Spoilt story

The story is great, the narration is atrocious though. Audio books are serious literary vehicles and the choice of narrator is massive in their production. An English speaking German would have encapsulated the depth of this book, the narrator chosen detracted from it in every way. Re work this book and I'd buy it again but will never buy anything by this narrator.

4 people found this helpful

Poor Narration

I was looking forward to this one, but felt the narrator really mangled the text. I have a lot of respect for the guys who got into a steel tube and went under the water whatever flag they flew, but there was something about the author I didn't gel with.

Disappointed

3 people found this helpful

Great story, poor narration

I loved the story, but the narration was so monotonous and unemotional. Ruined the many tense moments.

1 person found this helpful

A view from the other side

A brilliant story from the viewpoint of a surviving U — Boat sailor. As most war histories are written by the winners it is intriguing to see the war through the eyes of someone serving in the forces of the losers. They share the same hopes and fears, yet history dehumanises the Germans, incorrectly. This book tells the truth of what it was to be a member of an Elite few who suffered the worst percentage losses of any of the services, yet went out on a war patrol knowing they may never come back. They have my deepest respect.

1 person found this helpful

Perfect reading of a great book

German WWII uboats are my hobby for almost 30 years. I know this book, I have this book, I read this book several times before. But even then I really did enjoy this reading during long driving on boring highways
Thank you!

1 person found this helpful

Worth Listening to

I enjoyed all aspect of this audio book. It captivated my interest throughout. On the plus side is a learning experience of the duties of U BOAT crewmen and their boat. It highlights in detail Uboats capabilities and limitations. The book also highlights the relationship between German servicemen in an occupied France and the French people. Although the book mentions resistance fighters, mostly the locals collaborated with their occupier (after all it is France). I’m not convinced about all the exploits of the author. For instance he mentions the time he identified and beat up a French man for sabotage, then was ordered alone to find and arrest this Frenchman who sabotaged U boats. I would have thought that the whole apparatus of the military would have swung into action mostly led by the Gestapo and SS security police to hunt the French man down. The author then said that his french prisoner was let off by a German military tribunal 🧐🤥. This is hardly likely since the Frenchman would mostly likely be robustly questioned and possibly tortured for information on other Sabotage persons working in the docks repairing Uboats, then sent on a one way ticket to a concentration camp where he belonged. No one sabotage a u boat and get Let off with it. This was wartime Germany not the soft on crime woke UK 🇬🇧. The author is also frank about his gifted abilities with women. I conclude the audiobook is a mixture of truths, half truths and here and there a dashing of lies. However, I enjoyed the audio book mainly for an inside to life aboard a Uboat. The Uboat crew suffered the biggest attrition and out of 40,000 only 10,000 crewmen survived the war. I have nothing but total respect for them including this author.

WW2 from a German perspective.

I’ve read, (listened to), many WW2 stories. Always from the Allied perspective. After all, war stories are always written by the victors.
What an interesting, refreshing and enlightening story this book is. Told as he saw things, and not denying his beliefs at the time of war.
Well worth a listen. If for no other reason, it’s an experience of what life was like for the U-boat crews.

An interesting account, spoiled by the narration

I really enjoyed this audiobook as far as the story goes, it's very interesting to hear the perspective of a common seaman in the U-Boatwaffe especially one who served on a boat that had such an interesting history.

The main drawback of this audiobook is unfortunately the narrator, he doesn't fit this book at all and his voice is so monotone that after a while it's like sitting next to a generator. His monotone American accent is so deadpan that it makes it hard to follow what he's actually saying and my attention constantly strays. From what I did follow though I found very intriguing and I will definitely be buying a physical copy of this book, mostly so I don't have to put up with this crap narrator.

get it together Audible! so many good books ruined by bad narrators.

interesting and thought provoking

Having just been disappointed after listening to 'The Crew' I was a bit dubious about another factual listen, but this has certainly restored my faith in this type of book. The narration might be a bit breathless at times but the story carries it through. A really enjoyable and educational listen.

well worth a read.

a very good book well written & narrated. if you enjoy war stories then this is perfect.