WOLFPACK PB

A Times Book of the Year A superb work of history JAMES HOLLAND A thrilling account from a master of Second World War history DAN SNOWA landmark history of the U Boat war told through the experiences and recollections of the U Boat crews themselves Winston Churchill famously remarked that the threat of the German U Boats was the only thing that had really frightened him during World War Two The U Boats certainly claimed a bitter harvest among Allied shipping nearly 3 000 ships were sunk for a total tonnage of over 14 million tonnes nearly 70 of Allied shipping losses in all theatres of the war With justification then they are an integral part of the traditional narrative of the Battle of the Atlantic a story of technological brilliance dramatic sinkings life and death and of course the sinister unseen threat of the U Boats themselves For Allied seamen during the war the U Boat was a hidden menace a faceless killer lurking beneath the waves and the urgent needs of survival afforded them little time or energy to consider the challenges and privations of their enemy History however affords us that time and energy and any pretence of comprehensiveness demands that we consider what life was like for the crews of those most claustrophobic vess