Type XXI Elektroboot - The Electric U-Boat

Conventional U-boat submarines had been the backbone of the Kriegsmarine during the early stages of World War 2. Still, as allies developed more prominent and more powerful fleets, the outdated German submarines drastically lost the battle.
Karl Donitz, the supreme commander of the Kriegsmarine, knew that if they didn’t attain maritime supremacy in the Atlantic, Germany would lose the war: “Only a U-boat which no longer needed to surface in order to recharge batteries and which had both high speed and long endurance under water could improve our prospects in the battle ahead.”
Donitz’s words were more than wishful thinking. By 1942, the unprecedented submarine he described was already being developed with the utmost urgency, and Hitler himself overviewed the development.
The Type XXI Submarine became a Nazi wonder weapon developed in the latter stages of World War 2, one of only a few infamous Wunderwaffes actually built.
It is also credited as the first real submarine in history, as previous U-boats were designed to submerge only during short periods and had to resurface constantly to recharge their batteries, making them easy targets for allied war efforts and considered mostly as submersible ships.
In contrast, Type XXI was the first vessel in the world that could stay underwater indefinitely while reaching unparalleled depths, revolutionizing the way submarines were developed from then on.
The submarine came in the heels of subsequent allied victories in the Atlantic, and Donitz hoped for a massive overturn based entirely on the deployment of the mighty Type XXI submarine.
It was now a race against the clock and the only shot the Nazis had at winning the war...

[@woollygoat8921]

My great-uncle Wolfgang was XO of U-616, and Captain of U-37 and U-3047. On U-37, he trained these newly recruited crews while performing research and development trials of the XXI tower and snorkels. U-3047 was one of the few Type XXI actually built, and it was being loaded and prepared to depart when it was destroyed in its submarine pen by an Allied bombing raid on the AG Weser, Bremen shipyard on 30 March, 1945, the day before its patrol. As the last U-Boat Ace, Karl Dönitz gave him command of the flotilla: at 26 years old, he was the German Navy's final chance to "win" the war. After the loss of the Type XXI fleet, my great-uncle was assigned as a post officer on Dönitz's staff. One month later, Adolf Hitler shot himself and Dönitz became the head of state who officially surrendered to the Allied powers on 7 May, 1945. Wolfgang was one of the officers in the room when Germany unconditionally surrendered, and (after a period as a British POW) he lived peacefully until his death in 1987 at sixty-nine years old. If not for that Allied bombing attack, he would have very likely joined the thousands of other young German submariners in an iron coffin at the bottom of the sea.

[@obiwankenobi4859]

I just have to point out that the vessel in the thumbnail is a museum in my home town of Bremerhaven, Germany... It is very interesting to wander through the hull of the ship and I can only recommend a visit.

[@HerrKurt]

German genius

[@noahpauly8766]

I also visited that one once. I recomend keeping your head low if you enter the engine area. smacked my head on a lowhanging pipe right behind the Bulkhead.

[@dreamingflurry2729]

The Willhelm Bauer - right? (Note: Fellow German here - but a land lubber from Bavaria :D)

[@noahpauly8766]

@@dreamingflurry2729 Ich erinnere mich dass das U-boot ein Nachbau oder ein Restaurierungsprojekt einer Uni ist. XXIV-klasse U-boot. Zu dem Namen des Boots weiß ich nichts. Ist fast 12 Jahre her das ich da war.

[@obiwankenobi4859]

@@dreamingflurry2729 Ja U-Boot Willhelm Bauer

[@jeffaddis5715]

I dove the Type XXI U-2513 in 2012. The US Navy had her in service for awhile until her obsolescence dictated that she be sunk has a target. she lies in about 215 ft of water west of Key West, Florida. when i dove her, she was relatively intact with some live ordinance from the sinking around her. i was able to penetrate somewhat inside her but was blocked by an obstruction. very cool dive and a wonderful piece of history to personally share for this WWII history buff

[@godlugner5327]

See, when you said I dove the Type-21 submarine I was not thinking SCUBA 😂

[@enoughothis]

The Type XXI doesn't get nearly enough credit. In it's capabilities and the design of it's hull, it was the forerunner of all modern submarines and truly the first of them.

[@tswims92]

The modern submarine hull is the Albacore or Teardrop hull. Which was an American design first seen with the USS Albacore. The Type XXI had a lot of long reaching influences, but the modern hull design was not one of them. Granted now it seems hull designs are changing again and becoming more angled to deflect active sonar better, like the Astute Class.

[@gustaveliasson5395]

@@tswims92 The modern submarine hull is the Ictineo II or Teardeop hull. /s

[@gustaveliasson5395]

It's sleek, but it's still got that knife-like bow and stern. The telescopic snorkel and semi-automated torpedo loading system were neat when they worked, but the japanese No.71 and I-201 series beats it hands-down for submerged speed, and basically all of the US Fleet Subs are superior in terms of crew comfort and provisions for long patrols while also having a torpedo computer that could (in theory) draw firing solutions from sonar bearings alone. The Type 21 could've been a decent submarine, but it suffered from being preceeded by the Type 7 and 9 that were "good enough" that further conceptual improvements were seen as unnecessary. On top of that, a high transit speed from the base to the operational area was necessary, something unachievable whilst submerged. While it can be entertaining to imagine, there's no possible universe where Germany designs a "true" submarine knowing that they'll spend the first years of the next war driving it around lile a WWI-style diving torpedo-boat while they wait for the technology that will necessitate the submarine's development in the first place to enter service so that the superior underwatee performance actually becomes useful. As far as late-war last-ditch efforts go, a better choice would've been the XXIX-H design because of its simpler construction, though such a simple vessel probably wouldn't manage to capture the stereotypical "german overengineering"-feel quite as well as the failed super-sub they actually got.

[@tswims92]

@@gustaveliasson5395 Haha you got me there, it was the Spanish Empire who invented the Albacore hull, which really should be called the Ictineo II Hull! Doesn’t have as good of a ring to it though.

[@apveening]

@@gustaveliasson5395 You are making the mistake of comparing the 1945 U-boot XXI with US Fleet subs of 30+ years later. The 1945 US Fleet subs were fastly inferior to the German U-boots.

[@VTPSTTU]

I don't believe that earlier development would have changed the outcome, but earlier development could have made Allied victory much more difficult.

[@ericmcquisten]

Agreed. The USA alone was out-producing all the rest of the countries of the world, combined. Soon as the USA got directly involved in the war, the Axis powers had already lost. No matter what technological edge you have, you simply cannot win, if the other side can produce more in one minute, then you can in a month.

[@Ratelau]

Germany lost the war when they invaded Russia.

[@Harte74]

@@Ratelau Nope

[@carlosrivas1629]

@@Harte74 Yes and why people want the nazis to win?

[@Harte74]

@@carlosrivas1629 That's just a lot of BS. I'm cerainly happy, that Germany didn't win the war.

