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German language books
"U 202" Kriegstagebuch
by Spiegel von und zu Peckelsheim, Edgar(War Diary of U-202)
1916, A. Scherl G.m.b.H., Berlin
138 pages
- This book has been translated into other languages
300000 Tonnen versenkt!
by Valentiner, Max(300000 tons sunk!)
Meine U-Boots-Fahrten
1917, Ullstein-Verlag, Berlin
154 pages
- This book has been translated into other languages
Alarm ! Tauchen !
by Fürbringer, Werner(Alarm ! Dive !)
U-Boot in Kampf und Sturm
1933, Ullstein-Verlag, Berlin
Hardcover, 258 pages, 18 photoss
The book gives a complete overview of the career of the author who was one of the more famous U-boat commanders in World War I. He ended his career as a Kapitänleutnant. He served on a number of the Flandern U-boats but started his wartime career on U-20. There is also a preface by Korvettenkapitän Karl Bartenbach, who was the Führer der U-Boote Flandern under Admiral von Schröder.
Als U-Boots-Kommandant gegen England
by Von Forstner, Georg Gunther(A U-boat commander fighting England)
1916, Ullstein-Verlag, Berlin
221 pages
- This book has been translated into other languages
Auftauchen!
by Rose, Hans(Surface!)
Kriegsfahrten von U 53
1940, Essener Verlagsanstalt
Hardcover, 315 pages, 20 drawings by naval artist Claus Bergen
U-boat warfare in World War I.
U-bootkrieg im ersten Weltkrieg.
Aus dem Logbuch des I. Wachoffiziers U 66
by Kramsta, Joachim(From the logbook of the first officer of U-66)
Auszuge aus Briefen und Tagebuchblattern
1931, Industrie- und Handelsdienst, G.m.b.H., Hannover
189 pages
Deutsche Marine-Funkaufklärung 1914-1945, Die
by Bonatz, Heinz(German naval radio reconnaissance 1914-1945)
1970, Wehr und Wissen Verlagsgesellschaft, Darmstadt
174 pages
Deutsche U-Boote 1906-1966
by Herzog, Bodo(German U-boats 1906-1966)
1993, Pawlak Verlag Herrsching
ISBN 3860700367
324 pages, a lot of maps and drawings
This was at one time a standard sourcebook with a lot of general and specific information about U-boats, but in the meantime some data has become outdated. Herzog is not completely fair when discussing the 1939-1945 U-boat War.
deutschen U-Boote in ihrer Kriegführung 1914 - 1918, Die
by Gayer, Albert(The Warfare of the German U-boats 1914 - 1918: Outbreak of war to February 1915)
Volume I : Kriegsanfang bis Februar 1915
1920, Mittler & Sohn Verlag
This book covers only the campaign against enemy warships. For coverage of the war on trade, see Spindler, Arno.
deutschen U-Boote in ihrer Kriegführung 1914 - 1918, Die
by Gayer, Albert(The Warfare of the German U-boats 1914 - 1918: February to October 1915)
Volume II : Februar bis Oktober 1915
1920, Mittler & Sohn Verlag
This book covers only the campaign against enemy warships. For coverage of the war on trade, see Spindler, Arno.
deutschen U-Boote in ihrer Kriegführung 1914 - 1918, Die
by Gayer, Albert(The Warfare of the German U-boats 1914 - 1918: October 1915 to April 1916)
Volume III : Oktober 1915 bis April 1916
1921, Mittler & Sohn Verlag
This book covers only the campaign against enemy warships. For coverage of the war on trade, see Spindler, Arno.
deutschen U-Boote in ihrer Kriegführung 1914 - 1918, Die
by Gayer, Albert(The Warfare of the German U-boats 1914 - 1918: May 1916 to Februar 1917)
Volume IV : Mai 1916 bis Februar 1917
1930, Mittler & Sohn Verlag
This book covers only the campaign against enemy warships. For coverage of the war on trade, see Spindler, Arno.
Fahrt der 'Deutschland', Die
by König, Paul(The Voyage of the 'Deutschland')
1916, Ullstein-Verlag, Berlin
155 pages, 15 b&w photos
The skipper of the merchant U-boat Deutschland describes his first journey to Baltimore in 1916.
