Hitler's U-Boat Fortresses

By Randolph Bradham

Book Overview

The French naval bases at St. Nazaire and Lorient, occupied by the Germans in June 1940, quickly became the homes of massive U-boat fortresses--nearly indestructible submarine pens, built by mostly slave labor. The Royal Air Force began an all-out bombardment of the two ports. Despite their extensive efforts--and those of the Americans who joined them in 1942--the fortresses would survive, surrounded by the decimated French towns and countryside. This is the story of what was, perhaps, the longest ongoing battle in Europe during the Second World War, seen through the eyes of someone who experienced much of it firsthand.

The desperate battle was waged on land, air, and sea. Because the dock at St. Nazaire could house and repair Hitler's powerful warship Tirpitz, British commandos carried out a daring raid to destroy it in March of 1942. They succeeded, but with great loss of life. The defenses of these fortresses were so strong that Eisenhower would ultimately decide to seek containment rather than destruction. The 66th Division, on its way to take up the task, lost its troopship Leopoldville to a German torpedo, with a loss of 802 men. The French underground movement in the area spawned a fighting force of 40,000 men to fight alongside the Americans, but the subsequent German reprisals would ultimately destroy many families in Brittany. Yet the bases stood, and continue to stand today.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0275981339
• ISBN13: 9780275981334
• Release Date: November 2003
• Publisher: Praeger
• Length: 196 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.5" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

AN AUTHOR'S SEMI-AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF WW2 YEARS IN BRITTANY

This book is many things, an autobiography of sorts, personal eye witness accounts from civilians, and a history of the Brittany areas of Lorient and St. Nazaire. Somewhat as a side discusssion are the U-Boat pens. I agree with one reviewer that the pens come up short, but disagree in the buying of this book. As the author states there are many histories of WWII events and combat, but very few on the combat in Brittany. He not only was there with Company E, 262nd Regiment, 66th Infantry Division, but attempts to give an overall cursory history of the area, the people, and the combat from all sides, FFI, German, and American for the years 1939-1945. What he writes is very interesting. If you are interested in a WWII history and memoir of this area, and some U-Boat activities then this book may be of interest to you. Semper Fi.

Excellant acccount of WWll Battle of Brittany, France

This book is a captivating account of the events surrounding the most important u-boat bases in Brittany,France . The book is highly researched and detailed but in a manner that is most interesting and easy to read. There are eye-witness acccounts of events of young soldiers including the author's narrow escape from death,including little known information of the French resistence. This is an excellent book written by an outstanding American of The Greatest Generation.

A Must Read For Anyone Interested In WWII And The GI

A gripping window into the battle for the Nazi uboat pens told from the perspective of a soldier. The author not only skillfully informs the reader of this little known campaign in captivating text, but provides numerous entertaining stories about the human side of young American men thrust into an epic battle in a strange land. A must read for anyone interested in WWII and the American soldier.

A Gem of a History Book

Hitler's U-Boat Fortresses is a caprivating, eye-witness account by a World War II participant of the Allies' campaign to capture the German U-Boat pens on the coast of Brittany. These submarine pens were active and responsible for sinking a massive amount of Allied ships right up until armistice. As very little has been written about the Allied campaigns in Brittany and their importance to the overall European war effort, this book is essential for any reader of history.