Der Kapitan

Hans Rose was Germany‘s fifth most successful U-boat Ace during World War One, and its most successful ace during the convoy period when attacks by U-boats were the most difficult and dangerous.This meticulously researched, carefully documented and lively biography examines German WWI submarine operations through the eyes of Hans Rose, a top WWI U-Boat commander. In so doing, the authors accomplish for WWI submariners what ‘Das Boot‘ did for their WWII counterparts, not only conveying a visceral sense of life aboard a wartime submarine, but showing the evolution of submarine warfare during that brief time when chivalrous action was still possible. Later chapters provide a window into the dilemmas confronting professional German military officers as their nation spiralled into the abyss of Nazism. Rose became Sea Commander of occupied Norway.The authors present a balanced and complete portrait of this complex individual.This book is the only time the Rose family has agreed to make Hans Rose‘s personal papers available to any researcher or biographer.The authors present new information from the naval archives in Germany and the Krupp archives. The fact that Rose sank at least 80 ships did not prevent the Americans from acknowledging his chivalrous attempts to save those in the water.