• Otto Kretschmer

  • The Life of Germany’s Highest Scoring U-Boat Commander
  • By: Lawrence Paterson
  • Narrated by: Bruce Mann
  • Length: 10 hrs and 44 mins
  • 3.5 out of 5 stars (4 ratings)

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Otto Kretschmer  By  cover art

Otto Kretschmer

By: Lawrence Paterson
Narrated by: Bruce Mann
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Publisher's summary

Otto Kretschmer was only in combat from September 1939 until March 1941 but was Germany's highest-scoring U-boat commander, sinking forty-seven ships. This definitive work details his personal story and the political backdrop from his earliest days.

After completing his officer training and time on the training ship Niobe, he served aboard the light cruiser Emden. In December 1934, he was transferred to the light cruiser Köln, then in January 1936 made the move to the fledgling U-boat service. During the Spanish Civil War, Kretschmer was involved in several patrols as part of the international non-intervention force.

He demonstrated a cool approach to combat: his mantra "one torpedo for one ship" proved that the best way for his boat to succeed against a convoy was to remain surfaced as much as possible, penetrating the convoy and using the boat's high speed and small silhouette to avoid retaliation.

His nickname "Silent Otto" referred to his ability to remain undetected and his reluctance to provide the regular radio reports required by Dönitz. Alongside his military skill was a character that remained rooted in the traditions of the Prussian military.

©2018 Lawrence Paterson (P)2023 Tantor

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Precise summary

Excellent reference.
(Former submariner and assistant navigator)
Given the contrast of technological restrictions by today’s standards, for which U-boat operations had to contend in that era, the work provided a very good picture from which one could draw their own conclusions of conduct, if given the opportunity to travel in time of one’s own imagination.
Most enjoyable.

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Dry Toast

I'm no more than 1 hour into the book and can't take much more. The Narrator's steady dry cadence and momo-tone voice is making me want to fall asleep while driving. It's like listening to an 80's robot. I Hate to because there are very few books written from the German side on U-Boats. I was hoping this would be one I can listen to over and over again.

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