The "chief", or better known as LI, is called Friedrich Grade. He secretly wrote a diary on that 7th patrol which was now published by him. He is 104 years old and still lives in Germany. You can find his diary under the name "U96 - Buchheim und der Alte - Was wirklich geschah". That's his diary with some comments and unpublished photos of Buchheim.
There is a little inaccuracy in the narrator's own observations. He notes early on that in the dockyard scene (where the captain points out U-96 as "unser boat") that U-boats there were being constructed, and that deduces that U-96 is presented as a newly built boat, which, of course would be historically inaccurate. In fact, if he had listened a little more closely to the ensuing dialogue with the engineer, he would have learned that the boat had been fitted with a "brand new propellor" to replace a shaft that had had been causing problems. Clearly he was talking about a problem that arose on a previous patrol, and so, there is no historical inaccuracy at all.
U96 was not portrayed as a new boat in the movie. In the first scene in the docks as the KaLeu, LI and Werner make their way to the boat you can hear the LI informing the KaLeu that the propeller had been damaged and that that had been the reason for unwanted noise during “silent” mode underwater. As a result, LI informs the KaLeu, they have gotten a brand new propeller. That makes it clear that the boat itself is not new ….
U-96, Type VIIC had 230m Test depth, 250m calculated crush as you noted. Several exceeded this and lived to tell about it. But YES, common for them to go deep if under attack. Early was RN ships were challenged to get a depth charge that deep, many limited to 300 ft early war. FWIW, kill ranges for depth charges were approx 25 ft, damage-causing range was roughly 40 ft. Later depth charges had more explosives and deeper depth capability. So if the DC are going off at 300 ft, 500 foot depth is a good place to be! Most deadly were DC going off directly below the U-boat. The later Type VIIC/41 had a thicker pressure hull and could go down further. This diving performance was far better than Allied submarines. Surface top speed was 17 which burns a lot of fuel, but CRUISE SPEED was around 10kts, to stretch the range. Submerged, 7 but for a short time.
230m wasnt the test depth it was the war time calculated crush depth. After the war, the cursh depth was calculated again, better/more precise calculations, and it shows the crush depth was at 260m. The test depht was 150m, and certified/granted depth only 90m
Thanks for the historical detail. This has inspired me to read the book, to delve further than all the versions I’ve seen of the classic film. I’m not sure where the idea that U-96 was on its first patrol would come from. The captain says “unser boot” with affection, the chief engineer already knows the hull’s limits can well exceed official limits. With that first first dive likely as much a test of the nerves of any new crewmen as it is of the maintenance of seals and valves presumably conducted at La Rochelle. And in the engine room, one gets an eerie impression that “the ghost”, like Jack Torrance, has always been the caretaker.
U96 wasn't a new boat in the film I just watched the uncut version they mention in conversation that they had a new propeller so a vibration problem they had previously had been repaired.
Nope. They say they installed a new propeller on another sub (Thomsen's one if I recall). However you're right, they never said nor implied that their U-96 was new.
Also in the movie, the only footage I know of that shows the unique attack periscope that one sits down on a saddle that were in U-boats. I know of no other footage showing this very interesting attack scope. Minor nit pick, you see the Observation scope on the main deck, there must have been a bunch of these sitting around in a shed somewhere. It is an earlier pre-war one for earlier subs (like the VIIB model). The movie shows the 3 eyepiece Observation scope which a type VIIC would not have had. A major decision was made early war to get rid of the 3 eyepiece deal with the range finder and go for monocle or binocular variants. Still photos from the U-96 and also Erich Topp's VIIC show this. So much hardware shown for the first time in this movie it is scary.
Think (at least to me) the point of the movie and the book, is it puts you and I on a German U boat in 1941. What it was like, to be there. One thing occurred to me is, after the get to sea, these are not a bunch of Nazis, but men in a horrible situation. One man's opinion freely given and worth ALMOST that much.
war sucks, men on both sides often have no choice in the matter and are coerced into mass slaughter. to add insult to injury this calamity is now being used to justify all sorts of insanity today.
This is ridiculas! How the hell does this have 77 views??? Is this a podcast that has thousands of fans and is simply re-uploaded to youtube for the fans? That I could understand! But wow I can't believe I just discovered your content you guys are incredible!
Howdy Praxic Fire! Thank you for the kind words---glad you're enjoying the content! Yes, this is first and foremost an audio podcast that I also try to post to RUclips as time allows. Hope you keep enjoying it!