[@danielmocsny5066]

In the real timeline, the Allies won the Battle of the Atlantic in May, 1943, through a combination of factors including technology improvements (HF/DF, 10 cm radar, homing torpedoes, hedgehog, codebreaking, long-ranged patrol aircraft, improved sonar, etc.) and increased numbers of anti-submarine warships (destroyers, destroyer escorts, corvettes, escort aircraft carriers, etc.). The Type XXI submarine might have given Germany at least a temporary edge, but the Allies had shown themselves able to counter the previous German advantages. Recall that at the beginning of the war, the German u-boats were highly successful despite being mere submersibles rather than true submarines. The initial success of the u-boats would thus delay the development of better submarines. This success continued right through the first quarter of 1943, until a drastic shift in the Allies' favor in May, 1943. By the time the need for the Type XXI had become obvious to the German leadership i.e. Hitler, the Allies had accumulated so many advantages that they probably could have countered the Type XXI with further development. Also note that the Allies did not necessarily have to sink German u-boats - they just had to stop them from attacking convoys. The goal was to get convoys across the Atlantic, and sinking the u-boats was only one possible means to that end - merely driving them off would have also worked. The Type XXI may have been better able to escape destruction, but when it's running away and hiding, it's not sinking cargo ships. For example, its ability to dive deep would have been great for its own survivability, but it couldn't disrupt convoys from 1000 feet down. Thus the relevant features of the Type XXI would have been those that enabled it to locate and intercept convoys, slip through the convoy defenses, get up to periscope depth, and launch torpedoes at merchant ships. This was all getting harder throughout 1943 as the Allies increased the number of anti-submarine ships and aircraft, and estalished hunter-killer groups to roam independently of the convoys. The video mentions problems with construction and quality control. These would likely have limited the Type XXI's effectiveness. As with the other Nazi wonder weapons, it was an issue of too little, too late. Had Hitler been able to see into the future, he would have anticipated the Allied victory over the u-boats and sped the development of the Type XXI long before it became necessary, so it would be ready in numbers while there was still war left to fight. But ultimately nothing would have mattered because the Americans had a wonder weapon of their own - the atomic bomb. Even if German submarines could have starved Britain out of the war, the USA could eventually have struck back with very long range bombers dropping nukes on Germany, flying all the way across the Atlantic if necessary, and then either flying all the way back home, or just landing in a neutral country to be interned. A single atomic bomb could do so much damage that it would be worth donating some bombers and crews to Switzerland after the drop. Given that it only took two atomic bombs to persuade the fanatical, suicidal Japanese to surrender, the relatively more reasonable Germans probably would have given up as well. The psychological effect of a single airplane destroying an entire city is just too much.

[@jaybee9269]

“Relatively reasonable;” all is relative.

[@Howie262]

The atomic bomb debate gets really old because no one talks about the stock piles of sarin gas the Germans have a monopoly on. Everyone knows Adolf was strictly against using chemical weapons but Dropping an atom bomb on a German city might have been a stupid way to have London breath in liquid Bell’s palsy. You should check out US army chemical Corps testing of Nerve Gas copied from the Germans. Cheers!

[@fritzfieldwrangle-clouder7299]

@@Howie262 What difference would that make to America's position? They would just bomb Germany even more.

[@fritzfieldwrangle-clouder7299]

@@Koshiro2k3 I've made no comment on U-boat survivability, so I won't comment further on that. As to the rest, the idea that once America was brought into the war against Germany they would have been deterred from continuing by gas attacks on London is fanciful. And the idea that they would be deterred from completing the job because the Nazis tortured a US aircrew is absurd. More likely is that it would driven the Americans to even greater efforts given that Nazis did anyway have a vast part of the population of Western Europe as hostage and the Americans weren't deterred and also given that to leave the Nazis in power would be to leave a massive ally to America's enemy in the east.

[@lelsewherelelsewhere9435]

I agree the allies still would have won, but you downplay how little was making it though the convoys during the so called "happy time". But yeah, even the best subs wouldn't matter if you don't have enough of them, can't use them effectively, can't support or fuel them, have their locations cracked, etc. etc. Though the nuke's weren't thought of as we may all think. Many axis generals viewed them as just "well now they can do in 1 day what used to take 7... no big deal...". Dresden, frankfurt, Tokyo... the only difference is just 1 day vs a few. Though if we had to get them without the island carrier of Britain, maybe that would make a difference. Idk. Thank God we never had to find out!

[@mikereinhardt4807]

"IF" is a pretty big word considering it's only two letters. I remember what my platoon Sargent said "If crickets had 45s chickens wouldn't mess with them. Only he didn't say mess. The fact of the matter is the allies wouldn't have just rolled over but found someway, either tactics or counter weaponry to continue the fight. It may have delayed the final outcome but the results would have been the same. When Hitler invaded Russia they lost the war.

[@hrunchtayt1587]

This man here spittin’ hard historical facts

[@k3D4rsi554maq]

Are the Allies(the greatest generation) happy with their "victory"?

[@brucewilson77]

Well it depends on how early . These boats would have in 1940 would have brought Britain to terms . Remember Churchill only just won the argument to continue after Dunkirk . The presence of a Nazi super sub sinking the merchant fleet would definitely changed things. This almost happened with the type 7s .

[@hrunchtayt1587]

@F. Friedrich Kling Hauss Cope.

[@spyran5839]

@F. Friedrich Kling Hauss Even if the Germans somehow managed to beat the Russians, they would have lost many experienced men and important equipment. Long term the allies would have won after the USA joined the war, but it would have taken far longer. The type XXI is still undoubtedly the best Submarine of the war.

[@SueDoeNimh]

The 300 standard U-boats Doenitz wanted to start the war with would have been more useful. That many U-boats during Happy Time would have raised some serious trouble. I don't think England would have cracked, but the price would have been horrendous.

[@robertsears8323]

Had stupid ass hitler just done what Doenitz wanted and waited till 45 to start the war with all the U-boats he asked for and NO big battleships then I think sadly Germany would have won the war.

[@jackt6112]

Of course the problem with that scenario is the main Allies had started ramping up big time after Germany and Japan did, and before the war started.

[@scratchy996]

@@robertsears8323 By '45 the whole of Europe would have spoken Russian.

[@glorgau]

The Germans never had the resources to make everything on all their wish lists. Economically, they were constantly teetering on the edge of calamity in one thing or the other. The amazing thing is that they were able to do as well as they did.

[@SueDoeNimh]

@@glorgau full agreement but Reader could have given him more if he wasn't so obsessed with building giant targets for the Allies

[@davidford694]

The British built an experimental version of the hydrogen peroxide submarine after the war. It was HMS Explorer. But in the service it had another name, "HMS Exploder". Hydrogen Peroxide is a very dangerous substance. Perhaps this wonder weapon would not be as dangerous as supposed.

[@timjohnun4297]

HTP was what sunk the Kursk, after all...

[@drewblackmatter6669]

@@timjohnun4297 🤔❓

[@timjohnun4297]

@@drewblackmatter6669 The Kursk was sunk by an explosion caused by hydrogen peroxide torpedo fuel

[@andypappy945]

so the West ssys

[@timjohnun4297]

@@andypappy945 So does Russia, actually. If you have any evidence that says otherwise, please feel free to post a link....

[@georgetirebiter4343]

At the end of the war, in my mom's home town, they were shipping off old men to battle. On the train, they hung a sign "Wir alten Affen sind die neuen Waffen.." -We old apes are the new weapons.

[@stevepodleski]

the germans lost the war at sea when they lost the secret of enigma. The breaking of this code which gave the Allies the locations of Uboats was the main factor for large Uboat losses. No technological submarine advance could overcome that loss.

[@Raptorman0909]

By late 1943 Germany was already beaten, they put up a good fight till near the end but by late 1943, even if the Atlantic were closed off, Russia would still have been able to push Germany back and destroy them. Even with the type XX1 in numbers the Brits, Canadians and USA had developed long range aircraft with radar and the Germans would not have enjoyed command of the sea as they had at the beginning of the war. By 1943 Germany had bit off more than it could chew and the Russians had repositioned there manufacturing to be out of reach of the Germans. But, late 1943 wasn't the end, that came in 1945, but in truth, the end came on 22 Jun 1941 when Germany launch Operation Barbarossa -- the decision to open a second front doomed Germany.

[@coleparker]

I respectfully disagree with your Russian assessment in that Germany compounded the error to the nth degree when he declared war on the USA. Not only were more troops added to the fight, but also the entire industrial might and production which produced weapons and other vital materials not only to the western allies but also the Russians.

