General Discussions
This is the place to discuss general issues related to the U-boat war or the war at sea in WWII.
Re: Most famous U-boat commander (?)
Posted by:
HWM
()
Date: March 03, 2004 12:36PM
<HTML>Hi,
In 1945 people propably would have said Prien, because of Scapa Flow, which was still a decade later known to the people. (e.G. there was also a film in the 50s about Prien and still rumours about his fade (k.i.a. or murdered in a KZ).)
Today I'd say the most well known is "Der Alte" aus dem Boot. He is seen in a positiv way and not as a "Nazi-pirate". You should know, the german society of today is not interested any more in U-Boats or the heroes of the u-boat-war, except a very little minority like me. And there are some good (?) reasons for this developement: In the public (= published) oppinion the german solidiers of that fought for the Nazis and so they are as bad as the Nazis themselves. So if there is for ex. talked about a german cruiser or an u-boot in TV or so, in 90% of these cases they will say a "Nazi U-Boot" or a "Nazi-Schlachtschiff". And they call it "Hitler-Deutschland" and "Nazi-Deutschland", if they talked about Germany at that time, it's just as if they are talking about an other country full of Nazis and "willigen Helfern". So u c the re-education was a good long-term investment, from times to times too good. ;-)
rgrds.
hwm</HTML>
In 1945 people propably would have said Prien, because of Scapa Flow, which was still a decade later known to the people. (e.G. there was also a film in the 50s about Prien and still rumours about his fade (k.i.a. or murdered in a KZ).)
Today I'd say the most well known is "Der Alte" aus dem Boot. He is seen in a positiv way and not as a "Nazi-pirate". You should know, the german society of today is not interested any more in U-Boats or the heroes of the u-boat-war, except a very little minority like me. And there are some good (?) reasons for this developement: In the public (= published) oppinion the german solidiers of that fought for the Nazis and so they are as bad as the Nazis themselves. So if there is for ex. talked about a german cruiser or an u-boot in TV or so, in 90% of these cases they will say a "Nazi U-Boot" or a "Nazi-Schlachtschiff". And they call it "Hitler-Deutschland" and "Nazi-Deutschland", if they talked about Germany at that time, it's just as if they are talking about an other country full of Nazis and "willigen Helfern". So u c the re-education was a good long-term investment, from times to times too good. ;-)
rgrds.
hwm</HTML>
