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Steel Boat Iron Hearts: A U-boat Crewman's Life Aboard U-505
Steel Boat Iron Hearts: A U-boat Crewman's Life Aboard U-505
Steel Boat Iron Hearts: A U-boat Crewman's Life Aboard U-505
Audiobook11 hours

Steel Boat Iron Hearts: A U-boat Crewman's Life Aboard U-505

Written by Hans Goebeler and John Vanzo

Narrated by Norman Dietz

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

4.5/5

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About this audiobook

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.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateJul 31, 2016
ISBN9781515978497

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Reviews for Steel Boat Iron Hearts

Rating: 4.546296333333333 out of 5 stars
4.5/5

54 ratings7 reviews

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  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Excellent personal perspective about life on a U-boat. Author paints in detail how the crews survived miserable cramped conditions and yet thrived as a whole.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    What an amazing book. It's nice to know that there were no embellishments to this wonderful story. I'd recommend it to anyone.
    There were some truly funny moments, as well.
    What a bunch of brave men.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Extremely well written and honestly there wasn't a dull moment. Great insight into what the German enlisted bubble heads endured on and off duty. It's funny that no matter what flag you sail under, all sailors are extremely similar.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Great read. Very informative. Tough guys those sub mariners…yes indeed
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Intersting book, one gets a good impression of how life was onboard a submarine during WW2. It’s also interesting to read how a WW2 veteran portrays the events and his thoughts about the war.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A Very Personal Memoir of Life aboard a U-Boat During WWII. Too often the Victor's recount the events and experiences of a war. This book is seen through the eyes of an average seaman in the German Navy. Very well written. It held my attention. I learned a lot. The Author tell it like it was with no embellishments. A good read!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Interesting perspectives from an 'average (young) enlisted man' not unlike any who serve (politics and country aside). Even though the story is told from later life, he confirmed his observations with others before putting things down in print. He also helps to give a better sense of how hard life was both on and off the U-boats. It is a worthwhile read IMHO.