Wolf: U-Boat Commanders in World War II

Jordan Vause

ISBN 10: 1557508747 / ISBN 13: 9781557508744

Published by Naval Institute Press, 1997

Very Good condition. Good dust jacket. A copy that may have a few cosmetic defects. May also contain light spine creasing or a few markings such as an owner's name, short gifter's inscription or light stamp. Seller Inventory # M05G-02231

Synopsis:

Cultivated by the Allied press during the war and fostered by movies and novels ever since, the image of a U-boat skipper held by most Americans is the personification of evil: the wolf who stalks innocents. Quite the opposite image is shared by U-boat veterans and others sympathetic to their work: the knight who endures unrivaled danger and fights nobly. Yet another popular image depicts the submarine operator as a beleaguered sailor swept along by events beyond his control. This book examines the lives of many U-Bootwaffe officers, including the famous and the not-so-well known, to see if these, or any other single image, can be considered representative.
Drawing on a wealth of primary documents and, when possible, interviews or correspondence with the U-boat commanders themselves, Jordan Vause follows individual officers from their youth and early naval training through their wartime experiences and into the often bitter peace that followed. His close examination of their lives reveals that many were extremely different from the pictures typically drawn of them. They were as varied in their thoughts and actions as other fighting men on both sides of the war. Particularly valuable is the author's use of new information in his portrayal of Karl Donitz and other prominent commanders to correct and enhance characterizations presented in earlier books. His use of personal letters and unpublished manuscripts loaned to him in Germany adds special significance to this study and its appeal to all those interested in World War II, submarines, and the U-Bootwaffe.

About the Author: JORDAN VAUSE is a 1978 graduate of the United States Naval Academy. He lives in the San Diego area and works as a quality engineer.

Bibliographic Details

Title: Wolf: U-Boat Commanders in World War II
Publisher: Naval Institute Press
Publication Date: 1997
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Very Good
Dust Jacket Condition: Dust Jacket Included