What Life on a U-Boat Was Like

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[@HiddenHistoryYT]

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[@bradleytenderholt5135]

Longer videos please. You have the touch! Nice voice, informative and easy to watch!

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

@@bradleytenderholt5135 greatly appreciate it! Check out some of my more recent content, have been doing a lot of longer length videos!

[@hodgsoft]

They had special soap to help clean and they could bathe in the ocean on occasion. What fun!

[@maxjek2374]

Thanks for the good vids. Soon after the Jap. attack on Pearl Harbour in WWII, Admiral Donitz planned a similar big attack on the Royal Navy (RN) that should knock it out of the battle for the Atlantic. The target was the sheltered RN base at Rosyth, Scotland. He studied it and the tides and thought it was possible. A German U-boat was tasked for it. It set sail in secret to Rosyth where it waited. When a RN warship sailed into Rosyth, the submarine net was drawn back. The U-boat followed close behind. It got into the harbour and waited undetected underwater. Nightfall. Periscope up. It fired its torpedoes and hit and sunk a number of warships. The British sailors thought their paint stores had accidentally caught fire and blew up. The U-boat managed to escape back to mainland Europe. The damage was found to be not so major because most of the RN capital warships were not in the harbour. Still showed the devastating impact of just one sub. A nearly forgotten attack of WWII. Hope you can make this KZbin vid.

[@SimoSisu]

"If you love WW2"

[@simplyamazing880]

The crew was an afterthought on those boats. Ours were a lot better but not that much. We still hot bunked, didn't shower or wash clothe and had no atmosphere control equipment I served on one of the last of the WW2 vintage boats and it was taken out of service in 1972. It was an honor to have been able to be part of this piece of history. A real honor.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Thank you for your service! Appreciate you watching and have a great week :)

[@cornellkirk8946]

Hot bunking 😳🤯🤢

[@c.lynnmiller5677]

Oh sure. And during my service I flew one of the last WWI vintage airplanes before it was retired in 1957. See, I can make up stories as well.

[@seancollins9745]

@@c.lynnmiller5677 some Gatos served actively with the US Navy into the late 1960s, and others served with foreign navies into the early 1970s. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Gato-class_submarines

[@Sample-Alok-Youtube]

@@cornellkirk8946What is hot bunking?

[@rickintexas1584]

I knew life had to be tough on a U Boat, but this video really brought it home as to how tough it was.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Definitely would not have been for me! Thanks for watching Rick, have a great weekend!

[@skybirdnomad]

Imagine you couldn't help but crap your pants when the toilet wasn't available while stalking an enemy. You're stuck with shitty pants for the next few weeks. Gross

[@backagain5216]

@@skybirdnomadNever thought of that. Good GOD, but that made a bad existence far worse.

[@patavinity1262]

And that's without even getting into the whole 'being depth-charged' part of the U-boat experience.

[@patavinity1262]

​@@skybirdnomadYou could use it, you just couldn't *flush* it. Would soon get pretty full though.

[@anth5408]

I grand grand father served in U-boats. As i remember, he Was sunk (or damaged need to talk to my father)four times, the last time he stood for hours in the sea. Then was taken by americans and was sent to light recovery due to the long time in the sea. And then he had to work in a farm in the south of France. He told my father when they were close to the surface, and there were mosquitos around, when they were hearing a splash of torpedo, they always counted like 4-5 second waiting for the impact. After this time if nothing happened the torpedo missed them. At the end of the war he made back next to the border of Germany, and here i am as a french. It is Really special in my family having in both ww my grand grand fathers fighting each other, in U-boats, or in the french free air force in africa, etc...

[@jasonmckay2769]

Life onboard a Canadian submarine 15 years ago as I experienced it: I did not shower...ever. 3 weeks between port visits was managed with bird baths. Gold bond was gold for the bits. Febreeze was shower and washing machine in a bottle. Ziplok bag with a change of socks and a fresh t-shirt every 2 days. Pirate rig at sea - didn't shave until the morning of the next port. Captain's cabin is a curtain separating the control room and his bunk - the old man hears everything. Food was amazing - I would put on 20 lbs in a 3 month patrol. No one says no to a Magnum ice cream bar 2 weeks into a patrol. 6 hours on watch in the control room followed by 6 hours off - 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Never more than 4-5 hours sleep straight. Dolphin 38.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Great info, and thank you for your service! Have a fantastic weekend :)

[@method341]

Sounds atrocious but I guess someone has to do it

[@CHodgy]

No they really didnt ​@@method341

[@bobchurch6175]

I've always wondered what they did to keep crewmen from eating food that they weren't supposed to. They had to stuff it everywhere so they must have had some pretty strict rules about it.