- This book has been translated into other languages
Handelskrieg mit U-Booten, Der
by Spindler; Arno(The Trade Warfare with U-boats)
1932, Mittler & Sohn Verlag
These books cover only operations against enemy trade ships. For operations against warships, see Gayer, Albert. These books are the most important source for this topic. Very well researched, covering every patrol and including a lot of data.
These books were very rare. At present you have to pay for volume 4 & 5 some 500 DM in Germany, but the problem is not mainly the money, the problem is to get a copy!
Volume I : Vorgeschichte (Prehistory) 1932
Volume II : Februar bis September 1915 (February to September 1915) 1933
Volume III : Oktober 1915 bis Januar 1917 (October 1915 to January 1917) 1934
Volume IV : Februar bis Dezember 1917 (February to December 1917) 1941/1966
Volume V : Januar bis November 1918 (January to November 1918) 1966
- This book has been translated into other languages
Heldenkampf unserer U-Boote, Der
by Sanders-Bremen, Friedrich(The heroic struggle of our U-boats)
1918, Askanischer Verlag, Berlin
192 pages
Höllenmaschine im U-boot, Die
by Sauer, Herbert(The infernal machine in the U-boat)
1928, A. Scherl G.m.b.H., Berlin
145 pages
- This book has been translated into other languages
Im U-boot durch die Weltmeere
by Schultz, Paul(By U-boat through the world's oceans)
1931, Velhagen & Klasing, Bielefeld Leipzig
192 pages
K. und K. Korvettenkapitän George Ritter von Trapp
by Schomaekers, Günter(K. und K. Korvettenkapitän George Ritter von Trapp)
Der erfolgriechste U-Boot-Kommandant Osterreich-Ungarns im Ersten Weltkrieg
1964, H. Ruhl
84 pages, tables
Kapitänleutnant Otto Steinbrinck
by Herzog, Bodo(Kapitänleutnant Otto Steinbrinck)
Die Geschichte des erfolgreichsten U-Boot-Kommandanten in den Gewassern um England
1963, H. Ruhl
223 pages, photos
Krieg unter Wasser
by Jung, Hermann A.K.(War under water)
Der Opfertod der fünftausend
1939, G. Stalling, Oldenburg
Hardcover, 222 pages, 12 photos
The German view of the U-boat war in World War I by a former U-boat commander. It shows the major successes of the German U-boats and even uses British sources. It ends however with some patriotic talk about the U-boat arm.
Marinekorps Flandern
by Ryheul, Johan(Marinekorps Flandern)
1997, Mittler & Sohn Verlag
ISBN 381320541X
Hardcover, 280 pages, 300 photos
This book gives an overview of the German Marinekorps Flandern which occupied the larger part of the Belgian coast and some inland areas. The harbours of Brugge, Zeebrugge and Oostende, the U-Flottille Flandern I and II, the torpedo boats and destroyers of Flandern, the naval air service, coastal batteries and the British raids on St. George's Day 1918 on the harbours are the main subjects.
Männer von U 96, Die
by Wiebicke, Karl(The men of U-96)
Erinnerungen an Fahrten unseres U-Bootes
1934, Koehler & Amelang Leipzig
208 pages, 33 photos, 3 maps
The story of the World War I boat U-96 (Kptlt Heinrich Jess) by a crewmember.
Ritter der Tiefe
by Thomas, Lowell Jackson(Raiders of the Deep)
1931, Deutscher Verlag Berlin
Hardcover, 360 pages, 47 b&w photos
Mr. Thomas wrote this book in the early 1920s, traveling to Germany to interview many of the U-boat skippers and crews from the Kaiser's U-boat fleet. It's written in a "Boys Own" style and conveys a real sense of excitement and adventure with every page. There are stories of surface gun battles with Q ships, the campaigns against the U.S. east coast in 1918, the sinking of several British battleships off Gallipoli, the hair-raising exploits of the Flanders Flotilla, and many more stories of torpedo malfunctions and unbelievably lucky escapes, e.g., "the torpedo that jumped over a boat." It also contains a list of all U-boat commanders and their ships that did not survive the war. Translated into German by U-boat commander Freiherr von Spiegel, who also wrote a German preface.
