The German Submarine Wolfpack in the Indian and Pacific Ocean: the Monsun Gruppe

During the initial stages of the war, there was some talk among Kriegsmarine admirals to send a flotilla of U-boats to the Indian Ocean. Although it would be an addition to have manpower there and disrupt Allied supply lines, nobody considered it a feasible mission. U-boats were challenging to resupply, the Germans didn’t exactly have an abundance of them, and there was an intensifying war waging in the North Atlantic Ocean. Because sending a squadron of U-boats to the Indian Ocean suffered so many logistical issues, commanders decided to hold off from doing so.
Although there wasn’t very intensive contact between Japan and Germany, the communication they did have consisted of cargo boats transporting goods between the two powers. Japan suffered from notorious resource problems and a technological disadvantage compared to their main adversary, the United States. Meanwhile, the German war machine required resources available to Japan, such as tungsten, quinine and rubber. Regardless of the occasional cargo shipments, Germany and Japan never managed to establish a stable logistical naval connection.
Consider supporting HoH:
►Join this channel to get access to perks:
/ @hoh
►Patreon: / houseofhistory
►Paypal: www.paypal.me/HouseofHistory
►Check out my blog: www.houseofhistory.co
►My blog: www.HouseofHistory.co
►My Twitter: / oscar_hoh
My videos tend to get arbitrarily demonetized. That is why I decided to open up a Patreon where people can support the channel. If you decide to pledge as little as 1$/month you will gain access to a monthly series exclusive to my Patrons!
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:25 Early Maritime Connections
6:13 The Monsun Gruppe
10:22 End of the War
Watch my documentary series:
►History of Prussia playlist: • History of Prussia
►End of Empire - Downfall of the Qing Dynasty playlist: • End of Empire - China'...
►World War 2 playlist: • World War 2
►Hitler's Spies playlist: • Hitler's Spies
The content of this video covers events, people or concepts via a lecture-style presentation that is educational and historical in nature. Every video is original content by House of History. The events relating to conflict in this video are portrayed in their historical context without either value judgment or an ideological message attached to it. There is no intent to shock, upset or disgust. The goal of my channel is to make interesting lecture-style videos, no more, no less.
There were several upsides a base near the Pacific theatre would have for the Germans. Due to the losses both on land and sea Germany could benefit from an overseas port and supply line. Not to mention that due to Operation Barbarossa contact with their Japanese allies was hindered even further. And the Pacific theatre wasn’t too hindered by submarine warfare so that the Allied cargo convoys wouldn’t be protected to the degree they were in the Atlantic Ocean. Some surprise strikes by weaponised transport submarines could very well help the German war effort and would undoubtedly do more damage than it would in the Atlantic Ocean.
Dönitz considered using submarines for transport to and from Japan, using their stealth to evade Allied squadrons on their way. Initially, this idea was given the green light, but due to heavy losses of submarines in subsequent battles in the North Atlantic Ocean, the plan was put on hold. By this point, the tide of war turned against Germany, both on land as the Germans lost the Battle of Stalingrad by February 1943, but also on the sea, with the Kriegsmarine losing dozens of submarines every month. In turn, German commanders decided it would be foolish to use their valuable submarines for transport.
Thank you for taking the time to check out House of History, I hope you will find the films informative, interesting and enjoyable!
If you have any feedback, questions or criticism feel free to leave a comment. Your opinion truly aids me in improving the content of the channel! If you have a question, feel free to leave a comment and I will either write a reply, answer your question in a Q&A video, or make an entire video about it!
Sources:
Town, C. (2019). Gruppe Monsun-The U-Boat operations in the Indian and Pacific Oceans during World War II. World War II, 1.
Worthen, Dennis B. "The national quinine pool: when quinine went to war." Pharmacy in history 38, no. 3 (1996): 143-147.
www.uboataces.com/articles-far...
uboat.net/ops/monsun.htm
uboat.net/allies/merchants/sh...
Written by House of History
Photos, paintings and imagery: Public Domain, Wikicommons
#HouseofHistory #History #WW2

[@canthama2703]

Oscar, had no idea of this effort by the Germans in WWII, thank you for sharing it.

