Hitler's U-Boat Fortresses

(Hardback)

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The French naval bases at St. Nazaire and Lorient, occupied by the Germans in June 1940, quickly became the homes of massive U-boat fortressesnearly indestructible submarine pens, built by mostly slave labor. The Royal Air Force began an all-out bombardment of the two ports. Despite their extensive effortsand those of the Americans who joined them in 1942the fortresses would survive, surrounded by the decimated French towns and countryside. This is the story of what was, perhaps, the longest ongoing battle in Europe during the Second World War, seen through the eyes of someone who experienced much of it firsthand. The desperate battle was waged on land, air, and sea. Because the dock at St. Nazaire could house and repair Hitler's powerful warship Tirpitz, British commandos carried out a daring raid to destroy it in March of 1942. They succeeded, but with great loss of life. The defenses of these fortresses were so strong that Eisenhower would ultimately decide to seek containment rather than destruction. The 66th Division, on its way to take up the task, lost its troopship Leopoldville to a German torpedo, with a loss of 802 men. The French underground movement in the area spawned a fighting force of 40,000 men to fight alongside the Americans, but the subsequent German reprisals would ultimately destroy many families in Brittany. Yet the bases stood, and continue to stand today.

Reviews

"A compelling account of the people and events at Lorient and St. Nazaire that recounts the German invasion, nearly five years of occupation and Allied bombardment, and finally liberation after the German surrender. Of importance to all readers of World War II and military history, this book is a must read especially for those interested in the U-boat war."-James P. Duffy author of Hitler's Secret Pirate Fleet
"A solid, informative and interesting recounting of the defeat of the Nazi armies. While detailing the efforts of the Allies to seize the headquarters of Hitler's submarine fleet, Bradham also provides fascinating individual anecdotes of the courage exhibited by American soldiers."-Ed Koch former mayor of New York City
"Randy Bradham did a great service by writing this book. Many of our colleagues from World War II are not around anymore, and for this veteran to step back and relate what happened 60 years ago is a most unexpected gift to our nation. I know veterans will want to read this; but I hope all Americans, especially the children, will read it so they understand the sacrifices their grandparents made so that future generations can enjoy the freedoms on which our country was founded."-Senator Ernest F. Hollings D-South Carolina
Bradham's Hitler's U-Boat Fortresses suggests new areas of research. The story of the defeat of the U-boat menace in World War II is about more than cracking codes, introducing carrier-based aircraft, and developing improved anti-submarine warfare technologies, but also includes the war against U-boat ports with the attendant "collateral" damage to civilians.-H-German
"Bradham's Hitler's U-Boat Fortresses suggests new areas of research. The story of the defeat of the U-boat menace in World War II is about more than cracking codes, introducing carrier-based aircraft, and developing improved anti-submarine warfare technologies, but also includes the war against U-boat ports with the attendant "collateral" damage to civilians."-H-German

Author Bio

RANDOLPH BRADHAM is a retired thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon who practiced in Charleston, South Carolina, for 40 years. Formerly a staff-sergeant squad leader in Company E, 262nd Regiment, 66th Infantry Division, he fought in Brittany against the Germans contained in St. Nazaire and Lorient.