Inside the Mind of a U-Boat Commander

Title: Diary of a U-Boat Commander Author: Stephen King-Hall Librivox Audiobook app Read by Mark F Smith (5 hr 21 min) This book is a fictionalized memoir presented as the diary of a young German naval officer during World War I. The narrative follows Lieutenant Karl von Schenk, an aristocratic and idealistic officer who joins the German Imperial Navy and is eventually placed in command of a U-boat. Through his diary entries, Schenk records his journey from eager patriotism to the grim realities of submarine warfare. Initially thrilled by the prestige and excitement of serving in the navy, he becomes disillusioned by the moral complexities and brutal consequences of war. As he undertakes dangerous missions in the North Sea and the Atlantic, he witnesses the suffering inflicted on enemy sailors and civilians, including the sinking of merchant and passenger ships. The story delves into the psychological strain faced by U-boat crews, the loneliness of command, and the inner co...