[@HMH901]

A little fun fact, after german surrender some of the monsoon grup member joined Indonesian rebel at that time fighting for their independence, some of the member train them in signal communication, physical fitness, even making improvised weapon. You can visit some of monsoon group member graves in Bogor City, West Java, source : historia.id/politik/articles/tentara-jerman-dalam-perang-kemerdekaan-indonesia-v54jp it's in indonesian sadly

[@lisasmith516]

WoW, so much "unofficially recognized Historical data!" Thank you very much, Sir.😄

[@nilsjurgensen1894]

12 years ago i had a neighbor who was a radiooperator at the tanker "Charlotte Schliemann" witch was a tendership for the monsun group. They where sunk by HMS Relentless in february '44 . After 23 Days of being shipwrecked they where rescued by a british warship at the eastern coast of africa and become a POW for the rest of WW2. He told me a lot of storys about his wartime, sadly he passed away 5 years ago at the age of 96.

[@alexflett4395]

My father was torpedoed by U198 in April 43 40 nautical miles off Durban and handed over to the Japanese in Java a month later. The sub went on to sink three other ships while he was a prisoner on board. He persuaded the sub skipper to radio home and ask to bring this prisoners home with them to Germany. This was the first the Allies knew that there were U boats in the Indian ocean.

[@zhubajie6940]

I enjoy when history KZbin Channels look more closely at the IBC theater. There's so little out there as many documentaries just go on about the Atlantic and Pacific theaters.

[@barbarossa1983]

Glad I found this channel,excellent 👍

[@HoH]

Thanks and welcome!

[@kangmw94]

Good Channel!! 😎😎👍👍

[@ericmcquiston9473]

What a story about a chapter of WW 2 I’ve never heard about. Great video !

[@joshuariddensdale2126]

The Monsun Gruppe is also a DLC campaign in Silent Hunter 4: Wolves Of The Pacific. That was actually my first time hearing about the U-Boats operating in the Pacific.

[@Aeyekay0]

Like the blooper at the end lol

[@mbryson2899]

Good video! Also, thank you for putting captions on the photographs.

[@aidensanders2534]

Another fantastic video Oscar!

[@HoH]

Glad you like them!

[@NeilTheHippy]

Uber ......Was expecting to see a flotilla of private taxis 🤔🤣🤣🤣

[@hojoj.1974]

I enjoy learning new data from this era. Thank you.

[@Vegas_Des]

Cool blazer bro! Great video

[@Sociologist66]

Excellent video... Congratulations !!!!

[@Wilson2005WAW]

As a Malaysian, I never knew this U-Boat was in Penang before, thank you for sharing this out.

[@i-am-your-conscience]

They even had a base of operations there. The commander of the base name was Grützmacher. The "boss of the south" Wilhelm Dommes was in command for all german uboat operations in all of southeast asia, the indian ocean and beyond. There is a lot of information about persons and boats and all sources speak of a real operations base they had there, but I didnt found information on where they had it on Penang. Maybe there are malaysian sources about it? If you know something - this would a super interesting for my youtube documentary I wanted to do while having vacation in Malaysia once it reopens for tourists.

[@Wilson2005WAW]

@@i-am-your-conscience I see, I might try to look for it.

[@GDDX_jibster]

It did come out in our local newspaper in a small article a few years back, apparently the base in penang is still intact, not fully though

[@Wilson2005WAW]

@@GDDX_jibster ooh interesting.

[@perpetualgrin5804]

They went there for the food, best in the world ? Lol

[@garykubodera9528]

Hi again Oscar. Another great episode! I wonder if you ever thought of doing a segment on the history and treatment of battlefield medicine? Might be a good topic considering how different many wounded soldiers have been treated over the centuries.. Just a thought to consider! Thanks again for taking the time to respond to my postings. You and your family stay safe and healthy and enjoy the New Year! 👍🤘😷

[@glenmartin2437]

Thank you. I had heard of German U-Boats in the Pacific. Thanks for the video. Seems like a futile effort.