[@Raptorman0909]

@@coleparker -- Well yeah, adding more combatants isn't wise. However, the US industrial might was being used long before we officially entered the war!

[@coleparker]

@@Raptorman0909 Yes I know with the lend lease act. However, after the Germans declared war on us, the amount of direct military aid doubled, and the Germans not only had to fight the British and Canadian Navies but also the US Navy.

[@KA-jm2cz]

Soviets were edge of destruction so I can't agree that. No one could know it better at that time. Trying to take almost the whole world is still madness and going east was really catastrophic. Still it was possible.

[@chrisbutcher5179]

Much better cooperation between the allies unlike the tripartite lot the Japanese let the Germans down by not attacking Russia so allowing valuable reinforcements to be sent to Stalingrad. Too many cooks spoiling the broth 🇩🇪 🇯🇵 🇮🇹 as opposed to many hands making light work 🇺🇸🇬🇧 🇷🇺

[@HamiltonStandard]

In every U-Boat sim i have ever played, it was fun until it was not... The hedgehog rained hell. The flying boat, even at night, rained hell. By 1944 any boat coming to periscope depth and detected was toast...

[@iainbagnall4825]

The fact that it is considered massively safer to put a nuclear reactor on a sub than it is to use high test peroxode tells you what you need to know about the safety of using htp for air independent propulsion

[@theproudicelander]

A functioning well designed reactor is just about the safest mode of self contained underwater propulsion there is…

[@alanwilkin8869]

My father served on HMS Explorer one of two HTP fuelled subs built in the 1950,s by Britain, Puff the magic dragon was explorers nickname, Sometimes the exhaust would flare flash when it surfaced.

[@Waldemarvonanhalt]

IMO I'd rather be on a nuclear powered sub than a diesel-electric with batteries. Heck, I'd rather live next to Koeberg than be in Sasolburg where all the coal powered plants are. Less radioactive.

[@iainbagnall4825]

@@Waldemarvonanhalt me too! What I mean is that even the idiots in wider society/govt know nuclear is safer than HTP. Yeah nuclear fear gives me a big sad. We could be living in an electric world powered by the fundamental forces of matter itself giving us limitless energy, energy independence, zeroish carbon and nice clean air and water but oooohhhh no suburban moms cant do math and wont someone please think of the children.

[@typxxilps]

Hindsight wisdom for an era where nuclear bomb nor power did not exist.

[@jerrygordon8159]

The one thing Churchill feared was the U-boats, this boat must have given him nightmares, awesome story Doc.

[@daibando65]

Yes the British Porpoise and Oberon class submarines were based on the type 21 and were some of the best conventional submarines produced after WW2

[@livingood1049]

But were they built by Ford Motor Company?

[@ANZAC1915]

@@livingood1049 Porpoises and Oberons were built in the UK - what part are you suggesting did Ford have?

[@kafakafaa3950]

A russian once told me that russian navy had one looted german type 21 boat in active duty until the year 2000 but i am not 100% sure if that is true

[@navret1707]

@@kafakafaa3950 The Type XXI boats were the basis for the Whiskey class Soviet sub.

[@livingood1049]

@@ANZAC1915 I'm not, I have a dry sense of humor.

[@Ausf.D.A.K.]

I like the new slower voiced documentaries !

[@m.g.540]

9.50 Great to see Werner Klemperer , best known for the role of Colonel Wilhelm Klink on the CBS television sitcom Hogan's Heroes, as a U-Boat Commander.

[@Legaleze]

Well spotted!

[@louisavondart9178]

Talks about the Type XX1 but shows almost everything but the Type XX1. A few more facts. The pressure hull was constructed of steel/alumiunium alloy and all welded. This gave the Type XX1 not only low dectection rates by ASDIC but also greater hull strength. The problem was that the sections were built by different companies and when brought together for assembly it was found that they were of different SIZES and had to be reworked before being welded together. German quality control wasn't what it should have been. What if? The Kreigsmarine was at no time ever capable of winning the Battle of the Atlantic and they never came close to winning it, even during the " Happy time". Ship losses were terrible but ship building was so massive that replacements for ships lost was doubling every year. Uboot losses were getting worse every year, mostly to air attacks ( 48% ) but also to the massive numbers of corvettes in use and extensive use of mines. Those Uboots could not be replaced very quickly and neither could their experienced crews. Was the Type XX1 a good boat? The British and Americans officially looked down their noses at them but quietly incorporated most of the design details in their new submarines. The Russians captured some intact examples and many more partially built boats at Danzig. They immediately put them all into service. Says it all really.

[@davidbeattie4294]

The U-boats came very near to breaking the will of the merchant mariners who were dying at a great rate in 1941 and 42. If the Germans had been able to maintain their success well into 1943 the allies may have found themselves without the volunteer crews to man their new cargo vessels. It was a close thing.

[@buffalobill069]

I doubt there is much footage of the 21 floating about so I'm guessing he just had to fill the gaps with whatever he could from the similar era u boats.

[@simonm1447]

Germany was a pioneer in welding subs, even the older types like the 7c were welded, while Japan for example riveted their boats. They also welded bigger ships like the Prinz Eugen, a reason why the US chose the Prinz Eugen for the '46 operation crossroads nuclear under water tests

[@briananthony4044]

Another problem for the submarines was that a lot of slave labour was used to build the different sections, and they did all they could to ''make errors'' that were invisible to a cursory check, but would cause problems down the track. A mm out here, a poor weld there, etc

[@jenniferstewarts4851]

Could it have won the war? On its own, no. But if you took the Type XXI, with the acoustic homing torpedoes, and the Alberich coating, all in early 1942, in large enough numbers, maybe even scrapping the battleship programs to do so, yes. it might have changed the outcome of the war. at the same time if some of the subs were used in conjunction with other navy operations... for example, think about how many assets the brits tasked into sinking the Bizmark, now picture if Germany instead had used that to lay a trap... drawing the brittish fleets out into a large wolfpack of Uboats. ships chasing the bizmark would be forced into straight lines making them easy targets for Uboats as zig zagging would cost them time and speed.

[@gordtron]

submarine hunting must be satisfying work. crankin depth charges with the boys seems like a great day.

[@kdrapertrucker]

These days they use wire guided Torpedos more often then depth charges.

[@silversurfer3202]

Until the Hunter becomes the Hunted!!!!🤔😝😂

[@gordtron]

@@silversurfer3202 dont i know it!

[@grievousminded7517]

Setting out to kill a bunch of guys should never be considered a good time.

[@gordtron]

@@grievousminded7517 tell that to the guy trying to kill you.

[@shaider1982]

The type 21 actually had very large batteries and dispensed with the dangerous walter cycle ones. Also, u boats can stay underwater for far more than a few minutes.

[@niume7468]

True. Uboats could stay submerged for 24 hours and longer

[@joesheridan95]

@@niume7468 Yep, right. I like the Dark Documentary Channels of that guys for the subjects they choose... but not for their researching and scripting. They make such mistakes just tooo often to really be accountable as accurate documentary´s. But it´s still nice to watch.

[@rogersmith7396]

"Das Boot"

[@joesheridan95]

@@rogersmith7396 Not so much :D :D That was an older Type VII :D

[@rogersmith7396]

@@joesheridan95 But it showed how long it would take you to die inside of one. Scene where it was sunk off Gibralter. About two days.

[@mariocifuentes6929]

Awesome content! I enjoy watching all your episodes!

[@thebusybuilder4071]

if i remember right there are 3 type 21 hulls buried under a parking lot in hamburg. they used to be visible from the sea side in an old dilapidated sub pen bunker. theres photos of them online too i think. Instead of removing the hulls and properly filling the pen/ bunker they just filled in on top with gravel.

