Hirschfeld - The Secret Diary Of A U-Boat (The Story Of A U-boat NCO 1940 - 1946 - Second Edition)

Whilst there have been many memoirs written by German U-Boat commanders of World War II, a book such as this, based upon the personal diaries and photographs of an highly experienced Kriegsmarine Oberfunkmeister (Petty Officer Telegraphist - German Navy), written in 'real time' is something that is both unique and very special. Wolfgang Hirschfeld (1916-2005) kept his 'highly illegal' personal diaries from the day he entered the Kriegsmarine in 1935, through to the day he left the service in 1946, originally published in West Germany during the 1980s they were translated into English by Geoffrey Brooks and first released in the 1990s. The diaries mainly concentrate on his wartime experiences during six war cruises on board U-109 and are full of incidents which cover the whole kaleidescope of emotions shared by seamen of any nation when at war - a story of immense courage and fortitude, of remarkable comradeship born of the dangers, frustrations and deprivations shared and of transitory moments of triumph. Throughout runs a vein of black humour, without which resistance to stress would have been virtually impossible. In 1944 Wolfgang Hirschfeld was promoted, and he soon found himself on board U-234 bound for Japan via Norway with a load of high technology equipment and a small quantity of uranium ore. His duties often ensured close personal contact with each U-Boat Captain he sailed with, meaning that his diary entries as well as showing life on board a U-Boat from a matrosen's (rating) point of view, also offered an invaluable insight into the 'U-Boat Krieg' and those who sailed with him as his commander. These included officers like Korvettenkapitän Heinrich Bleichrodt (1909-1977) and Kapitänleutnant Johann-Heinrich Fehler (1910-1993). Also of interest will be his impression of other senior officers including Grossadmiral Karl Dönitz (1891-1980) and Grossadmiral Eric Raeder (1876-1960). Whilst there have been many memoirs written by U-boat commanders of the Second World War, a book such as this, based upon the diaries of a senior Petty Officer telegraphist, written in 'real time' is something very special. Wolfgang Hirschfeld, whose diaries Geoffrey Brooks has translated is a born story teller. The principal chapters describe his experiences during six war patrols in U-109, in which he served as the senior telegraphist. His is a tale which covers the whole kaleidescope of emotions shared by men at war - a story of immense courage and fortitude, of remarkable comradeship born of the dangers, frustrations and privations shared and of transitory moments of triumph. Throughout runs a vein of humour, without which resistance to stress would have been virtually impossible. We get to know one of Germany's great U-boat aces, 'Ajax' Bleichrodt, holder of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and, in a special biographical appendix, learn how he finally cracked under the strain. The role of Admiral Karl Donitz, the dynamic commander of the U-boat service, so fascinatingly described by Hirschfeld, is of special interest - not least because even this dedicated Nazi had clearly realized by September, 1942, that the war was fast being lost. In 1944 Hirschfeld was promoted Warrant Officer and found himself on a large, schnorkel-equipped boat (U-234) heading for Japan with a load of high technology equipment and, in addition, a quantity of uranium ore. The possible significance of that uranium has been deeply researched by Geoffrey Brooks and is discussed in a second appendix. [Elib]