Teddy Suhren; the commander of U-564; was one of the most successful U-boat skippers of World War II. He is said to have fired more successful torpedo shots than any other submariner during the war and was the first junior officer to be awarded the Knight's Cross for his achievements. By war's end he had earned a Knight's Cross with Oak Sword and is credited with sinking eighteen ships plus a British corvette and damaging four other ships. One of the lucky few to survive the war; Suhren wrote his memoirs in German with the help of a journalist friend under the title Nasses Eichenlaub. This English translation of the popular work is the first to be available.Suhren remains a legend within the U-boat world mostly for his good humor and irreverent and rebellious nature; which frequently got him into trouble with higher authorities. Despite his refusal to conform; however; he had access to the highest circles of power in Nazi Germany. Suhren's reminiscences of those times make for some fascinating reading and include descriptions of social events few were privileged to attend.
#813207 in Books 2013-03-15Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.90 x .80 x 6.00l; .90 #File Name: 1591141214320 pages
Review
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful. Destroyer Escort WWII HistoryBy F. S VirdenRobert F. Cross; SHEPHERDS OF THE SEA--Destroyer Escorts in World War II. Underappreciated by history; hastily designed and built; manned largely by inexperienced young reserve officers and teenaged crews; these small ships became crucial to victory in the Battle of the Atlantic and in the Pacific Theater; where they even took on the world's largest battleship. Robert Cross is an experienced professional writer who currently serves as commissioner of the Port of Albany NY and water commissioner of that city. He also is a trustee of the USS SLATER (DE-766) museum ship; a fully restored WWII DE at Albany; and the only such ship still afloat in the U.S. Mr. Cross compiled his book from numerous personal interviews of and documents from DE veterans; as well as considerable official records and other historical accounts. It is well indexed and annotated. If you want to know what really happened; this is the book for you.Unfortunately; Mr. Cross' work is sullied by numerous technical gaffs; such as "3in 50mm guns" (s/b 3in/50cal)and "Iowa Jima" repeated a number of times. Without the normal space breaks; his narrative shifts from one person or incident to another in breathtaking confusion. He could have used a far more competent editor. Nevertheless; it otherwise reads well and he does progress with some logic through the initial conception; then hiatus; then construction and crew training; to the Atlantic and finally the Pacific--including a number of first-hand accounts. An epilog briefly describes the SLATER museum and its history. If you're a naval history buff; you will enjoy it and overlook its unfortunate faults. Your wife; in all probability; will not be interested.Frank S. Virden; Captain; USN (Ret)Member; Destroyer Escort Sailors Association0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Heeroic Shepherds of the Sea: Destroyer EscortsBy Dale BoultonThe author made the prose come alive with quotes from personnel who were in the middle of the action. The photos interspersed in the writing add to the definition of the destroyer escorts. The DE sailor lived in a dangerous environment in the Atlantic from German U-boat technologies; the Mediterranean Sea from German aircraft bombings including glide bombs; and the Pacific from Japanese Kamikazes and Japanese capital warships. The text is face paced and interspersed with some of the history of the DE. The heroism of the crew of the Samuel B. Roberts against the Japanese fleet off the isle of Samar is nothing short of incredible. Imagine a 1200 ton DE exchanging gunfire with the world's largest battleship at nearly 60;000 tons. That is two 5" 38 caliber guns against nine 18.1 inch guns which could throw a 2500 pound shell over 20 miles. Although the Roberts went down; many of her crew survived the battle and were rescued by US ships with the arrival of Halsey and the 3rd fleet.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. WW II DEsBy N. ChandlerMy dad served on a DE during the war. When he left the ship; the crew presented him with a model of the ship they had made for him and boxed in a diorama. I came across this book while preparing to pass on the model to my son and grandson. It is a wonderful accompanymnet.