[@calvinflager4457]

All of your videos, Dark Sky and Dark Sea, are well researched and nicely presented. Probably the best on KZbin.

[@geekwithabs]

Amazing video! if the type 21 was out in use, it would have made the war a lot longer, but the outcome would've been the same

[@timeforbigchange9417]

I love the Werner Klemperer, Colonel Klink film footage from his movie. Can't remember the name of it. It was about a ghost outside his U-boat pounding on the hull. I also noticed Hilter delayed a lot of things that could have turn the tide of the war.

[@garfieldsmith332]

I believe it was an episode of the TV series One Step Beyond. In the epiloge they mentioned they found the skeleton of one of the workmen.

[@demonprinces17]

Didn't need them till started loosing then too late

[@edwardpike3386]

Yes, Klemperer played the role of a Nazi civilian that went crazy by the intermitent banging on the Hull of the sub.

[@garys2327]

He also played Gunther Prien on "The Silent Service"

[@garfieldsmith332]

@@garys2327 He also played Adolf Eichmann in the movie Operation Eichmann. John Banner (Sgt. Shultz) played Rudolf Hoss in the same film.

[@Guitar6ty]

That Submarine would have made the war last longer but the sheer production of weapons from the USA and UK was basically unbeatable. Plus the code breakers of Bletchley Park meant that all Uboat movements were well known to the British and Americans.

[@michaelweeks9317]

Well researched, meticulously prepared with great supporting visuals and very professionally synthesized and presented. 4.0. Bravo Young fellow, bravo!

[@msa4548]

They also had jets by the end of the war but Hitler wanted them used as bombers instead of fighters.

[@robertsears8323]

In the end hitler 100$ lost the war ALL by himself. He made one stupid bad move after the next. I guess that is what he gets for being that evil.

[@kurt9395]

If all the stories of Hitler being personally involved in this or that were true, the man would've been awake for 27 hours a day. The real reason the Me-262 didn't see action until late 1944 was that the Junkers Jumo 004 jet engines were not available in quantity until that time. This was due to shortages in nickel and chromium needed for high temperature alloys. The story that the delay was Hitler's fault came from Adolf Galland, who is either mistaken or is misremembering. It was the Air Ministry that came up with a directive in 1943 that all new aircraft be capable of carrying bombs and adding a couple of bomb racks would not have delayed the plane for a year. You should really stop getting your history from Hollywood.

[@BasementEngineer]

@@robertsears8323 Mondaymorning quarterbacking.

[@jstephenallington8431]

The rapid advances the Allies made in detecting anything underwater, coupled with the increased airlift capabilities would have neutralized the advantages of the new U-boat, Type 21. Too, by the end of the war, using submarines in the manner that they had been used at the beginning was completely outdated, and outmoded. The submarine wouldn't regain it's importantance until the advent of both nuclear power and intercontinental nuclear missiles.

[@jeffreyval9665]

Like mostly everything the Germans were far ahead of their time in technology. They really were the master race.

[@jstephenallington8431]

@@jeffreyval9665 They had made some advances, yes. But like all countries that use violence and military conquest to achieve their goals they would have become universally hated and been choked off until the people and the culture died. And deservedly so. The Nazis where doomed to fail.

[@dreamingflurry2729]

...and torpedos that could be launched under water without needing to be a periscope-depth! Accoustic homing!

[@bobbiecrider6964]

Love this concise history revisit ❤

[@ratagris21]

"They build them good in Germany huh Heinie?" German Captain in "the Enemy Below" Kurt Gurgens ☯️🎩♠️🏁

[@richardclarke3924]

What if! No, the out come wouldn’t have been any different, the fate of Germany was sealed years before and there is no way in wartime conditions that enough vessels could have hoped to have been built to make any real difference. IF they had had the sub earlier the allies would have developed a way to counter it as they did with every other supposed wonder weapon.

[@carlosandleon]

Bullshit

[@k3D4rsi554maq]

It's been said that Hitler lost the war by six months.

[@richardclarke3924]

@@k3D4rsi554maq agreed, the German view was, lightening war in the west, agree term with the British and consolidate gains before turning on Russia but Britain’s failure to agree terms and the Italians failure in North Africa meant fighting on three fronts. If not 6 months certainly attacking Russian in 1941 with Britain (and its empire/commonwealth) still in the fight sealed the Nazi fate. At no time did they get close to the monthly shipping losses the U boat high command had predicted was required to defeat Britain.

[@tokul76]

Electro boat could not stay submerged indefinitely. They were recharging with snorkel just like type vii. Walter U-boat was AIP submarine and not electroboat. Confusing Type XXI/XXIII with XVII/XVIII.

[@kdrapertrucker]

Yes, but they had high capacity batteries and were designed to be low drag underwater. Even modern diesel electric subs cannot stay submerged indefinitely. And their low speed submerged mean they have to be prepositioned to attack convoys or task forces as they cannot move fast enough quietly to track other ships.

[@Crashed131963]

@@kdrapertrucker Its real survival break though is it had a submerged speed that of a surface speed of the regular U-Boats.

[@SoloRenegade]

sad when the audience knows more than the presenter.

[@DankNoodles420]

@@SoloRenegade This channel is a pure joke, only interested in money. They dont care about the facts, viewers, or presenting the correct information to the audience. If it was up to me this guy would be shutdown for incompetency and spreading false facts.

[@MIXMASTERBJB1]

@@DankNoodles420 if you read the description and disclaimer it clearly says it will sometimes substitute similar and suggestive video and information.. this kid puts out a exponential Amount of material. And something that was a hobby evolved into a business. Check out his other channels and do the math on how much time it may take to research obtain edit produce narrate and publish the amount of topics he's covered and you'll probably cut the kid some slack..

[@Mr-kn6uk]

Beast of a U-boat!!! Love ye work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@MisteriosGloriosos922]

*Great video!! Thanks for sharing!!*

[@thelyran]

Germany had prototype jet air-craft in 1939.Had they proceeded with that development path and imported Chromium in vast quantities and oil from Russia before embarking on war,think that would've been the game changer.But still Elektroboot strategically would add a new dimension to their favour.

[@stevewright4576]

The U-boat in the cover picture is moored in Bremerhaven, beside a shopping mall (how inglorious) as a tourist attraction. I used to live there, drove past it all the time. I have also been to the U-boat pens and memorial at Kiel, you want to see something sad, I don't care what side you were on. There is also a U-boat on the beach which you can tour. Das Boot doesn't do it justice until you see how tiny these ships were, and these men would spend 2 months on them. True sacrifice and bravery, very sad.

[@pellepeterhans3048]

*Bremerhaven

[@stevewright4576]

@@pellepeterhans3048 you are correct I will change that. I lived in Otterndorf / Cuxhaven.

[@GregGemignani]

In the U.S. there is a U-Boat that can be toured at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry. Also, about 2.5 hours drive north from Chicago is the USS Cobia, a Gato class U.S. sub from WWII. The differences in design and in particular how the crews were considered are stark. The U-505 was clearly a much more dangerous boat to crew than the contemporary U.S. subs of the time, which by comparison were almost luxurious. It is worth seeing both back-to-back if you are ever in the upper midwest of the U.S.

[@finncarlbomholtsrensen1188]

Some years ago, a conventional Sovjet rocket-submarine was exhibited for a time in Cph, and now it is in Germany. Danish submariners, from the then small Danish, intended for and used in low-water, submarines, was impressed with how roomy it actually was, but it had to surface to actually fire its rockets. I think it was donated as a gift from by then not very aggressive Russia, as both sides expected the Cold War to be over.

