Anton Staller was a U-boat lookout; rising no higher than Leading Seaman and his account of the war from the lower ranks is unique. He served on the Type IXc/40 boat; U-188 under Kapitänleutnant Lüdden on three patrols witnessing the stark reality of convoy warfare from his lookout position on the conning tower of his submarine. His U-boat sank the British destroyer HMS Beverley and eight merchant ships exceeding 100;000 gross tons but the submarine also spent many hours submerged under depth-charge attacks. More so than many of his contemporaries; Staller was prepared to reveal his thoughts and feelings of his experiences of the war at sea; and of his time on the conning tower; at the hydrophons; and cleaning weapons as a messboy.His journal demonstrates how political thinking rarely entered the minds of the U-boat men; even though many of them; such as Lüdden; did not choose to serve in submarines. Staller was not a Nazi and came from a Socialist Party background; yet he never questioned the cause he was fighting for. To Staller it was simply ‘Us or Them to the death’.
#2581497 in Books LEONAUR 2006-11-21Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.50 x .69 x 5.51l; .86 #File Name: 1846771307308 pagesISBN13: 9781846771309Condition: NewNotes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Another great story of a soldier of Napoleon's GuardBy Nicholas RobertsAnother great memoir of a French soldier in Napoleon's Imperial Guard. Written in a journal format (his father told him to keep one and what a good decision that was!) he describes life and the effects of war on both himself and the area around him. His descriptions are strong and visual and will keep you engaged throughout the whole book. Unlike Coignet; Barres did not fight in many of Napoleon's campaigns. He was shut up in Mainz during 1814; was not present at Waterloo and did not engage in the war in Russia. That however adds to his story because it gives you insight into the other areas of the wars that were of equal importance. The book continues past the Napoleonic Wars and goes until his death in the 1840s.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. There are betterBy LRSNot all takes place during Napoleonic times. Without going into minute criticisms I will just say it moves very fast and seems to be taken from a diary that has large gaps. The author was a successful soldier and did survive the wars probably a feat in itself.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. usellesBy vicentethis guy didn't saw much. strolling in paris waiting and polishing his boots. saw the emperor at some distance. hardly a memoir.