[@jasonmckay2769]

@@bobchurch6175 Hey Bob. While food stock is controlled it is very abundant. The cooks are amazing and the food quality is above what the surface folks get. Bit of a perk for the other comforts that cannot be afforded to us submariners. No need to steal when the great food is always provided.

[@Lightgoldbridge]

My grand father was on a u boat in 2 world war…..he came home as an alcoholic as that’s what they gave them to do there jobs as no human could handle that shit…he deserted on the New Year’s Eve of 44/45 …..as he had missed his boat because he was drunk he and 2 others deserted as my grandfather had said the u boats where not coming back …his boat sunk …it took him 3 month to come back home on his dangerous trip as a desert..the war only ended in may 45 his life was in danger many times over …his alcoholism continued a few years before he became clean …he was a violent man after the war …i was always scared of him as a grand daughter….but he did care …the war makes beast out of beautiful young man …it still does …wars are terrible and will stop when people become peaceful inside of them

[@CatherineBirch-m5r]

I imagine that many of the u boat sailors were basket cases for years after the war.

[@rottenanimal619]

I'm 66 years old. When I was 19 I worked as a waiter on a train from Toronto to Winnipeg. Round trip was 4 days. One time we had a German tourist on board and he told everyone, he was a U boat commander. He talked about the ships he sunk. I can tell his wife was embarrassed about it. The joke we talked about was. I better lock my door tonight so the U boat commander doesn't get me. I was too young to appreciate his stories of WW2.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Absolutely incredible! Thanks for sharing that and watching :)

[@rottenanimal619]

My father was a merchant marine on a ship taking supplies from Canada to the UK. This tourist could have torpedoed my fathers ship and I wouldn't be here today.

[@rottenanimal619]

@@HiddenHistoryYT I could tell some stories about my father sailing all over the world. Some wild stuff.

[@rc666]

My grandfather never said anything about his captivity by the Werhmacht and subsequent forced labour. He kept his 6 horse span (artillery but no ammo) alive for 18 days and got stuck in the rows of fleeing civilians. The horses got eaten. The German farmer he worked for lost his 3 sons in Russia. They became friends, but never spoke about the war. I guess that "Käpitain - Leutnant" story was BS.

[@davidthelander1299]

I spent 20 years as a merchant mariner. One of my captains on a container ship was a former U-boat skipper. Another friend of mine, the second mate had been torpedoed and sunk twice in ww2.

[@SausageFingers-qc4mk]

My father served in the Royal Navy throughout WW2. He always told me the U Boat men were, in his opinion, the bravest men in the war.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Thank you to him for his service, a true hero! Appreciate you watching and have a great week :)

[@Geojr815]

Them and the ball turret gunners have got to be some of the scariest positions in WW2

[@FutureZombie2087]

..yes,also with tunnel rats in Vietnam 🙏🏼

[@R3APER50]

​@@FutureZombie2087that wasen't ww2

[@MrZodac]

Ours or theirs ?

[@StanleyHeinzelman]

Great to hear these stories of life on a U boat, cherish them ! Most crews did not return!

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Appreciate you watching and have a great week :)

[@chrisozzy56]

My father did two war patrols in 1943 on U - Boats before getting injured and transferring to a training facility . He said that is what saved him , as he had made peace with the fact he probably wouldn’t survive the war . He said submarine life was 90% boredom , and 10% a mixture of excitement and fear . He came to America in 1956 , and often said the USA is the greatest country in the world .

[@TheCreatorsFootsteps]

What's great about America is a big disillusionment and propaganda perpetrated through falsification of democracy, public opinion, freedom all together mischievously knitted with fabric of capitalism.

[@Shadowhunterbg]

He can say what he wants. America being the "greatest" is very subjective. For me i would never go there even if they payed me to.

[@mjd1969]

@@Shadowhunterbg Yes do us a favor and stay away.

[@BillTolliver]

​@Shadowhunterbg that's probably your best bet.

[@lawrencewood289]

@@Shadowhunterbg We won't miss you. I personally try to visit many countries and experience their cultures.