[@dragonfly3816]

@@GregGemignani Someone once referred to the German U-Boots as "sports cars" and the American Fleet Subs as "Cadillacs".

[@gothamantiquities2595]

You, your voice and videos are an awesome visit back in time! You are by far one of the best like My favorite Professor Marc Felton! Stay safe and keep on creating amazing content!

[@RAF-FIG]

GREAT VIDEO DARK SEAS... thank you!!

[@guyorsini1044]

Karl Doenitz was working under the mistaken assumption that his U-boats were being spotted and or sank due to their having to surface to recharge their batteries when, in fact, the case was that anti-submarine warfare tactics and equipment had progressed faster than possibly any other area during the war. FWIW all submerged submarines were electrically driven, hence the name of the major US manufacturer Electric Boat.

[@hirsch9634]

Although I absolutely agree that allied ASW advances were critical and vital in the sinking of the majority of U-boats the fact remains that batteries suck. A diesel-electric boat must run on the surface under diesel power in order to recharge it's batteries (as you know). A U-boat would only submerge if it had to because: 1) It was faster on the surface when running it's diesels and 2) had a very limited time submerged because A) air and B) batteries suck. During the early part of the war U-boats were operated basically as submersible torpedo boats, attacking while surfaced and diving only when opposed by a warship. As the war progressed and the allied response became ever more effective (the G-I-UK air gap was closed} the U-boats were forced into attacking while submerged. But in order to get into a position from which to attack a convoy the boat still had to run on the surface (mostly, unless it was very lucky) to place itself in a position to attack a convoy. So, the upshot was that U-boats spent the vast majority of their time on the surface. Where they could be spotted and prosecuted. At which point the U-boat would submerge. Which brings us to allied ASW. I swear I'll try and keep this short. To detect a sub while under water you've got five choices: visual detection (spotting the boat if on the surface, or the periscope/schnorkel if submerged), passive sound detection, active sound detection, MAD (magnetic), and satellite (spotting the "wake" of a submerged boat by measuring the displacement of water). During WWII the only options were visual and active (passive was available but if you couldn't localize an acoustic signature or a transient it wouldn't do much good). Active acoustic detection, ASDIC (later changed to SONAR) was the equivalent of hunting rats in a dark basement with an intermittent flashlight while looking through a soda straw: it can be done but you've got to have a reasonable idea of where to look. I.e., spotting the sub visually first and then localizing acoustically. Oh, and like a flashlight, ASDIC/SONAR points both ways. So, what it boiled down to was U-boats were being sunk because they were being spotted with the Mark-1 eyeball, RADAR, or by Leigh Light + eyeball (I didn't even write about how almost half of the U-boats sunk during the war were sunk by aircraft) and once spotted they didn't stand a chance (because of depth charges, guns, hedgehogs, rockets, and bombs). Hence Karl Doenitz was right: a surfaced U-boat was a dead U-boat. And thank you for pointing that last part out. Most people don't really understand that a nuclear reactor is just another way to boil water, to make steam, to turn a turbine, and make electricity. Cheers!

[@niume7468]

I believe the braking of enigma code had a major impact on uboats after the code has been broken uboats lost the most valuable aspect "stealth"

[@Irobert1115HD]

@@niume7468 they didnt loose that aspect. instead the allies used this info to reroute convoys around the attack spots.

[@Irobert1115HD]

exept the type XXI that could run its diesels submerged thanks to the first fully functional submarine snorkel. also the kriegs marine had access tro the maddox detector wich actually allowed to detect airplane radar. and bonus fact: the nazis had actually figured out how the sonar on allied ships worked and finished a counter measure that was standard on all type XXI and XXIII type submarines. the fact that nobody in the inner circles of the third reich might even have considered once that the enigma was decoded was more relevant.

[@niume7468]

@@Irobert1115HD germans used Metox detector since 1942. The weakness it was that they couldn't detect centimetric radar with it

[@TheVigilante2000]

A Type X had 93 nmi submerged range at 4 knots (according to wiki). That like 23 hours submerged under power (you know "mere minutes").

[@stevegeorge5322]

Well Done! Thanks for your efforts!

[@MIck-M]

Love the Werner Klemperer appearance at the end there. He did some amazing roles.

[@foilist1]

Charles “Swede” Momsen developed the Albacore. He told his designers design a sub faster underwater than on the surface. The Albacore looked like a tuna. It used diesels and batteries like all other subs but because it’s hull was hydrodynamic it had much greater speed for less power. It could sprint at 27 knots and could also turn much tighter so much so they had to put a limit on the turn angle. In a tight turn it would bank like and airplane. Then add the nuclear reactor to the albacore hull you get the Skipjack and all subsequent sub designs are based on the Skipjack.

[@andypappy945]

bullsht. Americans pioneered nothing. If they had- why would they need the billion dollar latent theft from Germany? Why would Americans need to steal jet engines, Horten aircraft, rockets V1 andV2, radar, sonar evasion, the Type XXXI

[@teeanahera8949]

Sorry buddy but the Albacore IS a type of Tuna.

[@teeanahera8949]

@@andypappy945 don’t forget they also took (willingly) the engineers some of whom, like von Braun went on to run their own department of NASA and develop the Saturn rocket. USA only got to the moon so quickly because of German expertise.

[@anon457]

@@teeanahera8949 The German scientists and technology did help up progress a bit faster, but truth be told the main reason we advanced as fast as we did and are still at the top technologically today is because when it comes to technology we have an almost endless amount of money and resources that we can pour into any project that the government finds worthy of investing in to.

[@foilist1]

@@teeanahera8949 I knew that. That’s why they called it the Albacore. After testing several shapes the one that looked a like tuna result in the most speed for the least amount of power.the one that

[@yvesmorneau2492]

As an Oberon class sailor , I Im under the impression that many desastre have been attributed to peroxide use as a fuel . Very unstable, very unforgiving

[@mortimersnerd8044]

A peroxide leak from a torpedo is what sank K141 in 2000

[@classunknown]

I wonder how safe the reactors onboard are in comparison?

[@timjohnun4297]

@@classunknown I would say infinitely safer than HTP

[@dannydaw59]

Didn't the Nazi Comet interceptor have the same fuel system?

[@yvesmorneau2492]

@@dannydaw59 it uses 2 separate fuel , peroxide was one of them . I wounded if the concentration was the same ?

[@Albeare]

You produce great videos Thank you very much

[@Wolfsschanze99]

Great Vid, Thanks

[@h.cedric8157]

The Type XXI design was so innovative that Soviet copies like Whiskey, Romeo and Zulu classes operated long into the cold war, and later on, the Chinese sub-variant, the Type 35 Ming class, one of which still operates in Myanmar Navy service today. The Type XXI helped innovate the construction methodology of naval submarines ever since.

[@johnmorrow7080]

On of my uncle's died when his U-boat was sunk don't know where or when , my German nan was married twice so we do not know his name as my aunt reverted to her maiden which I thought was her husbands name , just know my aunt gave the child away and my grandad went to the children's and took her in and brought her up as his own . My mothers family were from Breslau .

[@sunspiral79]

From what I understand..around 50 Uboats remain unfound

[@mjloewen5798]

Great video! Keep up the superb work!

[@chasetower6773]

Thanks again

[@WildBillCox13]

Some folks don't understand the relative difference in scale of the opposing powers. The Typ XXI was not going to be able to defeat a thousand antisubmarine frigates or sink ten thousand enemy cargo vessels or merchantmen. A big, fatal, flaw in the design lay in its metal hull. That made it as easy to detect by ASDIC as any other sub. Launch a torpedo spread and you would soon be dead. Pillenwerfer and Metox aside, its zero gen RAM/SAM coatings insignificant, the Typ XXI was on the wrong side to win any war. Dozens were lost in the Baltic, due to the program being rushed without full testing of components or systems. That's why so few were commissioned.

