Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #650702 in Books
• Published on: 2005-10-20
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 256 pages

Synopsis
Oskar Heinz Kusch, joined the German Navy in 1937. He worked his way successfully through naval college and volunteered for duty in U boats. During this period the underwater service was causing havoc to Allied shipping in the Atlantic and was regarded as an elite force. To the amazement of the court, orders were given that Kusch was to be shot.

Customer Reviews

A tale of intrigue and treachery on board a U-Boat.
Oskar Heinz Kusch is not a name that springs readily to mind when discussing the various U-Boat commanders of WW2. This was a man who joined the German Navy in 1937 and eventually volunteered for the U-Boat arm. His subsequent service - before and during the war itself, was nothing short of exemplary, something which was later supported by every one of his previous commanding officers.

At a time when people were promoted to responsible positions when still very young, it was inevitable that such an able submarine officer as Kusch would be given his first command. Unfortunately for him, before his second operational patrol, three new junior officers who were died-in-the-wool Nazis were assigned to his ship. The resultant patrol was not the most successful and this unscrupulous gang of three hatched a plan to discredit their commanding officer by accusing him of treason. As a result, Kusch was sent for trial and it was a trial where the outcome was already a forgone conclusion.

Peter Hansen served on U-Boats during this period and actually met Kusch and the three Nazis in question. He later spent many years researching this incredible story in order to reveal how Kusch was innocent. Not only has this author provided those with an interest in the U-Boat war of WW2 with the details of a little-known event, he has also completed a most worthwhile job of work.

Altogether a fascinating yet tragic story and well worth reading.

NM