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Steel Boat Iron Hearts

A U-boat Crewman's Life Aboard U-505

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Steel Boat Iron Hearts

By: Hans Goebeler, John Vanzo
Narrated by: Norman Dietz
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About this listen

Using his own experiences, log books, and correspondence with other U-boat crewmen, Hans Goebeler offers rich and personal details about what life was like in the German Navy under Hitler. Since his first and last posting was to U-505, Goebeler's perspective of the crew, commanders, and war patrols paints a vivid and complete portrait unlike any other to come out of the Kriegsmarine. He witnessed it all, from deadly sabotage efforts that almost sunk the boat to the tragic suicide of the only U-boat commander who took his life during World War II. The vivid, honest, and smooth-flowing prose calls it like it was and pulls no punches.

U-505 was captured by Captain Dan Gallery's Guadalcanal Task Group 22.3 on June 4, 1944. Trapped by this "hunter-killer" group, U-505 was depth-charged to the surface, strafed by machine gun fire, and boarded. It was the first ship captured at sea since the War of 1812. Today, hundreds of thousands of visitors tour U-505 each year at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry.

This edition includes a special foreword by Keith Gill, curator of U-505 at the Museum of Science and Industry.

©2008 Hans Jacob Goebeler and John Vanzo (P)2016 Tantor Armed Forces Europe Germany Military Military & War Naval Forces World War II War Submarine Veteran U-Boat World War Ii Memoir
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An eye witness account by a submariner in the control room. Vivid and honest account right down to the rotten potato’s.

Hunter becomes hunted.

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How refreshing to hear a voice from the other side of the battle of the Atlantic. An excellent story, more so for being from the ordinary sailor’s perspective.

A well written perspective

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A truly fantastic memoir. In every battle the victor's always get to tell the story with there own narrative and tales. Its so refreshing to hear from the other side and see how the war was thru their eyes. An eye opener.

brilliant

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Loved it. RIP all those fallen to war both sides.
The other side gets to tell their story of brave and great sailors.

Gripping Aventures of Action and Bravery

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Fantastic listen. Just an ordinary young man doing what he believes is the right thing to do. There are no real winners in war. Just a lot of innocent people dying.

War is ridiculous

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a great and honest sounding account of Life aboard a ww2 uboat, a great read listen

a great read/listen

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Very interesting book in a historical subject. Shame it took him so long to complete it. Rest in Peace sailor.

Love the way it was narrated. Very well done.

What a great Book

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A great story from an interesting perspective. Maybe some of the pronunciation will make some listeners shake their heads. Overall however, well worth a listen.

It’s a shame I never got to meet the author.

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There were many times when I felt the urge to punch the author for being such a Nazi *****bag. But at the same time that is half the books value - giving you an idea of what these people thought. like when he came across a beautiful Church in France which has been reduced to rubble by air attack and he curses "the Jews and cspitalists who started this war". You feel for the author when he and the French prostitute he sees fall genuinely in love. And you see how a bad boss can nearly kill you as happens when they get a bully for a captain.

A real account of life on a submarine

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A great honest depiction of the war, from a rare perspective. Would recommend this to anyone who would like to step into the life of a u-boat crewman. Would give it six stars if I could.

One of my favourites.

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