[@theitalianliner1726]

Wonderfully interesting topic. You might also be interested in further elaborating on talian navy seals’ cover ops on Gibraltar&Costa del Sol or subs operating in the Atlantic from Bordeaux and Brest. Great work as usually.

[@xvsj-s2x]

Happy New Years and enjoy your research 👍 Thank you for sharing

[@HoH]

Happy new year!

[@Jasona1976]

Great and new information....your videos are excellent and very well done!!

[@furyrussian8663]

Looking Smart Mate

[@Maarten-y8h]

Great channel. Could you do a video on foreign SS divisions such as SS Flandern Langemarck and SS Niederlande ? So little footage and info available on these volunteers and their war effort.

[@franktaeterUSA]

Legíon Wallonie!!

[@christdiedforoursins1467]

Thanks so much for the link that was( Awesome as one ad sang) I can't imagine being under the sea like that ,Thank you for the diagram cross section ,it also made me think kept the KRI Nanggala that sank recently with its crew ,it was so sad to see them sing for thier familes knowing they were going to die . Amazingly brave people go in submarines.The South Africa jnfo was also very interesting.i appreciate it.💭The screws😆

[@HoH]

Glad you enjoyed! And yes, that submarine accident was incredibly tragic indeed..

[@tombogan03884]

Regardless of anything else, it is a tribute to the sailors who did it.

[@tinkmarshino]

Well done what about the siege of Lille in 1940.. that lead to the amazing beach retreat at Dunkirk? or maybe the battle of Scheldt 1944 in the recapture of Antwerp? those are a couple right off my head that we do not hear a lot about.. Dang I am so old I probably didn't even spell them right.. Just a thought.. I enjoy your program immensely thanks very much!!

[@jimmyshrimbe9361]

Your accent reminds me of Werner Herzog.

[@QuizmasterLaw]

German + Irish.

[@bruceparr1678]

I agree. His story telling is excellent and that soothing accent just makes it better.

[@mbathroom1]

Let me guess, that's German for the monsoon group. Also happy new years and I'm escoted to ser your new videos for this year

[@TheOldTeddy]

As I've come to expect, outstanding.The lack of pontification is refreshing.

[@stevefreeland9255]

Such an interesting story.

[@JenniferinIllinois]

Thank you for the New Years blooper. Hehehe...

[@Sociologist66]

Bitte, I would liked you produced a video about the SMS Emden and it's campaign on the Indian Ocean at the beginning of 1914.

[@hughsmith4464]

I would like to hear about the Merchent Raiders.

[@HoH]

Hi Hugh, this certainly is a topic I would like to cover in the future. Thank you for the recommendation.

[@AngloFrancoDane]

Minor correction at 5:49, the Moçambique channel is between Mocambique and Madagascar, not Gibraltar.

[@HoH]

You're completely right. What a silly mistake, no idea how I let that slip through! Thanks for pointing it out.

[@theodorossarafis7370]

nice video. any plans for US and Japanese submarines in WWII in the pacific theater? it is a less known theater for submarines thank you

[@bikerleo1966]

Great history. Can you do one on the german attacks on the Australian mainland . A german sub was spotted near Tasmania ? Which sub was that ?

[@alswann2702]

Can you report on Axis use of Madagascar and Spain as a naval bases? Thanks.

[@amaccama3267]

Happy new year to all at HoH

[@HoH]

Happy new year to you too!

[@ravarga4631]

Gibralter is nowhere near the mozambique channel, did you mean cape of good hope? Dar es salaam?

[@peterrasmussen6720]

HoH, The Allies had to establish anti-submarine measures in the Atlantic Ocean. This took a lot of navy and air resources away from the Atlantic and Pacific. Establishment of convoys is a victory for u-boats as crazy as it sounds. As a convoy is no faster that the slowest ship and takes time to form and disband, convoys with one strike take out about 25 % of the available shipping. A big, big victory. If you factor this in how does the cost-benefit then look?