Dengle was the new assigned chief engineer, and he was on board as well as the old chief engineer that should have gone home for Christmas and the birth of his child and a new assignment afterwards. In 2018 his diaries were published and since then we know much more about U 96. So they were both on board.
Actually with U 96 only 5 other German submarines were operating in the Atlantic in late October and early November. So the pack was actually the whole active fleet at the time.
Bucheim didn't just produce a novel , there is a book with many great pictures that he took during his time aboard. He also hid his photographs and negatives after the war so as to prevent them from being captured or destroyed. Also, I admire your dedication to producing this, but it's not necessary to pick apart a movie like this.
In the party scene at the begining i noticed the U-96 Cpt was wearing a knights cross but didnt have an iron cross first class medal or 2nd class ribbon, i understood you had to have the previous award to qualify for the next one and all 3 would be displayed.
on a side note: while you quite nail the pronounciation of "Das", the german word "Boot" is much more closely to the english word "boat" than whatever you're making it sound. The english "oo" like in boot or shoot or sooth sounds more like a german "u"-sound, and "Boot" is definetley not spelled with a "u". So, "Das boat" is fine and will be understood by every german. But nobody knows what you'll mean by something that sound like "buut" ;)
Late to the party and all but great podcast! You clearly put a lot of effort into researching this. Good job. Oh, and regarding the constant talk about how to pronounce Boot. It’s pronounced with a long o - like door. Only one vowel. It’s not bewt or buut.
"Goat" without the "a" is "Got", which sounds quite different than "go", however I've always heard it was pronounced more like "boat" which is how I was pronouncing it. Then again, when I say "goat", "boat" and "boot" they sound quite the same to me when I say them in the context of a story...haha! Oh the fun of words and pronunciations across different languages, regions, and accents. I'll be the first to admit English is my only language. Hope my pronunciations don't ruin the story for you. Thanks for listening!
Yes, the story works very well anyways, and is well presented. I tried hard to think of a English word with two "å"s, or smthing like that but there just aint any as far as I know of. :)
U-Boat men didn't cry or feel outrage when merchantmen died as portrayed in the film. I'm perplexed as to why that was put in the script. Only story I know that is even somewhat similar was that during the first great war a ship transporting horses was torpedoed and the Captain couldn't watch them panicking and jumping in the water to escape the wreckage, so he lowered the scope and changed course.
Buchheim did not volunteer for the Navy. He was part of the Propaganda company of the German Army and only escorted the U96 on one trip. He also had a lot of other assignments, but he was not a Navy member. He was part of the Nazi propaganda system and as such did not correspondent the true story, but rather made it heroic and glorious. It took him 30 years to write and publish a more accurate account in his book "Das Boot", but it is partly fictional, especially the end with the air raid. Actually they made it back safely after Gibraltar.
Interesting presentation. I can only imagine the odor of unwashed bodies that greeted the officers of the supply ship when the officers of the u-boat met with them onboard their ship. Btw not certain if the officer pictured in the middle is the captain of the titled u-boat or the war correspondent author.
It is my understanding that the book is fiction which means some depictions are made up. It also my understanding that it was antiwar like a number of other fiction books from German authors. It should be remembered that Germany suffered large causalities during WWII. The deaths can be pointed to the German leaders
16:26 Friedrich Grade was the LI of U-96. He is the only crew member who is still alive in 2021, aged 105.
Amazing! How any survived is a miracle
The "chief", or better known as LI, is called Friedrich Grade. He secretly wrote a diary on that 7th patrol which was now published by him. He is 104 years old and still lives in Germany.
You can find his diary under the name "U96 - Buchheim und der Alte - Was wirklich geschah". That's his diary with some comments and unpublished photos of Buchheim.
There is a little inaccuracy in the narrator's own observations. He notes early on that in the dockyard scene (where the captain points out U-96 as "unser boat") that U-boats there were being constructed, and that deduces that U-96 is presented as a newly built boat, which, of course would be historically inaccurate. In fact, if he had listened a little more closely to the ensuing dialogue with the engineer, he would have learned that the boat had been fitted with a "brand new propellor" to replace a shaft that had had been causing problems. Clearly he was talking about a problem that arose on a previous patrol, and so, there is no historical inaccuracy at all.
I watched Part 1 a few nights ago and I picked up “brand new propeller” was fitted.
U Boats were never built in France, they were serviced and repaired there. 😎
Das Boot, One amazing movie.
U96 was not portrayed as a new boat in the movie. In the first scene in the docks as the KaLeu, LI and Werner make their way to the boat you can hear the LI informing the KaLeu that the propeller had been damaged and that that had been the reason for unwanted noise during “silent” mode underwater. As a result, LI informs the KaLeu, they have gotten a brand new propeller. That makes it clear that the boat itself is not new ….