- This book has been translated from another language
Schrecken der Meere, Der
by Valentiner, Max(The terror of the seas)
Meine U-Boot-Abenteuer
1931, Amalthea-Verlag, Zürich
327 pages, 25 illustrations
- This book has been translated into other languages
Schwarze Schiff, Das
by Von Mücke, Hellmuth(Ayesha)
The Odyssey of Emden's Landing Team 1914-1915
1931,
Paperback, 272 pages. 21 photos, 1 map
The author was Captain of Corbeta of the Reichsmarine. This book details the odyssey of 50 of the Emden's crew (before the ship was sunk) who set sail on a rotting sailing ship pursued by the British fleet across the Pacific they reached Africa. They then crossed the desert to Turkey and finally reached Germany.
- This book has been translated into other languages
Sechs Jahre U-bootfahrten
by Spiess, Johannes(Six years U-boat mission)
1925, R. Hobbing
212 pages, 33 photos, 16 drawings
Details the author's 6 years of sailing on submarines. Spiess was the First Watch Officer of Otto Weddigen, whose SM U-9 sank the three cruisers HMS Aboukir, Hogue and Cressy (12,000 tons each) off the Hook of Holland in 75 mins. 1,460 British sailors died in this world shattering demonstration of the U-boat's terrible capabilities.
- This book has been translated into other languages
Todesgefahr über uns
by Valentiner, Max(Mortal danger above: U-38 in action)
U 38 im Einsatz
2002, Ullstein-Verlag, Berlin
ISBN 3548254365
Paperback, 282 pages
First published in 1934 as U-38: Wikingefahrten eines deutschen U-Bootes.
Torpedo, Achtung ! Los !
by Marschall, Wilhelm(Torpedo, Attention ! Fire !)
Erlebnisse im U-Bootkrieg 1917/18
1938, Deutscher Verlag Berlin
Hardcover, 230 pages, 14 photos
Tells about the career of this former U-boat commander who served on UC74 and UB105 in the Mediterranean in the last two years of World War I. He ended his career as a Kapitänleutnant but became Konteradmiral in 1938. The patriotic talk is all over the book, but it still gives a very good idea of what it must have been like on a U-boat in this theatre of the war that is not yet very well known.
U 21 rettet die Dardanellen
by Hersing, Otto(U-21 saves the Dardanelles)
1932, Amalthea-Verlag, Zürich
154 pages
U-Boot ahoi!
by Von Forstner, George Gunther(U-boat ahoy!)
Deutsche U-Boote in Kriegs- und Friedenszeiten
1937, G. Weise, Berlin
123 pages
U-Boot im Fegefeuer
by Spiegel von und zu Peckelsheim, Edgar(U-boat in Purgatory)
1930, Scherl Verlag Berlin
210 pages, b&w photos
The commander of U-32 and U-93 describes his war adventures.
U-boot vor dem Feind
by Von Forstner, George Gunther(U-boats in battle)
1939, G. Weise, Berlin
64 pages
U-Boote am Feind
by Langsdorff, Werner von(U-boats at War)
Fünfundvierzig deutsche U-Boot Fahrer erzählen
1937, Bertelsmann Verlag
Hardcover, 368 pages, 85 b&w photos
This book contains some reports from former U-boat men, including the later BdU Grossadmiral Dönitz describing his time on SM UB 69. Among the 45 who tell their stories are the most famous U-boat commanders, but also simple sailors or engineers, naval air personnel, etc. Although written just before the war and even during the war, it is a very interesting book to get an idea of what life was like on board U-boats and all kinds of operations they were involved in.
U-Boote des Kaisers, Die
by Schröder, Joachim(The Kaiser's U-boats)
Die Geschichte des deutschen U-Boot-Krieges gegen Großbritannien im Ersten Weltkrieg
2003, Bernard & Graefe
ISBN 3763762353
Hardcover, 530 pages, many b/w photos
The book presents the strategic history of the U-boat war 1914-1918, specifically focusing on the role of the Kaiser. The first printing (2001) was totally sold out and now this book is available in a new version.
Dieses Buch erzählt die Geschichte des deutschen U-Boot-krieges gegen Großbritannien im Ersten Weltkrieg. Es handelt sich um die völlig neu gestaltete 2. Auflage der völlig ausverkauften 1. Auflage von 2001.
U-boote Westwärts!
by Hashagen, Ernst(U-boats westward! My travels to England, 1914-1918)
Meine Fahrten um England, 1914-1918
1931, Mittler & Sohn Verlag
219 pages, maps, photos
- This book has been translated into other languages
U-Bootkrieg 1914/1918
by Kaulisch, Baldur(U-boat War 1914-1918)
Illustrierte historische hefte 4
1976, VEB Deutscher Verlag der Wissenschaften, Berlin
Paperback, 39 pages, 48 photos, 5 maps, 11 drawings
This book was published in East Germany (GDR).
