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Steel Boat Iron Hearts

A U-boat Crewman's Life Aboard U-505

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Steel Boat Iron Hearts

By: Hans Goebeler, John Vanzo
Narrated by: Norman Dietz
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About this listen

Using his own experiences, log books, and correspondence with other U-boat crewmen, Hans Goebeler offers rich and personal details about what life was like in the German Navy under Hitler. Since his first and last posting was to U-505, Goebeler's perspective of the crew, commanders, and war patrols paints a vivid and complete portrait unlike any other to come out of the Kriegsmarine. He witnessed it all, from deadly sabotage efforts that almost sunk the boat to the tragic suicide of the only U-boat commander who took his life during World War II. The vivid, honest, and smooth-flowing prose calls it like it was and pulls no punches.

U-505 was captured by Captain Dan Gallery's Guadalcanal Task Group 22.3 on June 4, 1944. Trapped by this "hunter-killer" group, U-505 was depth-charged to the surface, strafed by machine gun fire, and boarded. It was the first ship captured at sea since the War of 1812. Today, hundreds of thousands of visitors tour U-505 each year at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry.

This edition includes a special foreword by Keith Gill, curator of U-505 at the Museum of Science and Industry.

©2008 Hans Jacob Goebeler and John Vanzo (P)2016 Tantor Armed Forces Europe Germany Military Military & War Naval Forces World War II War Veteran Submarine Thought-Provoking U-Boat World War Ii Memoir
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Most relevant
A brilliant story from the viewpoint of a surviving U — Boat sailor. As most war histories are written by the winners it is intriguing to see the war through the eyes of someone serving in the forces of the losers. They share the same hopes and fears, yet history dehumanises the Germans, incorrectly. This book tells the truth of what it was to be a member of an Elite few who suffered the worst percentage losses of any of the services, yet went out on a war patrol knowing they may never come back. They have my deepest respect.

A view from the other side

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At first I was not too hot on the narrator, but he really grew on me, and I very much enjoyed his rhythm and delivery after an hour or two. I was really captivated by this story, I knew nothing of the history of the boat, but this account brought it alive and was in great detail as to the reality of the daily life on board a U-Boat. The tedium, the sheer fear, the sabotage and constant threat from a vastly superior enemy.
This was excellent, a real gem and I will no doubt listen to it again.

Captivating and Unique Account of U-Boat Life

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Fascinating insight and a great account. A shame the author never acknowledged the wrong of the Nazis but only the allies. Well read.

A great account of life at sea I u-boat

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I loved the story, but the narration was so monotonous and unemotional. Ruined the many tense moments.

Great story, poor narration

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I’ve read, (listened to), many WW2 stories. Always from the Allied perspective. After all, war stories are always written by the victors.
What an interesting, refreshing and enlightening story this book is. Told as he saw things, and not denying his beliefs at the time of war.
Well worth a listen. If for no other reason, it’s an experience of what life was like for the U-boat crews.

WW2 from a German perspective.

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