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Summary: Another Option
Review: A riveting account, as so many others have noted here. Just a heads-up for those of you who read German: you can get the original version of Iron Coffins (Die eisernen Särge) together with Wolfgang's Hirschfeld's U-boat memoir, Feindfahrten, in one convenient paperback volume from Amazon.de. It includes quite a few photos and illustrations, too.
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Summary: Sub warfare in the North Atlantic, by one who survived.
Review: Herbert Werner with Mr. Beach's help has written one of the most detailed, engrossing naratives of combat that I have ever read. Werner served on U-boats as an officer throughout most of the war, becoming a U-boat commander in '44. Though highly detailed the book reads almost like a novel it is that interesting. His descriptions of depth charge attacks will have you breaking out in a cold sweat. By mid '43 U-boats faced a huge challenge just getting out to open sea. Werner describes his time spent in ports in great detail as well. Overall the book provides the reader with a picture of what WW2 sub warfare is all about and what life as an officer in Hitler's Germany was like. I first read this book over 20 years ago and it is one of those books I can just re-read periodically My initial impression of it's overall excellence still remains. Highly recomended.
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Summary: A former enemy's viewpoint is all too human, and thrilling
Review: Herbert Werner's book has been printed many times, a testament to its writing and story. Werner joined the German Navy at the outset of World War II, and was able to rise through the ranks fo this extremely dangerous calling to command his own U-Boats by the end of the war. Werner writes his account from a chronological perpsective, from the early, easy successes to the end of the war and the bleak outlook Germany had ahead of them. Key events like the "Happy Time," the sinking of the Bismarck, the Battle of Britain and operation Sea Lion figure in, as do the attacks on Pearl Harbor, D-Day, and the waning days of the war.
Iron Coffins also exudes humanity, finding fault with the Nazi high command and the naval leadership that caused too many losses, weakened morale, and doomed Germany's effort. The title itself refers to Werner's view of the U-boats as floating deathtraps for most of their crews (perentage-wise, German U-boat crews had one of the top positions in any list of potential losses). Werner was lucky to survive, given his job, and we are luckier still to have his account of U-boat work in World War II.
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Summary: Absolutely the Best!
Review: I am an ex-submariner in the U.S Navy with eight strategic deterrent submarine patrols in the North Atlantic and I can only imagine the absolute courage and patriotism shown by the men described in this book! Captain Werner describes what is truly a life of adventure bordering on madness as he and his crew dodge British and US aircraft and destroyers in the most dramatic cat and mouse game of all time. The book follows Werner's career as a U-Boat officer that starts at the beginning of WWII. He talks about the initial glory and successes of the German U-Boat campaign against the British and he follows the war as the tide changes against Germany. Werner describes reports of boat after boat being sunk and most of his fellow commanders being killed at sea and he shares his thoughts as he continues to bring his boat to sea in spite of almost a guarantee of being killed. I can't recommend this book strongly enough. It is the BEST submarine saga that I have read to date and it is also a tribute to men who have gone to sea in defense of their country.
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Summary: The Irony of Iron Coffins
Review: If you are at all interested in the U-Boat war in the North Atlantic during World War II, then this book is for you. Werner tells the story of his wartime career in gripping detail. What I found most interesting about the book, however, was not so much the descriptions of combat (although those are certainly interesting enough), but rather the fascinating glimpse into ordinary life in Germany and occupied France during the war, as described by Werner when he recounts his leaves and furloughs and visits home. Likewise, Werner's story of the brutality of French treatment of German POWs at war's end is also very eye opening. Aside from that, there are plenty of Asdic pings, depth charge runs, torpedo fan shots, and silent runnings to keep even the most demanding submarine fan enthralled for hours. Immerse yourself in the excitement and the horror of World War II under the waves with the words of a true master. Highly recommended.
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Summary: The Best WWII Book About the Other Side!
Review: The first time I read 'Iron Coffins', it was for a term paper in high school. At that point, all Germans in WWII were evil Nazi stooges with the mental capacity of a slug in salt. Once I started reading Mr. Werner's excellent book, I actually found myself sharing in the excitement as a U-Boat sank Allied ships. I also found myself feeling the dread as Allied escort ships dropped thier deadly depth charges. Iron Coffins is a fast paced book that is hard to put down. One is able to truely experience what the war was like through Mr. Werner's eyes. Once you've finished, your understand something...that just because you are at war with an evil nation doesn't make it's people all evil. Mr. Werner may not have been a celebrated U-Boat commander, but if it weren't for him, we would never truely understand the meaning of the term 'Iron Coffin.'
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