[@niume7468]

Check USA report on Type XXI. US destroyers had trouble detecting the submarine. The Type XXI was less noise going 15 knots than US SUB at 8 knots

[@WildBillCox13]

In fact, despite all the effort, the Typ XXI represented an incremental improvement in submarine performance, not a sea change in submersible technologies.

[@nielsandersen6164]

For me this is fascinating. I wasn’t aware that AIP dated back to WW2. Still, I don’t think that it would have been enough to change the course of history.

[@johannsebastianbach9003]

A type 21 in 1940 could have been a bad news for the allies, because they didn't need to go inside a convoy and Surface and start shooting torpedos

[@AbbyNormL]

While I may be somewhat prejudiced as I was a Nuclear Power Plant Operator on the USS Bremerton (SSN-698), I consider the first true submarine the USS Nautilus (SSN-571). The Type XXI could only stay underwater for three days, which is definitely longer than previous U-Boats, but was still merely a surface boat that could go underwater for a short period of time. They still had to come up to replenish air and verify navigation. But the submarine was always the limiting factor. With the Nautilus, the limiting factor for staying underwater had nothing to do with the boat. It could run underwater nonstop for years. The limiting factor was the crew. The boat could only stay out for as long as their food supply lasted. We used to carry 90 days of food onboard. The longest I ever stayed underwater in one shot was 77 days.

[@domelxx8379]

Great documentary thank you

[@ButchNews]

All submarines use electric motors so the key was the development of the SNORKEL. I spent many hours on the TRIM (keeping the submarine on depth) as a junior officer as we snorkeled. I never got off depth nor had to stop snorkeling from being off depth. The HUGE breakthrough for modern submarines is the use of NON-OPTICAL periscopes... now they are 360 view and hi resolution digital... and the development of small scale nuclear reactors.

[@CornPopsDood]

Even nuke powered ones convert that power into electric for propulsion?

[@ButchNews]

@@CornPopsDood Yup. Most diesel electric had the shaft of the diesel and motors in common but nucs make tons of electricity, enough to make their own oxygen and allow them to stay underwater until the food runs out.

[@josephpadula2283]

No They are steam turbine reduction gear drives

[@DankNoodles420]

@@ButchNews you have no f en clue what tf your talking about Anyone who even googled how uboats were powered would have gotten this information correctly..

[@ButchNews]

@@josephpadula2283 Steam generated by the nuclear reactors power generators to make electricity... all kinda weird when you think about it, but the steam is highly controlled. When you go to submarine school, one of the main parts of the course is to memorize the shapes of different system handles so, in an emergency and pitch black you knew your sub well enough to feel for the RIGHT handle to open or shut it. You never say "close" on a submarine. It rhymes with "blow" and blowing when you should be shutting might be the last thing you ever do.

[@ImpendingJoker]

I feel that it would have only prolonged the war but, the outcome would have been the same. By the time the war ended, we had planes that were able to travel across the Atlantic with supplies, and troops in small numbers. The prolonged nature would have most likely seen the Hughes H-4 Hercules brought into production, and that thing could have carried troops and tanks across the Atlantic and the wolf packs would have no longer been a threat to shipping and the air war had already been won by Britain during the Battle of Britain, so there would have been nothing Germany could have done at that point even with the Type XXI.

[@iainbagnall4825]

Air freight could have done little more than maybe holding off starvation. Not going to move enough cargo over the Atlantic by air. Cant now, couldnt then, espec with pistons/props. But, ultimately nazis always lose in every scenario. Bletchley Park would still be reading their signals. All German cities would still be burned to ash. And if its not the soviets who ultimately roll over them then come 1945 the allies have the bomb and we nuke them. Grand Slam bombs could damage uboot pens and I'll bet a fat man would vaporize one. Yes British chauvinist viewpoint but the ONLY way the nazis could win ww2 is to knock Britain out of the war BEFORE barbarossa and pearl harbor. Because then they get freedom of the seas, unlimited middle east oil, no second front, no tube alloys transfer to the US Manhattan project, and much less US aid to the soviet union or maybe none at all depending on the variables.

[@andypappy945]

lol USA thinks it's smart

[@russkinter3000]

Wow, This was a revelation for me!

[@gregknipe8772]

this is a new level for your productions. content.

[@EllieMaes-Grandad]

High level, or low level?

[@chrisbutcher5179]

@@EllieMaes-Grandad The clue is in the video - depths

[@gideonsgate9133]

Depending on when it was implemented. Idon't think the type 21 alone would've made the difference needed to win the war.

[@Crashed131963]

True. It was the advancement in radar and sonar that killed the U-Boat and complete air patrols from hundreds of escort carriers.. A sub that can stay submerged longer and travel faster was still endanger.

[@simonrisley2177]

"Thanks to the fantastic efforts of the Canadian Navy..." I take it you might be a Canadian? No matter. It was actually largely the British Navy with the convoy system (with some help from Canada and later a lot from America) that got the upper hand over the U-Boats. Not least with the British cracking of Enigma! And later, Coastal Command with their Leigh light; radar and depth charges. American-designed Liberators closed the mid Atlantic gap; and then "Hedgehog", Asdic and Sonar pretty much finished them off. (None of these, alas, Canadian inventions, but British!) That's not to decry Canada's real contribution to the Battle of the Atlantic, but you need to get things a little more in perspective, methinks!

[@richardbest577]

A forgotten aspect was feeding convoy escort crews with high energy fare. The most famous was coco laced with the world famous British maple syrup. 😁

[@crinolynneendymion8755]

Nonsense. Totally arrant bollocks.

[@petehayes8779]

One thing was not taken into consideration......Doenitz's refusing to believe that the 4 rotor enigma machine could be broken. Another fact is that the Metox (German aircraft detector) emitted RF which enabled Allied anti-submarine aircraft to locate u-boats on the surface.

[@apveening]

There were also a lot of Dutch ships in those convoys, both merchant vessels and tugs, the latter mostly as escorts, converted to drop depth charges.

[@markchamberlain9856]

Thanks for the info! Great video!

[@terryfreeman1018]

Very nice video. Even at 55 and a war documentary fanatic, I still learn a lot DARK DOCS.

[@ZoobieDoodie]

Enjoying learning from this channel. Keep it up!

[@Milkybar3320011]

Lots of what’s if might have delayed the inevitable end, if the ME262 had better jet engine, if the panther was more reliable, the list goes on, but Germany was fighting on too many fronts. Still they did put man on the moon.

[@scootergeorge9576]

Put a man on the Moon? That's funny. Werner Von Braun was one part of a huge NASA effort.

[@BasementEngineer]

@@scootergeorge9576 And Wernher von Braun was American, right? Don't think so.

[@EllieMaes-Grandad]

@@BasementEngineer Naturalised citizen in time; a beneficiary of 'Operation Paperclip' early on.

[@scootergeorge9576]

@@BasementEngineer - There were many American engineers involved in the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs. And Germans were a part of that effort. But the blanket statement "Germany put a man on the Moon" is laughable.

[@oneshotme]

Enjoyed your video and I gave it a Thumbs Up for support

[@traumgeist]

Admiral Donuts knew what he was doing.

[@MartinMizner]

*"What if"* - there are so many teories of nazis winning WWII that I start to believe that lack of resourses made all of them impossible to happen.

[@PNurmi]

Note: US Navy also contributed greatly to the defeat of the U-boat wolf packs.

[@DeadThePainter]

Ok what the Navy do ?