[@henningwittmann3168]

My dad Was crewmember of u 96 das Boot. He told me that the Kameradschaft, means the tight bond between the Crew was the main reason he could managed this unhumanity time in the u boat. He did 11 feindfahrten on u 96. After the war He visited many marine and u boat Meetings from countrys He was fighting against.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Wow, thank you for sharing Henning. I cannot even begin to imagine the things that he must have experienced and just how much mental fortitude he had to endure it. Appreciate you watching and have a great weekend :)

[@Zoltan_666]

Thank very much for your father service, those man was fighting for the real freedom, they give us at least 11 years of freedom in the Europe History was written by the "winners" but we still remember the great sacrifice what those man really did to save humanity in the world.. Bless to all German soldiers who did something unbelievable to save us before tyranny and idiocy of today's Bless Him and we never forget their ultimate sacrifice

[@jameswyatt2739]

Your Dad is a walking encyclopedia! Treasure the history he passes on.

[@mattlachatte]

​@@Zoltan_666 XDD lmao get off the drugs, m8 XD

[@user-gq6sf4si6j]

@@Zoltan_666 "Save humanity in the world"... Would you like to elaborate on how they saved humanity in the world please?? The hideous evil these people carried out will never be forgotten.

[@timjohnun4297]

Being captured and sent to a POW camp would probably be an attractive proposition, for a U boat crew

[@chucknorris6640]

I saw some pictures of u boat crews under captivity and they look extremely happy for them the war was over

[@jeremyfowler1519]

My Pepe a 4 year POW in The Philippines and survived the Bataan death march might disagree with you. Daily torture. No water. No food on n on. That being said these dudes where nuts. I wouldn’t spend more then 2-3 days on there max if at all.

[@timjohnun4297]

@@jeremyfowler1519 it would depend on where the POW camp was, and who ran it. I would pick being a POW in a British camp over being a crew of a U boat, any day! I definitely wouldn’t want to be in a German or Japanese POW camp though

[@boatingexplainedwithcapndr8359]

@@jeremyfowler1519 your Pepe must have been a badass. I can’t imagine what that must have been like. The Bataan Death March was insane, but being starved and worked for 4 years after surviving the march must have pushed him to his limits! He must have been an amazing guy!

[@dan5660]

The U boat captive survivors(including commander Friedrich Guggenberger) who were taken to one of many U.S. POW camps during the war were observed to be happy & contented with their detainment conditions. Of course that did not stop them from attempting & succeeding in escaping on several instances.

[@iraeaglemind]

Just a day ago I watched a U.S.A Navy ship do a vlog on having a Starbucks station aboard ship(deserved comforts).My how times have changed.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Very interesting! Thanks for watching :)

[@Drymarro]

would rather have dunkin lol

[@iraeaglemind]

@@Drymarro I love DD too!

[@ronjones9447]

Most of the large ships (carriers) have a dog onboard as well. Average age of the crew is 19.

[@acidbot666]

And still U-Boats have being the most formidable submarine force ever and wrecked havok on vast quantities of allies shipping. Understanding how difficult was their life while on duty just makes then even more heroic!

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Thanks for watching :)

[@joepatriot363]

Back in the 70's i had the occasion to read the book "RE BOAT", DAS BOOT as the film is titled. Let me be honest, it described life on a German U boat so vividly there were times when I almost felt SE SICK. It also explained in detail many of the think of, such as when the submarine was close to the surface and fired a torpedo, they had to take on water to compensate for the loss of the weight or they would if slowly rise.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Thanks for watching and have a great week :)

[@claiborneeastjr4129]

I think all U-boat crews were volunteers. Patrolling as far as the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Mexico had to be miserable. the book Das Boot is a great, true account of this life. I think Germany built over 900 U=Boats of various types, and over 700 were destroyed. It took real men of great courage and endurance to serve on these boats.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Definitely would not have been for me!

[@49558201]

Das Boot , a great war movie ...

[@Jleed989]

Amazing how many Germans “volunteered “ for dangerous duty. Like going to the Russian front

[@ronjones9447]

40,000 went to sea, 30,000 never came back

[@jeannieheard1465]

Sometimes the crewmen were volunteered, so to speak.

[@LeonardGarcia-yn2ej]

Thanks!

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Greatly appreciate you Leonard!

