U-48: The Most Successful U-Boat of the Second World War

After the Treaty of Versailles, Germany was not allowed to build or operate submarines. However, they did clandestine training on Finnish and Spanish submarines and built U-boats in Dutch yards. Admiral Karl Doenitz argued for a 300-strong U-boat fleet at the start of WWII, and the U-48, commanded by Kapitanleutnant Herbert Vaddi Schultze, was the most successful U-boat of the war, sinking fifty-six merchant ships and one corvette. Schultze was a notable humanitarian, addressing signals to Churchill to save crews. He died in 1987 at the age of 78.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 208 pages
\n Publication date: 21 September 2021
\n Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd
\n

After the Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919, Germany was prohibited from constructing or operating submarines. However, covert training occurred on Finnish and Spanish submarines, and U-boats were still constructed in Dutch shipyards to German specifications. Admiral Karl Doenitz advocated for a 300-strong U-boat fleet at the start of World War II, claiming that his force of fifty-seven diverse U-boats could not significantly impact British seaborne trade on their own. The U-48, commanded by Kapitanleutnant Herbert Vaddi Schultze, departed Germany in August 1939 to take up a waiting position near the British coast. It achieved its first success on September 5, when it torpedoed the British freighter Royal Sceptre, followed by Winkleigh on September 8. On both occasions, Schultze demonstrated his remarkable humanitarianism by transmitting signals to Churchill providing the locations of the sinkings so that crews could be rescued. By August 1, 1941, the U-48, the most successful U-boat of World War II, had sunk fifty-six merchant ships, totaling 322,478 gross tons, and one corvette. She was then transferred to the Baltic as a training boat. Schultze assumed command of operations at 3 U-Flotilla before being appointed commander of II/Naval College Schleswig. He passed away in 1987 at the age of 78. The U-48 was scuttled on May 3, 1945.

\n Weight: 396g\n
Dimension: 156 x 233 x 18 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781399014311\n \n