[@Zebred2001]

That is true. Of the U-boats, 519 were sunk by British, Canadian, or other allied forces, while 175 were destroyed by American forces; 15 were destroyed by the Soviets and 73 were scuttled by their crews before the end of the war for various reasons. The Battle of the Atlantic has been called the "longest, largest, and most complex" naval battle in history. Wikipedia 2021

[@PNurmi]

@@DeadThePainter Eschort carrier hunter-killer groups, a large number of escorts ships, better radars and sonar sets, etc.

[@ScoutSniper3124]

President Truman actually dove down to 440 feet in a captured Type XXI after the war.

[@jackburnell3209]

Germany used the same C-stoff/T-stoff (Hydrogen peroxide/potassium permanganate) power system on its first experimental jet, the ME167, and in the V2 rockets. I had no idea they used this dangerous and high failure/accident prone technology in a submarine. But even today, the same basic 2 component fuel/oxidizer technology is used in liquid fueled rockets.

[@loganholmberg2295]

Your forgeting other allied anti sub advancements though like the hegde hog and sonar equiped torpedos. Even if all these boats had been comissioned it would only have delyed the invitable at best. By the end of 43 start of 44 Stalin had the Nazi on the run and North Africa an Italy where hardly going well for the nazis either. Germany started out the war on a bad foot resource wise and things where going terribly for them by 43. The whole point of invading russia was its oil feilds and farmland and the germans were bungling that too.

[@wolf310ii]

The Typ XXI was harder to detect by sonar than the Typ VII and IX, even without the planed anti sonar coating and on top of that the underwaterspeed was higher than speed the destroyer or escort could use the sonar. The Typ XXI could also outrun the Mk 24 sonar homing torpedo

[@TheSchmed]

That Elektroboot was so ahead of it’s time, if the Nazis had the raw materials that we had, we would have been in serious trouble.

[@chrisbutcher5179]

If my Aunty had balls she would have been my uncle

[@TheSchmed]

@@chrisbutcher5179 if “if” were a “fifth”, we’d be drunk.

[@boltonky]

All this stuff amazes me, i always wonder how the world tech tree would be so different if things at that time had gone on longer but saying that we still live in the dark when you consider technology lost or locked away over time. Thanks for your knowledge

[@robertphillips6296]

The Germans also developed a snorkel that did not leave a wake on the oceans surface. This enabled their submarines to run the Diesel engines underwater!

[@fload46d]

Yes, it's hard to say with "what ifs". This U Boat, the Me 266, the V2 rockets, etc. all could have changed the war if they had been developed earlier.

[@pirobot668beta]

The biggest 'what-if': the internecine warfare between branches of the German military. Hitler would literally tell his Generals: "Here is 1200 tons of tungsten. Fight over it!" Some would go here, some would go there, mostly used as 'currency' for other deals. The Me262 was crippled in performance for the simple reason that tungsten, nickle, cobalt and other 'refractory' metals were being wasted in tank shells and armor. Jumo engines had to make do with steel alloy turbine blades. Hitler believed that competition between his Generals was healthy, somehow. A fine example of a well-oiled, perfectly balanced machine driven off a cliff by an idiot driver.

[@onastick2411]

I think the allies might have made their own jets and streamline subs and maybe even rockets as well.

[@Justanotherconsumer]

The V2 wouldn’t. It couldn’t hit anything reliably and didn’t do damage anything near justifying the cost and effort. It was a purely psychological weapon, which has value, but it wouldn’t win the war.

[@brianferus9292]

So if had extended the war maybe it would have been Germany not Japan that got nuked

[@mac4boys541]

So just like with postwar aircraft and weapons and rockets, postwar subs owed heaps to German know and engineering.

[@crankychris2]

After WW2, our Navy upgraded many Balao class subs after studying a type 21. the program was called 'GUPPY' [Greater Underwater Propulsive Power], but by far, the greatest breakthrough was nuclear power in 1954.

[@garfieldsmith332]

The Allies 4 million armour, 6 million artillery, 670,000 aircraft, 55,000 ships; compared to the Axis 700,000 armour, 1.3 million artillery, 300,000 aircraft and 1700 ships. This says a lot about why the Axis lost the war. Not to mention the overwhelming number of personnel in all branches of the military, and the number of bombs, guns, explosives, etc. that the Allies manufactured. The economic might of the Allies in those 6 years was astonishing.

[@BasementEngineer]

That they took that long to defeat a small European country speaks volumes about the quality and effectiveness of the German soldier.

[@garfieldsmith332]

@@BasementEngineer Took less than a year after the Allies landed. Of course German armour against Polish Calvary did not take as long. And the threat of war by a bully kept everyone at bay. And the liberation of al those countries in a short space of time, well. And the drafting of children into the army once your forces have all but been liquidated. If Britain, the USA, France had been as prepared for war as Germany the Germany army would not have advanced beyond their own border. Easy to take control when you are prepared and no one else is. Once your victims wake up and prepared themselves the shoe is on the other foot. Same for Japan. Once you come to meet a formidable foe you find yourself looking for a fast was out of town.

[@TheHylianBatman]

Man, it cannot be overstated enough just how well things lined up in timing to have the Nazis defeated. If the USA hadn't entered the war so early, who knows what they could've built?

[@johncox2865]

Well, we can thank Japan for that.

[@edwardpike3386]

@@johncox2865 We can also thank Hitler for declaring war on the US 4 days after Dec. 7th.

[@jackt6112]

@@johncox2865 Japan was not what got the US into war with Germany nor was there there any solidarity between them and Germany until later when they had to hold hands. German leaders, not Hitler, made some critical miscalculations. They assumed, logically, that the Allies appeasement of bordering country acquisitions meant that they would also not act when Poland was invaded, since they were in no geographical position to make good on their alliance to defend Poland. When Britain and France declared war on Germany, Hitler's response was, "Now what?" Germany then approached Britain with a "deal" and to sell their story of limited ambitions. Britain's reply was, "You have built your war machine. Now you must use it for conquest or be devoured by it." Germany was handed their first defeat with the Battle of Britain. Hitler's response was, "They are out of the war anyway." The US was already in the war. Germany's navy was livid about not being allowed to attack US ships delivering war material through neutral ports to Britain, who in turn was supplying Russia, but getting the US directly involved would make things a lot worse. In December of 1941, Russia turned the tables on Germany. Britain had Germany spread all over the globe and their words fulfilled. Germany was rapidly being "devoured by it". The people they starved to death was because those required for food production were involved in their military production to support their military's survival. Germany's next major miscalculation was the response of a United States, which was comprised of people sick of wars. Germany's belief was the US would be tied up with Japan, and Europe a low priority and their navy could reduce the pressure on their military by reducing what Britain could supply Instead, Japan and Germany learned the United States citizens were far smarter courageous than anticipated took over the show. They prioritized Germany, after which they required the Allies to then help in the war against Japan, but what stunned everyone the most and sealed the fate of Germany and Japan was the only acceptable terms for peace would be unconditional surrender so they wouldn't get dragged back into another world war in 20 years by avoiding short-term bloodshed now. By spring of 1942, Germany's leaders knew they couldn't win even if the United States never got directly involved. This is when these useless "Wonder Weapons" became fully funded. It wasn't until July 20-, 1944 assassination attempt that Hitler took over the planning and became an Allied asset. It wasn't until after the Battle of the Bulge that Hitler and German leaders finally believed that a negotiated peace was not, and had never been, on the table. After this, the leaders attempted separate negotiations to get favorable treatment, which also didn't work. Donitz didn't push for the Type XXI until June of 1943, after losing 45 subs the month before and the Allies had turned submarine hunting into a competitive sport. France, Germany, and the United States were FAR more technologically advanced. Not one in fifty German adults had a car, and neither did they have the native skills to manage efficient production or design even when they stole it from France. They were fighting WW I 2.0 with their main resource being arrogance. The United States and Britain trained and supplied the Russians in modern warfare and mechanized armies. What German prisoners said shocked them the most was there were no horses in their trains.

