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Rating: 
Summary: U-boats Past and Present
Review: I enjoyed reading this book because it presented both the history and culture behind this submarine service. Another interesting aspect was the use of the present to show the remnants of war. Items such as remaining U-boat survivors and their harbour installations create a link to this era that many of us, that were born after this period, do not have. I would have liked to see more cutaways and technical aspects covered but that is probably best left to another book.
Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful illustrations, but not much substance
Review: This book is really book of pictures which cover U-boats on patrol, ship sinkings and rescues, and lots of interior pictures showing U-boat crews going about their duties. There are also some nice pictures of submarine pens in French ports and the captured U-505 here in Chicago at the Museuem of Science and Industry. Each illustration has text which describes what's going on in the picture and includes diary excerpts and letters from actual U-boat crewmen. Although the letters and diary entries do give an idea of what life was like on a U-boat, I was hoping for a deeper discussion of U-boat operations. However, if you're looking for a good source of illustrations and photos of life on a U-boat, this would be a good choice.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful illustrations, but not much substance
Review: This book is really book of pictures which cover U-boats on patrol, ship sinkings and rescues, and lots of interior pictures showing U-boat crews going about their duties. There are also some nice pictures of submarine pens in French ports and the captured U-505 here in Chicago at the Museuem of Science and Industry. Each illustration has text which describes what's going on in the picture and includes diary excerpts and letters from actual U-boat crewmen. Although the letters and diary entries do give an idea of what life was like on a U-boat, I was hoping for a deeper discussion of U-boat operations. However, if you're looking for a good source of illustrations and photos of life on a U-boat, this would be a good choice.
Rating: 
Summary: Large cover text and photojournal featuring over 240 photos.
Review: Very nicely compiled 25x25cm glossy pages with rare B&W and color photos of life inside various subs in port and at sea, including diesel engine room, torpedo room of U-505 just as it was abandoned at the moment of capture off West Africa in June 1944. Color photos of U-995 on display at Laboe, photos of U-505 at the Museum at Chicago, and many color photos of the many U-boat pens built on the French coast. Dramatic photos of U-175 sailors rescued at sea and taken prisoner aboard US Coast Guard Cutter Spencer. We see photos of the damaged Blohm and Voss shipyard at Hamburg and of the Germaniawerft at Kiel at the end of the war with hundreds of U-boats still in various construction stages. Color closeups of the Enigma machines with 4 rotors used exclusively by the Navy. A worthwhile addition for your U-boat library. Only the serious history buff will note a few factual discrepancies, such as the photo caption of Kapitanleutnant Hoffmann of U-447. That boat never had a commander by that name. Additional factual information can be verified on the website: ....
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