[@greggwolffis7211]

Also, the war was only supposed to last a few months, a year at most, so U-Boats were built at a rapid rate to make up for the shortage of boats, with no time to effectively design entire new boats with crew comforts. The Type XXI and Type XXIII boats were vastly superior in crew comforts and fighting capabilities. They were on the drawing boards, but not built until much too late, and Germany's fate was already sealed

[@gregblackburn4280]

greg...not so....two of those types saw put to see during the war. One sunk a ship but the other didn't spot the enemy until the war was over.

[@jamesHadden-l6l]

Those had their own problems

[@gregblackburn4280]

@@jamesHadden-l6l Yes those did.

[@garymitchell5899]

Who said the war was only supposed to last a few months?

[@gregblackburn4280]

@@garymitchell5899 Everyone in Germany. Hitler never expected England and France to do anything more than some radio broadcasts to aid Poland.

[@stuartr2764]

There’s a story on youtube about a British ‘special operation’ where a powerful laxative was added to the canned food that was packed and loaded onto German U boats based in Italy… the image of what must have happened onboard these one-toilet vessels is really quite hellish!😳

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Interesting! Thanks for watching :)

[@truthadvocacy]

"a *story on youtube* about a British ‘special operation'"😂😂😂

[@DefundtheIRS1776]

Yeah right the SAS got as far as figuring out how to slip something into the enemy’s food and rather than kill an entire U boat they played a little “laxative prank”.

[@timtalton1709]

Short and to the point. Thanks

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Thanks for watching!

[@Scrapper.]

I'm fascinated by the fact that an allied warship might detect a submarine below simply by spotting some turds floating on the surface after the sub had flushed its toilet. Great video. Respect from Ireland.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Thanks for watching Stephen and have a great week :)

[@user-gq6sf4si6j]

I don't they they would mate, It`s the sound from pumping it they would detect. Ní mór a bheith ciúin

[@smokinhalf]

When a u boat is sunk, very little evidence either just an oil slick on the surface. I have heard of U-boats faking an oil slick. (u-154)

[@truthadvocacy]

another tall tale with a scatological connotation.

[@mardiffv.8775]

Sound under water can e heard by a hydrophone (microphone under water) up to 100 km.

[@DrNoLife-x8u]

Soooooooooo underrated this video is so informative

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Thanks for watching!

[@detroitandclevelandfan5503]

@@HiddenHistoryYT My dude, what was that song at the end of the video?

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

@@detroitandclevelandfan5503 an EDM remix of a scene from the movie Downfall. I’ll see if I can find the video

[@detroitandclevelandfan5503]

@@HiddenHistoryYT thanks.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

@@detroitandclevelandfan5503 kzbin.info/www/bejne/j2PZh52iiZhjbNU

[@miketobin2324]

Life is sometimes hell on earth.... but then you become a U-boat crewmember, bringing the term 'hell on earth' a whole new meaning.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Yep! Appreciate you watching and have a great week :)

[@claiborneeastjr4129]

BTW the U-505, which was captured by Capt. Daniel Gallery, is now restored and on display at Chicago at the Museum of Trades and Industry. Gallery wrote a book about its capture, and is fascinating reading. The U-505 was very close to sinking, but the American boarding crew saved it. Quite a tale of bravery and heroism. We gained valuable military intelligence from the boat.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Have got to tour it before, was a great experience!

[@PeterMayer]

Saw It in 1981 when I was visiting my brother. It used to be outside.I need to see it again.

[@rossbryan6102]

IN 1955 I SAW U-505 THE FIRST TIME AS A SCHOOLKID ON A FIELD TRIP TO CHICAGO! THE SECOND TIME AS A MILITARY SLAVE AT FORT SHERIDAN , ILLINOIS, ON THE WEEKEND, WHERE I STUDIED IT AS A MECHANIC ! THE THIRD TIME, AS A DIESEL LOCOMOTIVE MACHINIST, I WAS ABLE TO VISUALIZE IT AND COMPARE TO THE DEISEL ELECTRIC ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AS WELL!

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

@@rossbryan6102 She is definitely worth a visit!

[@robertmonaghan5420]

Museum of Science and Industry... Not Trades

[@Itried20takennames]

Being on early sub crews was a hard and important job, with subs and their effectiveness often being a large part of which way the war’s tide flowed. And having toured old subs….you wouldn’t want to be a big guy, as it was cramped enough….so it was often the shorter guys in this brutal role. You don’t have to be huge bodybuilder to fight.