U-96, Type VIIC had 230m Test depth, 250m calculated crush as you noted. Several exceeded this and lived to tell about it. But YES, common for them to go deep if under attack. Early was RN ships were challenged to get a depth charge that deep, many limited to 300 ft early war. FWIW, kill ranges for depth charges were approx 25 ft, damage-causing range was roughly 40 ft. Later depth charges had more explosives and deeper depth capability. So if the DC are going off at 300 ft, 500 foot depth is a good place to be! Most deadly were DC going off directly below the U-boat.
The later Type VIIC/41 had a thicker pressure hull and could go down further. This diving performance was far better than Allied submarines.
Surface top speed was 17 which burns a lot of fuel, but CRUISE SPEED was around 10kts, to stretch the range.
Submerged, 7 but for a short time.
230m wasnt the test depth it was the war time calculated crush depth.
After the war, the cursh depth was calculated again, better/more precise calculations, and it shows the crush depth was at 260m.
The test depht was 150m, and certified/granted depth only 90m
as i understand it the Real Captain was present when they made the movie as an adviser
It is all in the paperback companion to the serious Dad Boot, in German. I found one, what a great book!
Correct
Second thing you got wrong: this type of VII-C Boote had no bolts at all, they were welded. Petersen just invented this to ad to the drama.
Thanks for the historical detail. This has inspired me to read the book, to delve further than all the versions I’ve seen of the classic film. I’m not sure where the idea that U-96 was on its first patrol would come from. The captain says “unser boot” with affection, the chief engineer already knows the hull’s limits can well exceed official limits. With that first first dive likely as much a test of the nerves of any new crewmen as it is of the maintenance of seals and valves presumably conducted at La Rochelle. And in the engine room, one gets an eerie impression that “the ghost”, like Jack Torrance, has always been the caretaker.
U96 wasn't a new boat in the film I just watched the uncut version they mention in conversation that they had a new propeller so a vibration problem they had previously had been repaired.
Nope. They say they installed a new propeller on another sub (Thomsen's one if I recall). However you're right, they never said nor implied that their U-96 was new.
@@pibe88iTa The dialogue is clear. The new propellor was fitted to U96.
Yup the starboard one
Probably cavitation was the problem with the propeller
Tracking Hitler's paintings seems a little off topic
Also in the movie, the only footage I know of that shows the unique attack periscope that one sits down on a saddle that were in U-boats. I know of no other footage showing this very interesting attack scope. Minor nit pick, you see the Observation scope on the main deck, there must have been a bunch of these sitting around in a shed somewhere. It is an earlier pre-war one for earlier subs (like the VIIB model). The movie shows the 3 eyepiece Observation scope which a type VIIC would not have had. A major decision was made early war to get rid of the 3 eyepiece deal with the range finder and go for monocle or binocular variants. Still photos from the U-96 and also Erich Topp's VIIC show this.
So much hardware shown for the first time in this movie it is scary.
They stated that they were "certified" for 90 meters. "But we can beat that".
Think (at least to me) the point of the movie and the book, is it puts you and I on a German U boat in 1941. What it was like, to be there. One thing occurred to me is, after the get to sea, these are not a bunch of Nazis, but men in a horrible situation.
One man's opinion freely given and worth ALMOST that much.
war sucks, men on both sides often have no choice in the matter and are coerced into mass slaughter. to add insult to injury this calamity is now being used to justify all sorts of insanity today.
Why are you playing guessing games? I tuned in to here some accurate history!!
You got some of your facts wrong: the VII-C type of U-Boot could go 17 knots (34,5 km/h).
Error with the speed and range too. They type 7 could travel on the surface at a tad over 17 knots, not 12.
This is ridiculas! How the hell does this have 77 views??? Is this a podcast that has thousands of fans and is simply re-uploaded to youtube for the fans? That I could understand! But wow I can't believe I just discovered your content you guys are incredible!
Howdy Praxic Fire!
Thank you for the kind words---glad you're enjoying the content! Yes, this is first and foremost an audio podcast that I also try to post to RUclips as time allows. Hope you keep enjoying it!
The 5hr plus is the TV miniseries for everyone's info. It can be had online under the name Das boot the origanal uncut version
Dengle was the new assigned chief engineer, and he was on board as well as the old chief engineer that should have gone home for Christmas and the birth of his child and a new assignment afterwards. In 2018 his diaries were published and since then we know much more about U 96. So they were both on board.