[@Justanotherconsumer]

Probably would have made less difference than might be thought - the American industry was already working for the Allies, and that’s what they needed more than American troops.

[@daveybernard1056]

Allied centimeter wave radar, good sonar, hedgehog, huff duff, air cover and escort carriers and etc. made the 2nd half of WWII impossible for the German uboats, with maybe 75% casualties. I want to say the US lost about 50% of its subs in the Pacific. The sub war turned into a high tech race and therefore meat grinder.

[@garys2327]

US completed 228 subs- lost 48 due to direct enemy action with 52 total lost

[@512k]

True, but the worse U-boot downfall came from breaking the Kiegsmarine Enigma code. Allied ship loss dropped each time enigma code was broken.

[@daveybernard1056]

@@512k right, it was all ganging up on the submariners. Plus, we had air dropped acoustic homing torpedos, even.

[@alastair9446]

But radar is useless when you the sub is underwater so the XX1 would have helped a lot.

[@salemsaleem7368]

Dear Sir , Your film is really good it’s rich with many informations and history backgrounds , that what makes it distinctive. Thanks.

[@jarheadaaron]

Is there an episode about the rank structure in the German military? Specifically the Kriegsmarine? I'd be interested in seeing one if not. Great videos. The stories come to life. 5 🌟

[@michaelhannah5376]

The war was always a technological race. The allies were vastly superior in electronics . They already were deciding everything the Germans sent. At best it would have lengthened the war . I also agree with John Milton, the type 21 did not have an AIP system. It did have massive batteries and a streamlined hull.

[@chippyjohn1]

Vastly superior? What are you talking about?

[@Skott62]

Well I do think the Allies would have come up with better and deeper depth charges to help counter the Type XXI 1,000 foot depth ability.

[@danielmocsny5066]

@@Skott62 - also a submarine at 1000 feet down is not attacking a convoy, which was the real issue. Forcing the Type XXIs down with depth charges while the convoy lumbered past would have been enough. All that mattered was moving freight to Great Britain. Actually sinking the German u-boats or submarines was only one means to that end. And the Allies were developing homing torpedoes as well. It doesn't matter how deep the submarine goes if the homing torpedo can find it.

[@danielmocsny5066]

@@chippyjohn1 - I would guess he refers to the cavity magnetron (which enabled microwave radars small enough to mount on every warship, and on many airplanes), HF/DF, VT (promixity) fuzes, and codebreaking machines, where the Allies were far ahead of the Germans. The Allies were so far ahead with the cavity magnetron that the Germans didn't even have a way to detect the 10 cm radar. All they knew was that when a u-boat surfaced, suddenly Allied aircraft showed up to bomb it.

[@chippyjohn1]

@@danielmocsny5066 Allies developing code breaking machines to break German code machines that they couldn't break for many years. If you know your history, the Germans were one step ahead of everyone. They already had nuclear weapons. The struggle they had was resources and having to fight so many at the one time. They were vastly ahead in war strategy, technology and experience. That is a fact.

[@arwo1143]

Visited that thing dozens of times.... My brother and me had a game in there. get blindfolded and find something specific (a wheel, valve, whatever) at some point museum staff intervened. It was considered a safety risk to have two blidnfolded 12-year-olds run through a submarine at inadequate speeds XP fun times What is missing from the ship is the rubber mats that covered the outside to absorb sonar.

[@molybdaen11]

As far as I know the "Alberich" was still in experimental state and the only one using it hit a mine and sank.

[@troy2478]

What ifs are fun. My best guess is that if they would have been deployed earlier the allies would have found a weakness and Germany would still have lost the war and in roughly the same timeframe.

[@hojoinhisarcher]

knowledge is priceless

[@Krzemieniewski1]

the main designer of the XXI type continued after the war for the shipbuilding industry, among others, he participated in the project of Kobben-class ships. And the Walter was in Comet rocket airplane program.

[@jdiluigi]

If feel the battle for the Atlantic does not get the recognition it deserves. Great vid as always.

[@joelonzello4189]

Plenty of coverage for Battle of the Atlantic. I have read many books over the years especially German Raiders like the Atlantis and Pinquin. Graf Spee/Channel Dash/Bismark...tons of info available

[@jimmyandersson4599]

Maybe it would have done some difference but the u-boats biggest problem was the Enigma code, the British was reading it even faster than the Germans. Have they used radio silence during their patrols it probably would have been a much bigger success with type XXII.

[@BasementEngineer]

The decoding of enigma messages was NEVER achieved in a timely manner. Even British cytologists agreed on this.

[@jimmyandersson4599]

@@BasementEngineer even so, the u-boat couldn't teleport them self to another part of the ocean and travel at the speed they did it took so much time that the British had already figured out what the massage was saying by that time and deployed their destroyers. Big problem for the German u-boats.

[@c.rogers4394]

What do I think? Well, I'm loving your channel, especially after growing up near the Bangor Washington Submarine Base, which would become the Trident Base, which has more more warheads there than anywhere else on earth. After the Tridents showed up in the late 70's, I had bad dreams for awhile, since there were two huge navy bases, and a torpedo facility in Keyport, then Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, all on the fairly tiny Kitsap Peninsula, the biggest target bullseye in the Western US, and not far from Boeing, Fort Lewis and McChord to the south. Would be great to see a video about our WW2 effort, rebuilding damaged ships, and sending massive ordinance out of Bangor also. There was much more, chicken houses were strung all across the north end of Kitsap, which would feed the sailors and troops of the Pacific. Thanks for all your work!

[@dougybrownie481]

Superior cutting edge technology and they let a madman control, can’t deny German innovation and technology brought us were we are.

[@robertsears8323]

Think how bad the world would be right now had that madman had more then one working brain cell.

[@BasementEngineer]

@@robertsears8323 I would bet that the world today would be a much better place.

[@amardeep5821]

It is doubtful that type 21 could have turned the tide in the Atlantic War. The sheer number of American Liberity ships being built would overwhelm any number of type 21 U-boats that nazis could field.

[@samuelgordino]

Nor really, liberty ships were just slow moving targets. You still need something to protect them and hunt the uboots. And radar was the most important part of hunting uboots. The type 21 was almost immune to radar.

[@paulsnickles2420]

Very interesting video 👍👍

[@TruthyToo]

I feel ASDIC sonar was the game changer and as advanced as the XXI was, it still couldn't compete sheer numbers of the allies anti-submarine units. I also understand the snorkel was still quite noticeable and the pressure of when started or stopping it caused a pressure so bad the crew's eardrums were effected.

[@Coolnventions]

One day when Im rich I will get a yacht that looks like a u-boat

[@dg115]

Das boot great film

[@robblack7949]

The type XXI could not stay underwater indefinitely as you stated. They had to recharge their batteries every 2-5 days.

[@GTP2-zg9tn]

They could remain submerged indefinitely with the use of a Snorkel. Both Russia and America adopted the snorkel. The Russian Whiskey Class and the American GUPPY boats of the Post War era.

[@PeterMayer]

We went to Ocracoke Island, the outer banks about 3 years ago. I was talking to an old guy, which I often do. He told me when he was a kid, they could hear the U-boat engines running in the darkness to recharge their batteries. Right near the outer banks of North Carolina!

[@simonm1447]

At the beginning they could relatively easily enter the waters of the US coast since there was no defense back then. One even got into New York harbor. Later this was not possible any more.