{"product_id":"otto-kretschmer-the-life-of-germanys-highest-scoring-u-boat-commander-hardcover","title":"Otto Kretschmer: The Life of Germany's Highest Scoring U-Boat Commander - Hardcover","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eLawrence Patterson\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOtto Kretschmer was only in combat from September 1939 until March 1941 but was Germany's highest-scoring U-boat commander, sinking 47 ships totaling 274,333 tons. This definitive work details his personal story and the political backdrop from his earliest days.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAfter completing his officer training and time on the training ship Niobe he served aboard the light cruiser \u003ci\u003eEmden.\u003c\/i\u003e In December 1934, he was transferred to the light cruiser \u003ci\u003eK ln\u003c\/i\u003e, then in January 1936 made the move to the fledgling U-boat service. His first operational posting was to the 2nd U-Flotilla's Type VII \u003ci\u003eU35\u003c\/i\u003e where he survived almost being drowned during training in the Baltic Sea. During the Spanish Civil War, Kretschmer was involved in several patrols as part of the international non-intervention force.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHis nickname Silent Otto referred to his ability to remain undetected and his reluctance to provide the regular radio reports required by D nitz: he had guessed that the Allies had broken German codes. Alongside his military skill was a character that remained rooted in the traditions of the Prussian military. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 288\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1.1 x 9.3 x 6.4 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e February 16, 2018\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42155779784839,"sku":"9781591146971","price":47.47,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0601\/2623\/2711\/files\/9c3d76e0fbe99e67965359828b70649a.webp?v=1733238703","url":"https:\/\/booksby.splitshops.com\/products\/otto-kretschmer-the-life-of-germanys-highest-scoring-u-boat-commander-hardcover","provider":"Books by splitShops","version":"1.0","type":"link"}