Retrato do autor
20 Works 446 Membros 6 Críticas

About the Author

Lawrence Paterson has spent many years researching aspects of German naval operations and has written a dozen books on various aspects of the U-boat war, including Hitler's Gray Wolves: U-Boats in the Indian Ocean.

Obras por Lawrence Paterson

The First U-Boat Flotilla (2001) 23 exemplares
Second U-Boat Flotilla (2003) 13 exemplares

Etiquetado

Conhecimento Comum

There is no Common Knowledge data for this author yet. You can help.

Membros

Críticas

The U-Boat War: A Global History 1939-45 by Lawrence Paterson is a fascinating and comprehensive history that goes beyond the usual pattern of limiting the narrative to either a specific theater or exclusively a military history (as in a battle history).

I'll state upfront that submarine history and technology is of particular interest to me. While it was never an area of study or research for me it was a big part of my life for a while. I was an electronics technician/reactor operator aboard subs for the US Navy in the late 70s and early 80s, and as a Navy brat growing up, I just have a strong personal interest.

What I found of great interest in this book was the blending of what in less competent hands would have been at least three different narratives. The larger narrative is about the U-boat fleet during the war. This means discussing both the actions but also the political and international (as in treaty guidelines) aspects. That larger all-encompassing story has to be told before, during, and after the second narrative, that of the U-boat's actual actions during the war. In many ways these two have to be told as much like a single narrative as possible, though I have seen many books that give a lot of information about military actions but offer little context for how and why any of the vessels were where they were. The part I was probably least expecting but very happy to see was the technical discussions about how the U-boat service expanded in scope and ability. From torpedoes and mines to technical information about the boats themselves, this information was worked into the story so that it all flowed together.

I guess what I am trying to get across is that this presents the U-boat story in its entirety from reasons and rationale through technological development and subsequent military operations. No matter which aspect is most appealing to you the other elements serve to enrich each other.

In addition to those interested in submarine history I would highly recommend this to anyone with an interest in World War II history on any level.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
… (mais)
 
Assinalado
pomo58 | Mar 20, 2022 |
Hitler’s Brandenburgers – The first comprehensive history of their exploits.

Unless you are a historian, with a speciality in either Military or Second World War history, many outside that realm may never have hear of the Brandenburgers. Lawrence Paterson has written the first comprehensive history of them, in the English language that I know of. This book shines a light on an important, and the world’s first military special forces. Winston Churchill did not come up with the SOE in isolation, he knew the Brandenburgers were a force, especially by the time he had become Prime Minister.

Lawrence Paterson provides a full portrait of this special forces’ unit, from its creation in 1939 to its merging with another division in 1944. They were not a creation of the Wehrmacht but the Abwehr, with the aim of working behind enemy lines and sabotage work. Members of the unit took part in seizing important targets and infiltration. Foreign German nationals who were convinced Nazi volunteers, constituent members had lived abroad and were proficient in foreign languages as well as knowing the way of life in the area of operations where they were deployed.

This book fortunately does not go down the deep dark black hole that is Germany’s many far-flung and often unsuccessful, intelligence missions. What Paterson has done so that the reader can understand the full genesis of this unit, he traces it back to the Great War.

What one does learn is that the history of the Brandenburgers is complex and is interwoven with the Wehrmacht, Abwehr and Waffen SS operations. The founders and leaders of this unit are also examined in some detail, so as be able to understand how it grew, and how its stature grew.

To aid our understanding Paterson has translated from German both the primary source material as well as the reliable secondary sources. So, what we get is a broader history, that is not seen through eyes of the ‘winners’ but those of the Germans. So, we get a fair and honest examination, that aids our understanding of the military tactics used by the Germans during the War.

This is one of the most interesting military history books for a long time that has been designed to open up German sources and historical knowledge to the English speaker. A must for all those wishing to understand German operational tactics during World War 2, as well as those who thirst for more knowledge of the War.
… (mais)
 
Assinalado
atticusfinch1048 | Nov 18, 2018 |
Excelentes fotos, tanto de un Clae VIIC excelentemente conservado como fotos de archivo poco vistas. Los textos de los testimonios están muy bien y te quedas con ganas de saber más. Lástima que no se profundice más en algún aspecto.
 
Assinalado
Saltamontes73 | Apr 13, 2010 |
Details on the fate of U-boats is plentiful but the book is more reference than readable.
 
Assinalado
bobbre | Feb 24, 2010 |

You May Also Like

Estatísticas

Obras
20
Membros
446
Popularidade
#54,979
Avaliação
½ 3.5
Críticas
6
ISBN
79
Línguas
4

Tabelas & Gráficos