[@Glenn1967ful]

They were hellish places and the casualty rate was enormous on the U boats as they were almost impossible to escape from when they were sunk.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Thanks for watching and have a great week :)

[@retiredtom1654]

My dad was on one ship shelled & one was sunk, killing many friends, both by U-boats. That being said, I cannot imagine the hell these U-boat crews had to endure, especially after better detection systems were used to sink them. Admiral Karl Donitz lost two sone in WW II. One was a U-boat Lt.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Wow! Thank you to him for his service!

[@Dopendekhang]

Recently I got to visit a old submarine which is park as museum in a coastal city of india. I could imagine how claustrophobic the working conditions could be and moreover when it is under water. I used to think that Indian soldiers manning post at high altitude, rarified oxygen zone with temperatures under minus in the Himalayas the toughest. But considering Submarine life it looks normal.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Very interesting! Thanks for watching :)

[@arjunkaza5157]

Vishaknaputnam?

[@tedmccarron]

"An" old submarine.

[@fortis6258]

After watching "Das Boot," I was seriously intrigued by the various foods they had on board, during the dining scenes. No A/C on there must have been awful. Those Diesel engines that powered the U-Boats would probably still run today.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Das Boot is great!

[@timjohnun4297]

@@HiddenHistoryYT There is a "New" Das boot series that's also very good. 2 seasons have already been aired and a 3rd season is due out any day now

[@judgedeath3]

@@timjohnun4297 its horrible and so inaccurate. Almost an insult to the das boot movie

[@timjohnun4297]

@@judgedeath3 I’m ex Navy myself and really enjoyed it. I never served on a submarine though and have never set foot on a type 7 U boat. You’re a harsh critic, but to each their own….

[@judgedeath3]

@@timjohnun4297 Im talking from das boot and historical perspective, whole plot of spy story, using modern laungauge and politics mixed into ww2, and then the inaccuracy in how the uboat crew work and details and how they made their after action reports is horrible wrong. And worst: having the uboat crews to mutiny?! No uboat during whole of ww2 did any mutiny against their captain, even worse they do it for some insane captain that wants to attack a super convoy, and then he goes to bed to die and the crew is like: he is a hero although he want us to dide xD then the whole secret operation of trading a high ranking american for that captain....and now that captain is in usa and planning to get back to germany. silly and never ever happened in ww2. Just modern fantasy of ww2 setting. Inaccurate and at best war fantasy series. While the movie das boot showed how it really was like, proper laungauge and correct policitcal view from the crew, crew behaving as normal people and focused on the uboat warfare, no land spy stories or any other story lines thats not needed. Shows exactly how radio and documents and archives work, correct to the smallest detail.No silly mutiny or riot plans or other sillines from the crew.

[@bryanh1944FBH]

At 3:30, note the nice woodworking. The few U Boats that I have been in have all had "some" fine wood working. The Germans felt this to be important. In contrast, visit the Russian sub the Scorpion.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

I can only imagine how dreadful the Russian sub is 😂. Thanks for watching Bryan and have a great week :)

[@יונתןזנטון]

All Russian equipment is well known for lack of human engineering, try crewing or using any of it.@@HiddenHistoryYT

[@peterabram62]

In the navy I knew plenty of submariners, some of the older ones from WWII. Some of my friends have only paid off in recent years. They're the kind of people who enjoy it. It's like playing for the best football team in the world. Always injured, on the pitch you're filthy and cold, getting tackled, dealing with the media and all the untrustworthy people, but it's worth it because it's thrilling and you're part of the best team. That's how they see themselves. Warriors on the cutting edge.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Thanks for sharing this! Appreciate you watching and have a great weekend :)

[@troyjudge8466]

Regardless of axis or Allies, WWII generation were tough dudes!

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Completely agree with that! Thanks for watching Troy and have a great week :)

[@larryfalk192]

The greatest generation for sure...

