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U-48: the Most Successful U-boat of the Second World War, Hardback Book

U-48: the Most Successful U-boat of the Second World War Hardback

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Following the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, Germany was not permitted to build or operate submarines.

Clandestine training about Finnish and Spanish submarines took place and U-boats were still built to German designs in Dutch yards. At the outset of the Second World War, Donitz argued for a 300-strong U-boat fleet, since his force of 57 U-boats 'could only inflict pin-pricks against British seaborne trade'.

In August 1939, U-48 left Germany, commanded by 'Vaddi' Schultze, to take up a waiting position around England.

It scored its first success on 5 September, when it torpedoed the British freighter Royal Sceptre, then the Winkleigh on 8 September.

On both occasions - the first of many - Schultze showed himself to be a notable humanitarian: he addressed signals to Churchill giving positions of the sinkings so that crews could be saved.

By 1 August 1941, U-48, the most successful boat of the Second World War, had sunk 56 merchant ships of 322,478 gross tons and one corvette.

She was then transferred to the Baltic as a training boat.

Schultze became commander of operation 3 U-Flotilla and later was appointed commander, II/Naval College Schleswig. He died in 1987 at the age of 78. U-48 was scuttled on 3 May 1945.

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