Actually with U 96 only 5 other German submarines were operating in the Atlantic in late October and early November. So the pack was actually the whole active fleet at the time.
Bucheim didn't just produce a novel , there is a book with many great pictures that he took during his time aboard. He also hid his photographs and negatives after the war so as to prevent them from being captured or destroyed. Also, I admire your dedication to producing this, but it's not necessary to pick apart a movie like this.
In the party scene at the begining i noticed the U-96 Cpt was wearing a knights cross but didnt have an iron cross first class medal or 2nd class ribbon, i understood you had to have the previous award to qualify for the next one and all 3 would be displayed.
Carl Zeiss, one of three contractors for U-boat optics :)
Bayer Pharmacueticals, subsidiary of I.G. Farben making Zyklon B.
on a side note: while you quite nail the pronounciation of "Das", the german word "Boot" is much more closely to the english word "boat" than whatever you're making it sound. The english "oo" like in boot or shoot or sooth sounds more like a german "u"-sound, and "Boot" is definetley not spelled with a "u". So, "Das boat" is fine and will be understood by every german. But nobody knows what you'll mean by something that sound like "buut" ;)
Late to the party and all but great podcast! You clearly put a lot of effort into researching this. Good job. Oh, and regarding the constant talk about how to pronounce Boot. It’s pronounced with a long o - like door. Only one vowel. It’s not bewt or buut.
Amazing work…you earned my subscription…well done!
I appreciate a good history lesson but find the idea that this artwork deserves this curious autopsy as ridiculous...
Lotta nit-picking here, and I'm a stickler for accuracy.
Holy shit agreed
The show must go on.
There is also another good book (The iron coffin) I can't recall the writer but it's based on a true story.
Herbert Werner a Former Commander of U 415 and U 953
You refer to those in the Keiegsmarine as Soldiers, Not Sailors?
Translation difference - at the time, sailors in germany were referred to as soldiers
Liszt lived there for a third of the year because Wagner was married to his daughter. The rest of the time was split between Budapest and Rome.
Well presented and very informative. Subscribed.
Thomsen in the Film was KvKpt Karl Thrumann MIA in the Atlantik with U553 since 01/43
Great to know, thanks for commenting!
This is all very interesting but plz forget the "boot". Its more like "O" Like in the word "go" , or as in the word goat without the a.
"Goat" without the "a" is "Got", which sounds quite different than "go", however I've always heard it was pronounced more like "boat" which is how I was pronouncing it. Then again, when I say "goat", "boat" and "boot" they sound quite the same to me when I say them in the context of a story...haha! Oh the fun of words and pronunciations across different languages, regions, and accents. I'll be the first to admit English is my only language. Hope my pronunciations don't ruin the story for you. Thanks for listening!
Yes, the story works very well anyways, and is well presented. I tried hard to think of a English word with two "å"s, or smthing like that but there just aint any as far as I know of. :)
Silly English. Hah! :)
My mum is German and pronounces it as bort
Very fascinating and historical correction thank you. Why don't you cover Reinhard Hardigans attack on US maj Gen IA
U-Boat men didn't cry or feel outrage when merchantmen died as portrayed in the film. I'm perplexed as to why that was put in the script. Only story I know that is even somewhat similar was that during the first great war a ship transporting horses was torpedoed and the Captain couldn't watch them panicking and jumping in the water to escape the wreckage, so he lowered the scope and changed course.
If I’m not wrong the full version was 4 hours and 53 minutes
Round about that as it was 6 part tv series.
Buchheim did not volunteer for the Navy. He was part of the Propaganda company of the German Army and only escorted the U96 on one trip. He also had a lot of other assignments, but he was not a Navy member. He was part of the Nazi propaganda system and as such did not correspondent the true story, but rather made it heroic and glorious. It took him 30 years to write and publish a more accurate account in his book "Das Boot", but it is partly fictional, especially the end with the air raid. Actually they made it back safely after Gibraltar.
Soldiers don't serve at sea....sailors serve at sea
Fair point :)
Interesting presentation. I can only imagine the odor of unwashed bodies that greeted the officers of the supply ship when the officers of the u-boat met with them onboard their ship. Btw not certain if the officer pictured in the middle is the captain of the titled u-boat or the war correspondent author.
It is my understanding that the book is fiction which means some depictions are made up. It also my understanding that it was antiwar like a number of other fiction books from German authors. It should be remembered that Germany suffered large causalities during WWII. The deaths can be pointed to the German leaders
video begins at 4:54