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WW2 GERMAN U-BOAT CAPTAIN REINHARD HARDEGEN BOOK
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Auf Gefechtsstationen! (Man the Battle Stations!) by U-Boot or submarine Kapitänleutnant Reinhard Hardegen, is a rare Nazi book about German submarine missions against England and the United States during World War II. The book has an introduction by Großadmiral Karl Dönitz on whose staff Hardegen worked during the last days of the war.
Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves recipient Kriegsmarine Captain Hardegen was the commander of U-Boote U-147 and U-123 and famously brought his submarine within sight of New York harbor in 1942 (“Roosevelt’s front door”). He was credited with the sinking of 25 Allied ships.
Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves recipient Kriegsmarine Captain Hardegen was the commander of U-Boote U-147 and U-123 and famously brought his submarine within sight of New York harbor in 1942 (“Roosevelt’s front door”). He was credited with the sinking of 25 Allied ships.
Auf Gefechtsstationen! has 227 pages plus 80 glossy pages of superb photographs. They portray Nazi submarine training, enemy attacks, icy condition on the Atlantic ocean, crew life, deceased officers, canned provisions being brought aboard, U-Boot bunkers under construction and completed, a shore visit in Norway, dolphins playing around Hardegen’s sub, sailors passing time by playing cards, board games and the accordion, sailor catching a shark and cooking it, Christmas on board, several Nazi torpedo victims, and returning to port.
This rare First Edition 5-¾ x 8-¼ inch hardcover example of Auf Gefechtsstationen! U-Boote im Einsatz gegen England und Amerika was published by Boreas-Verlag of Leipzig in 1943. It is in very nice used condition, and has no writing and no odor.
The last surviving U-Boat commander of World War II, Reinhard Hardegen died at the age of 105 in 2018.
The last surviving U-Boat commander of World War II, Reinhard Hardegen died at the age of 105 in 2018.
The chapters cover Reinhard Hardegen’s early life and career as well as 1930s naval voyages. A visit to New York City was included in a 1933 around-the-world excursion! His Nazi submarine career started in November 1939 and this book contains many stories of his wartime service in the Atlantic and missions against the British and American fleets, including Operation Paukenschlag (Drumbeat).
There are many photos of Captain Hardegen ‘in action’ as well as Hardegen receiving his Knight’s Cross from Admiral Dönitz in 1942. He was the youngest recipient of the Ritterkreuz. Another picture shows Hardegen clean-shaven shaking hands with Adolf Hitler on the days he received his Oak Leaves.
Many of the photos were taken by war photographers Meisinger and Tölle who spent time on board Hardegen’s U-Boote, and are not usually found elsewhere. There are also images by Presse-Illustrationen Heinrich Hoffmann, UfA as well as other Marine-Kriegsberichterstatter.
Many of the photos were taken by war photographers Meisinger and Tölle who spent time on board Hardegen’s U-Boote, and are not usually found elsewhere. There are also images by Presse-Illustrationen Heinrich Hoffmann, UfA as well as other Marine-Kriegsberichterstatter.
Also for sale on USMBOOKS.com, an illustrated World War II publication on the Nazi U-Boot, 1939 plans for a floatable motorized U-Boot model and a Nazi publication on English and French naval ships subtitled "and the enemy and neutral commercial ships sunk so far". We are happy to combine shipping of multiple purchases!
USM book #1403 |
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In his foreword Hardegen explains he wrote this book not only to commemorate the deeds of his brave crews, but also for the German people and especially the German youth. He hoped it would spark their interest in Germany's important naval standing in the world and give them a realistic idea about experiences of submarine crews in the Atlantic. He also hoped it would create future generations that would, as he wrote, want to participate in the “decisive war to break Anglo-American naval supremacy and to create a free Europe.”
MAN THE BATTLE STATIONS!
1943 NAZI BOOK ABOUT SUBMARINE MISSIONS AGAINST ENGLAND AND THE USA BY KNIGHT’S CROSS RECIPIENT REINHARD HARDEGEN