[@arabchris4822]

That we know of...​@@larryfalk192

[@williampatrickfagan7590]

Any one born into a food shortage is a great person. My mother, argued with me when I said we were very poor When I was A Child, ( I was 17 at that time) that was in 1960s. Did you ever go to bed hungry? No said I. Did you ever go to school without breakfast? No said I. Then you do NOT know what poverty is. That was a kick into reality. Just because I wore second hand clothes and had to walk to school plus grow veg in the garden I thought we were poor. Looking at the World now, I realise I had wealth beyond compare. A loving home, enough to eat a fire every winter night, a bed to sleep in and a roof over my head. That was 1960s Ireland. Today I despair at the world

[@your_royal_highness]

Read a couple of the memoirs of U Boat commanders; I thought Herbert Werners book really gave you details on the awfulness. “Iron Coffins.” Guys were crap in cans when under attack by depth charges and of course if rivets popped you had the “poop cruise.” The stink of bodies and bodily fluids was terrible. Not to mention a 75% chance of never surviving the war.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

I still need to read it, is currently just sitting on my bookshelf!

[@takashitamagawa5881]

Life on German U-Boats may have been more cramped and difficult than on submarines of other navies but the stories of submariners in all the combatant navies of WWII have much in common. The difficulties of life on board, the boredom of a patrol broken by episodes of excitement hunting down enemy shipping and the utter terror of being hunted by destroyers and other escorting ships while under water.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Thanks for watching and have a great week :)

[@danielshaw8049]

I served on Submarines in the seventies. We have a come a long way in the Comforts of Bubbleheads.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Thank you for your service!

[@louisavondart9178]

No Uboot had a refrigerator until the type XXI was developed. Only one of that type ever went on a war patrol. just so you know.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Great info, thanks for watching!

[@sparetime2101]

My grandfather was a submariner before the First World War. I believe in those days the Royal Navy subs were petrol driven with lead acid batteries for propulsion below water. Both highly dangerous in confined spaces. 😊On one occasion his sub dived too steeply and stuck in the mud. Only after repeated attempts did the hull break free and all were safe. However air supplies were limited. I am not sure they had escape hatches.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Wow! Appreciate you watching and have a great week :)

[@yvespenaflor4610]

all submarine crews of ww2 have balls of steel. not for weak guys.

[@paul9478]

they knew very little about danger of such job . propaganda did its best back then but if being told then few will go. the reason why they go is due to lack of knowledge

[@stevefarris9433]

@@paul9478 Paul I served 23 years on submarines. Most people I knew joined because of people they knew that had served(my uncle) or movies of submarine warfare. The USA lost 53 submarines in WW2. I don't know about the German enlisted submariners but I knew what the dangers were even without some Navy trying to kill us. The ocean is not a forgiving place. Part of the training in submarine school and the on the job training during qualifications clearly outline the deadly environment you are entering when you VOLUNTEER for submarine duty. No lack of knowledge for the U.S. Submarine force.

[@davidpowell6098]

The attrition rate was over 60% ,too many met a watery grave. One of the toughest jobs in any situation.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Yep not the best place to be! Thanks for watching and have a great week David :)

[@mardiffv.8775]

Even 75 % attrition rate. Out of 40,000 submariners, 30,000 are still on patrol.

[@az6877]

These subs were built in 1930s and they were the most advanced and deadliest subs of that time.

[@ForTheOmnissiah]

They were advanced, very deadly, and extraordinarily not accommodating to their crew. Definitely designed for function over practicality.

[@dondee5439]

As a boy I thought it would be neat to serve on a submarine. When I learned that the crew had to use the same bunks in shifts (hot bunking) I no longer cared to be a submariner.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Agreed. Thanks for watching and have a great week :)

[@psour33]

I served on a Uboat type ship in the 70's. Life was exactly the same but I remember that cooking was very good. Sadly when surfaced with ship rolling and trapped inside I was not very hungry.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Thank you for your service! Appreciate you watching & have a great week :)

[@ZATennisFan]

Those U-Boat crews were some of the bravest men on either side of the war.

[@Frosty_tha_Snowman]

Wow.. that intro made my heart sink. I am terrified of warning sirens - I grew up in Kansas where we had a tornado at least once a year, sometimes up to 5, and I never got used to it, even if we were never in their path. They got close, and that was enough for some major ptsd..

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Ha that’s where I’m from :) thanks for watching

[@Frosty_tha_Snowman]

@@HiddenHistoryYT haha nice! Go Chiefs 😄

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

@@Frosty_tha_Snowman yes sir! I actually went to the last 2 Super Bowls. My life is now complete.