[@sean_d]

Glad I found your channel. Could I ask you to comment on a story I heard from an old man? About 20 years ago I met a man in Dublin who had been in the IRA in the 40s (a residual splinter-group at that time) and was their radio operator for contact with the Nazis seeking support & cooperation against Britain. He said on one occasion he was in communication with a U-boat in the Irish Sea off Co. Wicklow and his self-taught Morse was so bad and with a coded message each letter was vital, that his constant requests for a repeat of a group of letters kept it on the surface so long the Irish Navy arrested it and impounded it. The crew were interned and the De Valera government allowed Germany send another crew to take it away. He further said he was interned himself later in the Curragh Camp and was able to speak to the Germans in the next compound and discovered the crew were pleased to be interned. I have never heard of any such U-boat capture, and I know there was tight censorship then but can't imagine such a secret lasting. Also I suspect secret cooperation with the Allies would have been more likely. The guy did not seem to be spinning a yarn, but it does sound very unlikely. Have you any thoughts on it? Or anybody else? Thanks in advance.

[@furyrussian8663]

This is a comment for the youtube algorithm to see it.

[@charlesfrancis6925]

The U boats were the only part of the Wehrmacht which took part in action throughout the World.

[@theophrastusbombastus8019]

If italian submarines weren't suited for modern war why Germans lost 783 of them and the Italian only 17? Checkmate Kriegsmarine.

[@QuizmasterLaw]

Italian fleet boats were used for transit rather than combat and Italy left the war in 1943.

[@theophrastusbombastus8019]

@@QuizmasterLaw I was joking. Also I think the big difference in deployed numbers could be part of the problem.

[@lisasmith516]

@@QuizmasterLaw I thought it was a case of preserving those fine Italian leather submarine fittings. Jk2! I'd have said "Corinthian Leather," but it wouldn't have gone over, except OVER "Heads." L.R.R.

[@QuizmasterLaw]

@@lisasmith516 The Italian boats at BETASOM did in fact operate but it was quickly understood that though they did have good range and sea-keeping they were even worse than type IXs in combat - slower diving time, less diving depth. At that point they became used as freighters. There's not much information about their use as blockade runners, unfortunately.

[@BA-gn3qb]

Narrator programed the Birthing Droids on Star Wars. Uba. Uuuba.

[@lisasmith516]

Wha?

[@BA-gn3qb]

@@lisasmith516 - He sounds the the droid that helped the birth of Luke and Leah Skywalker.

[@voltairechiong3111]

YOUR LYRICS ????????????? ,,,... martin ,,,...matin ,,,.. martin ,,.. blain ,,,... blain ,,..blain ,,,..blain,,..

[@paulmcdonough1093]

tirpitz,graf spee.bismarck,sharnhorst. all sunk by the British

[@rpm1796]

HMNZS Achilles was there in the thick against the Graf Spee.

[@RomanWasHere-]

Clearly, you don't know about the Monsun Gruppe

[@beachboy0505]

Tragedy

[@michaelprobert4014]

Never " The HMS Whatever " only "HMS Whatever " the His Majesty's Ship Whatever doesn't make as much sense as His Majesty's Ship Whatever . However I doubt this bothers more than about 3 people who watch your brilliant videos ...and I say bothers but am probably over stating that even . Wink .

[@HoH]

Ha! I keep messing this up, it feels very unnatural for a non-native speaker. I really should pay attention to this because I remember your comment from a month ago pointing this out. Thanks for the comment and for keeping me sharp!

[@michaelprobert4014]

@@HoH If it is only me doing it every month goes to show how unimportant it is . Keep up the ( really ) good work .

[@alanbstard4]

would you please stop trying to pronounce names with an accent. Your aim is to be understood, and while pronouncing names with an accent may sound sophisticated, it's pointless if not understood