins – but that is almost the brilliance of it. Hirschman takes a decidedly low-key theme in relating his wartime adventures, and that makes it easy to connect with what he is saying. He is not over-the-top in describing U-boat warfare, in fact he stresses the weeks and weeks of monotony, which more than offset the combat the boat saw. The book flows extremely well, and is richly illustrated with photos from the author’s personal collection that do a wonderful job of bringing to life his time as a U-boat engineer.… Highly, highly recommended.” — uboat.net
About the Author
Donald E. Graves, one of Canada's best known military historians, is the -author or editor of 20 books primarily on the War of 1812 and the Second World War. His studies on the battles of Lundy's Lane (Where Right and Glory Lead!) and Crysler's Farm (Field of Glory) are established classics of musket-period warfare. Born in Düsseldorf in 1923, Werner Hirschmann served in the Second World War as an engineer officer on U-boats. After his submarine surrendered to the Canadian navy in 1945, he spent a period in Canada and Britain as a prisoner-of-war before being repatriated to Germany. In the 1950s he emigrated to Canada and pursued a career in the computer business. He lives in Toronto, where he is a keen sailor, a member of the Naval Officers’ Association of Canada and an honorary member of the veterans’ association of HMCS Esquimalt, the warship his U-boat sank.
Product details
- Publisher : Robin Brass Studio, Inc.; First Edition, First edition (April 15, 2011)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 256 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1896941648
- ISBN-13 : 978-1896941646
- Item Weight : 1.39 pounds
- Dimensions : 7.9 x 0.6 x 7.9 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #5,491,985 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #8,769 in WWII Biographies
- #10,540 in Naval Military History
- #42,532 in World War II History (Books)
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The book is based on recollections and diaries of Werner Hirschmann.
It is a book that is hard to put down and really makes you feel like you are in his shoes.
I have reviewd books in the past, but only review books that have made great impressions.
It has parts that may be too techincal for some, but that doesn't take away from the story and could be enjoyed by anyone who liked the book "Iron Coffins" or the movie "Das Boot".
I'm a big fan of Werner Hirschmann and am glad he let me read his diaries.
Stevie
Top reviews from other countries
Anyone with an interest in the U-boat service of WWII will want to read this book, the record of the last three years of active service in the war, as recollected by Werner Hirschmann, a former Kriegsmarine officer. It is, as the author makes plain, not a U-boat history but an inside look at the rigorous training that officer cadets underwent prior to commissioning into the elite U-boat arm. Training alone took some two years and as an engineering officer one was entrusted with the smooth running of all mechanical and electrical systems, everything from valves and pumps, batteries and engines, bilge to control room and bridge, and all intricate functions of maintaining a U-boat under water. As outlined in the book, to earn the Master Diving Diploma and rank of Leutnant Ing. (Lt., Engineer) meant that one had successfully mastered all tests required for the safe running and diving of an unterseeboot as determined by overseeing training officers. Serving under four commanders over three years, on U-190, U-331, U-375, U-612, Hirschmann describes his survival as stemming from the level of technical training obtained at the Marineschule, Mürwik, the German Annapolis, partly luck, and the result of camaraderie and skill amongst the officers and crew on each boat.
Printed on the highest quality paper, the book exhibits the best reproduction of photographs, many from WH’s personal collection that add to the narrative describing events throughout the war. Depicting daily life aboard a U-boat, Hirschmann provides a unique view experienced by men on both German and Allied sides in World War II. A major feature of the book is the guided tour of an IX/C40 boat and description of a schnorchel device introduced near the end of the war that required great skill to operate allowing air to flood the boat and carbon dioxide to escape. I highly recommend this book especially because it, with the author’s insight, provides a realistic experience from a serving officer who witnessed events first hand.
--Bill Mahaney, author of The Warmaker-Hannibal’s Invasion of Italia and the Aftermath, The Golden Till, and Operation Black Eagle.