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Das Boot

The epic Second World War novel, now an acclaimed Sky One series

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Das Boot

By: Lothar Gunther Buchheim
Narrated by: Tim Bruce
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'Breathless, terrifying U-boat drama... a masterclass in economical, tight-space storytelling, piling the pressure on both characters and audience'
Time Out

It is autumn 1941 and a German U-boat commander and his crew set out on yet another hazardous patrol in the Battle of the Atlantic.

Over the coming weeks they must brave the stormy waters of the Atlantic in their mission to seek out and destroy British supply ships. But the tide is beginning to turn against the Germans in the war for the North Atlantic. Their targets now travel in convoys, fiercely guarded by Royal Navy destroyers, and when contact is finally made, the hunters rapidly become the hunted.

As the U-boat is forced to hide beneath the surface of the sea, a game of cat-and-mouse begins, where the increasing claustrophobia of the submarine becomes an enemy as frightening as the depth charges that explode around it. Of the 40,000 men who served on German submarines, 30,000 never returned.

Written by a survivor of the U-boat fleet, Das Boot is a psychological, military drama merciless in its intensity, and an epic rendering of the Second World War. 20th Century Action & Adventure Engineering Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Military War & Military Submarine U-Boat War Thought-Provoking
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Critic reviews

Breathless, terrifying U-boat drama ... a masterclass in economical, tight-space storytelling, piling the pressure on both characters and audience
All stars
Most relevant
While listening I could see and feel claustrophobic atmosphere and the description of the rolling and pitching in the storm made me feel queasy!
I was there on Das Boot.
Excellent!

Outstanding story

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Being an ex-submariner, the general descriptions are very good although there was not much in the way of "firing solutions" or "bow angles", going on, which is a shame because the description of life in the submarine is excellent.
One thing which grated (for me) was the use of imperial measurements on a German submarine and the inaccuracies which came from that. I haven't read the book but a Type VII U-boat has an operational depth of about 250m with a crush depth of about 300 metres - not 300 feet as stated in the book. The difference is hugely significant.
Also weights are stated in lbs, when they would have been kilos or tonnes.
Bearings would be read off in integers - i.e. "two, five zero degrees" - not "two hundred and fifty degrees". Shame the narrator was not aware of little things like this although I guess most listeners wouldn't notice.
Definitely worth a listen.

Very good listen if a little slow.

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Forget national identity, this has to be the most beautifully written anti-war book ever.

A Heartbreaking Tale of Humanity

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One of my favourite books of all time. The characters are rich, the relationships are involved and the story itself is both fascinating and incredibly entertaining.

Stunningly atmospheric

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Fantastic book and a brilliant performance. A deep insight into the horrors of war. Should be compulsory reading.

Brilliant

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