German Submarine Commander Memoir. Six Years of Submarine Cruising, J.Spiess

[Felix C]

Worked for many years on this book tracking down the other side of combat. 

The best submariner memoir and fortunately with almost no political taint. Also has humor and self-admitted errors.

Reads modern, not the quaintness or nationalistic approach seen in similar era works.

Add 200+ pages clarifying and accurizing events. 

Well finally available at the usual places.Amazon,etc

[Felix C]

 "The classic account of the 1912-1918 German Submarine Service; the memoirs of Johannes Spiess who served the entire war in U-boats and sank over 42 Allied ships. Spiess served as executive officer to Otto Weddigen on the U9 and was present at the often recounted sinking of the British cruisers Aboukir, Hogue and Cressy. (and later Hawke) Later a submarine commander he served in the North Sea during the 1915 Restricted Submarine Phase, 1915-1916 in the Baltic Sea, 1917 -1918 The English Channel, Irish Sea and North Sea during the Unrestricted Submarine Phase(and the experienced heightened Entente Anti-Submarine efforts) and later was a key actor in suppressing the initial German Naval Mutinies in 1918. He also initiated the only confirmed landing of German military personnel on British shores.The work is expanded with relevant appendices and annotated throughout by the editor with identification of vessels attacked and attacking. The KTB (Kriegtagsbuch or War Diary) for each submarine under his command which conducted war patrols, U9 and U19, was consulted to confirm events as were German Official Histories. Relevant Entente Official Histories, primary records and secondary works feature as corroborating evidence from the other side. An example being of the various British and Russian submarines and surface escorts, even airships, encountered in various missions." 324 pages for £20.00 through Amazon UK.

Edited 21 April , 2020 by Felix C

[Kimberley John Lindsay]

Dear Felix,

My delightful daughter-on-law has already ordered it for me!

Kindest regards,

Kim.

[Felix C]

I hope you enjoy. PM any critiques please.

 

I have to add that Spiess always appears to me a bit "sickly" in the well known fotos of him. I found a few where one sees a very fit and strong man when he was C.O. Sadly, could not get them to reproduce properly for the book.

 

Edited 21 April , 2020 by Felix C

[Kimberley John Lindsay]

Dear Felix,

Yes.

Ironically one sees any number of extremely fit-looking U-boat commanders, who ended up at the bottom of the sea.

Spiess did well to survive...

Kindest regards,

Kim.

[The Scorer]

I've just finished reading this, and I found it very interesting. 

 

I hope you don't mind me saying that at first I struggled with it, but after I got into the swing of it, it was fine. The amount of detail that's given about life in a submarine is good, and strengthens my resolve not to be a submariner  - not that it's likely now, mind you, but I hope you know what I mean.

 

I was also interested to read the last chapters about what happened at the end of the war. I knew something of this period, but to read a description of what happened by someone who was there was very helpful. 

 

My congratulations on a very good production! 

[Felix C]

Thanks. Spiess is a favorite. Appreciate the straightforward descriptions of service and virtual lack of rah-rah patriotism sentiment seen in other German memoirs of the 1930s. 

The other book translated Hashagen's "U-boats Westward!" is written in a different style, both in content and form. 

Ahem, have another one coming out in print in early July.