THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC: Hitler's Gray Wolves of the Sea and the Allies' Desperate Struggle to Defeat Them

Abstract

Rathgeber reviews THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC: Hitler's Gray Wolves of the Sea and the Allies' Desperate Struggle to Defeat Them by Andrew Williams.

THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC: Hitler's Gray Wolves of the Sea and the Allies' Desperate Struggle to Defeat Them, Andrew Williams, Basic Book, Cambridge, MA, 2003, 320 pages, $30.00.

"The U-boat attack was the only thing that ever really frightened me during the war," said British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Coming from a man who lived through one of the most storied air battles in history-the Battle of Britain-as well as the nightmare of never-before-seen rocket attacks, such a comment gives one pause. Why, with the major defeats Great Britain and her allies suffered in Africa and Europe and the harrowing escape from Dunkirk, was Churchill only frightened of the U-boat war? The reason is the U-boat war gave the Nazis their greatest hope for defeating the British. Surprisingly, few knew then how close Great Britain was to defeat. Unfortunately, fewer know now.

As an island nation, Great Britain depended on imports for its economic, social, and military survival. Britain's life blood depended on its ability to trade with and receive support from the United States and Canada. Britain's leaders knew this, and so did many Nazi leaders, including German Admiral Karl Donitz. Using the U-boat, Donitz developed tactics, techniques, and procedures to sever Britain's lifeline.

Donitz's crews saw themselves as elites and members of a family saving the German Fatherland. Working tirelessly to find technological advantages to keep ahead of the Allies, Donitz devised a plan for U-boat warfare to strangle and starve Great Britain and cause its downfall. He almost succeeded.

From the war's beginning, the German U-boat campaign achieved remarkable success. By the war's end, Allied losses amounted to approximately 50,000 men and 15 million tons of materiel. Losses reached such a level that Great Britain was using and losing more supplies and food than it could replace. Stocks were at such minimal levels that nationwide starvation was only weeks away. The course of the war was hanging in the balance, and victory was within the grasp of the Third Reich. Great Britain, however, prevailed, and the Nazis were defeated. How was such a reversal of fortunes possible?

The Allies worked just as hard to fight the U-boat menace as the Germans did in preparing it. Technological advances, such as sonar and radar, combined with convoy tactics and aggressive long-range air cover effectively combated the early advantages U-boats enjoyed. The successful efforts of code breakers was also important in the course of the battle. Yet, all this took time. How was Great Britain able to buy the time needed to counteract the effects of the U-boat battle?

The battles between U-boats and Allied shipping took place outside the public's view. There were no horrific photographs of destroyed buildings and cities in flames and no stream of refugees reciting the horrors of war and spreading fear and panic. Great Britain's government kept the devastation from the public, minimizing its psychological effect. That Donitz was never able to show Hitler the devastation he had created diminished his argument for more and better boats versus the Luftwaffe's argument for more aircraft. The inability to visualize the effect of the U-boat battle on both sides of the channel bought time for the Allies to reverse their fortunes.

Williams does an excellent job bringing the battle to life once again. The reader is introduced to both protagonists, and shown how they lived, fought, and often died. The Allies' desperation is palpable, and emotions ranging from arrogance to despair on the part of Germany are easily felt.