U-boots taten
by Busch, Fritz Otto(U-boat actions)
Keimar Hobbing, Berlin
Hardcover, 125 pages, 16 copperprints, 6 maps
The U-boat war in World War I.
U-bootkrieg im ersten Weltkrieg.
U-boots-Kommandanten und Kriegsverbrecher
by Von Forstner, George Gunther(U-boat commanders and war criminals)
Unbekanntes von unseren U-booten
1936, Frundsberg-Verlag, G.m.b.H., Berlin
297 pages
U-bootskrieg, 1914-1918, Der
by Michelsen, Andreas(The U-boat war, 1914-1918)
1925, K.F. Koehler, Leipzig
207 pages
- This book has been translated into other languages
UB-Boote der kaiserlichen Marine 1914 - 1918, Die
by Bendert, Harald(The UB Boats of the Kaiserliche Marine, 1914-1918: Operations, Successes, Fates)
Einsätze - Erfolge - Schicksal
2000, Mittler & Sohn Verlag
ISBN 3813207137
Hardcover, 214 pages
Ubootsgeist
by Ritter, Paul(U-Boat Spirit: Adventures and Missions in the Mediterranean)
Abenteuer und Fahrten im Mittelmeer, nach Kriegstagebuchern
1935, K.F. Koehler, Leipzig
246 pages, 4 pages of photos, maps
Account based on the World War I diary of Maschinistenmaat Paul Ritter.
UC- Boote der Kaiserlichen Marine 1914-1918, Die
by Bendert, Harald(The UC Boats of the Kaiserliche Marine, 1914-1918: Mine warfare with U-boats)
Minenkrieg mit U- Booten
2001, Mittler & Sohn Verlag
ISBN 3813207587
Hardcover, 214 pages
Unser Recht auf den U-Bootskrieg
by Hollweg, Karl(Our justification of the U-boat war)
1917, Ullstein Verlag, Berlin
242 pages
Unterseeboote der Kaiserlichen Marine, Die
by Rössler, Eberhard(The Imperial Navy U-boats)
1997, Bernard & Graefe Verlag, Bonn
ISBN 3763759638
232 pages, 350 illustrations (b&w photos, plans and drawings)
This highly recommended book covers mostly the technical history and data of the Imperial German U-boats.
Unterseeboots-minenleger im Weltkrieg
by Kagelmann, Paul(U-boat minelayers in the world war)
Wir von der I. U-flottille: Kriegserlebnisse eines U-boots-deckoffiziers in der Hochseeflotte und auf Unterseebooten
1934, Anker-verlag, Bremen
128 pages
verratene Flotte, Die
by Freiwald, Ludwig(The betrayed fleet)
aus den letzten Tagen der deutschen Kriegsmarine
1931, Lehmann Verlag, München
298 pages
Includes the German mutiny in Kiel and gives some information on the part played by the U-boat men in helping to quell it.
- This book has been translated into other languages
vom U-Boot zur Kanzel
by Niemöller, Martin(From U-boat to pulpit)
1935, Warneck-Verlag, Berlin
209 pages, 25 b&w photos, 1 map
The commander of UC-67 describes his wartime and postwar career.
- This book has been translated into other languages
Wir Leben Noch!
by Neureuther, Karl(We still live! German heroes of the U-boat war)
Deutsche Seehelden im U-bootkampf
1930, Union deutsche Verlagsgesellschaft, Stüttgart
206 pages, photos
- This book has been translated into other languages
Zeebrügge
by Bartz, Karl(Zeebrugge: The English attack on the German U-boat base)
Der englische Angriff auf die deutsche U-Boot Basis
1938,
Hardcover, 195 pages, 26 photos, 1 map
The book gives the German view of the British attacks/raids on the harbours of Zeebrugge and Oostende on St.-George's Day 1918, in which an attempt was made to block both German U-boat harbours. Oostende was a complete failure, Zeebrugge was partially a success but did not keep the German U-boats imprisoned as always has been told. The book is partially fiction as it uses a fictional person to tell the story but gives a very good description of what really happened. Of course due to the period of publishing some nationalistic talk is never really far away.
49 Swedish language books