Otto Kretschmer: The Life of Germany’s Highest Scoring U-Boat Commander

Lawrence Paterson

Mar 2023 · Tantor Media Inc · Narrated by Bruce Mann

About this audiobook

Otto Kretschmer was only in combat from September 1939 until March 1941 but was Germany's highest-scoring U-boat commander, sinking forty-seven ships. This definitive work details his personal story and the political backdrop from his earliest days. After completing his officer training and time on the training ship Niobe, he served aboard the light cruiser Emden. In December 1934, he was transferred to the light cruiser Köln, then in January 1936 made the move to the fledgling U-boat service. During the Spanish Civil War, Kretschmer was involved in several patrols as part of the international non-intervention force. He demonstrated a cool approach to combat: his mantra "one torpedo for one ship" proved that the best way for his boat to succeed against a convoy was to remain surfaced as much as possible, penetrating the convoy and using the boat's high speed and small silhouette to avoid retaliation. His nickname "Silent Otto" referred to his ability to remain undetected and his reluctance to provide the regular radio reports required by Dönitz. Alongside his military skill was a character that remained rooted in the traditions of the Prussian military.

About the author

Lawrence Paterson has written several books on various aspects of the U-boat war, including Dönitz's Last Gamble and Hitler's Grey Wolves. He lives in London.

Bruce Mann is an award-winning voice artist and actor. He was born in the UK and now lives in California. His awards include several AudioFile Earphones Awards, two Audie nominations, and an AudioFile Excellence Award.