[@Frosty_tha_Snowman]

@@HiddenHistoryYT I bet lol, that's awesome. I really want to see one before Reid and Kelce retire.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

@@Frosty_tha_Snowman it’s 100% worth it IMO

[@StelvioSteve-j2h]

Of the 40,000 Uboat submariners 30,000 perished including Doenitz’s son. Das Boot is well worth a watch though watch with subtitles and German speaking for authenticity

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Indeed. Thanks for watching and have a great week :)

[@greggwolffis7211]

It shows how motivated, disciplined, and tough the U-Boat crews were. They were fighting for their country, just like every other combatant from other nations.

[@hunterbiden7391]

Yes, except their country was for eradicating other “lesser” races so their Race could create a new one race civilization that ruled the world.

[@floo1465]

they were also nazis though

[@winstonchurchill3597]

@@floo1465 Blah

[@checkengine5149]

​@@floo1465 just like your fellow countrymen nowadays.

[@tboman4128]

@@floo1465 Not all were Nazis.

[@xGALAXYRADIOx]

What a different war these men fought

[@garyhewitt489]

Life in a Corvette or even an armed trawler in the north Atlantic was no fun either.

[@luzernerschutze7564]

Type IX U-Boats, the largest German Subs of WW2 and the ones that went on patrol for more than a month at a time, actually had showers. And they probably only put those in out of fear that disease would spread like wildfire otherwise. In comparison American Fleet boats seem like yachts. The Italians in their submarines gave the crew barely more than minimum living space and comfort, and their German Allies accused them of "building Hotels instead of Submarines".

[@kelsiewilson]

I served on the USS Hunly..it's was rough.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Thank you for your service!

[@BigMaxGames]

Thank you for featuring my great Uncle Wolfgang Lueth in your video...

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Incredible, seemed a very brave man! Thanks for watching Andreas and have a great week :)

[@daveware4117]

As if the living conditions weren't bad enough, after 1943, things got worse. Allied airpower made life even more missreable. And the odds of being sunk were very high. If living aboard a u-boat was bad, then dying on one was worse.

[@Jleed989]

They caused enough pain and misery to others

[@ronjones9447]

It was technology (Radar) and mass production of the US that was their down fall plus hitler did not understand the true value of the submarine force

[@petcatznz]

Hard to feel sorry for them. They were operating a deadly offensive weapon in a war they started.

[@Zoltan_666]

​@@petcatznz bullshit man, the real history is remaining hidden. Germany never started war, but Mrs teacher never told you this Try find and study documentary movie, for starters, TGSNT This shit is very real, man I study history more than 35 years now and EVERYTHING, every God damn thing happened differently Start your journey on TGSNT and don't believe mainstream bs

[@Minutemansurvivalist]

​​@@petcatznzPiss off liberal. You and your boyfriend here.

[@yabbadabbadoo8225]

if you get a chance watch ''Das Boot'' you'll never see a better U Boat show

[@lawrencewood289]

Nice video. They weren't "shifts". They were "watches". If they did 8 hour stretches that would be contrary to normal naval practice which is 4 hour watches. Perhaps that was the case in the Kriegsmarine though.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Ahh thank you! Appreciate you watching and have a great week :)

[@leonardhill4440]

These men were a whole new kind of brave….a class of their own.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Appreciate you watching and have a great weekend :)

[@mr.d8214]

The process of sharing bunks is called, "hot racking."

[@seltaeb9691]

Being a merchant seaman on a Liberty ship was harder when torpedoed & trying to save yourself in the water or on a liferaft in the bitter cold.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Yep! Thanks for watching and have a great week :)

[@TheBrettWay]

nothing better than getting sweaty with the boys

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

You wild

[@maximusthezoura]

@@HiddenHistoryYT 😂

[@cramersclassics]

Unique and well done!

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Thank you, appreciate it!

[@earlgreco8636]

I remember seeing a video about the same showing them showering though it stated the didn't get to do it often.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Thanks for watching and have a great week :)

[@beachbum4691]

I think everyone understands that U-boat crews had it tough, this video is my first meaningful insight into just how tough they had it, a truly fantastic insight, that deserves a tick and a subscribe: thank you for posting :)

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Appreciate you watching and have a great week :)

[@beachbum4691]

@@HiddenHistoryYT Best wishes to you., You're producing some superb videos; thanks :)

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

@@beachbum4691 Greatly appreciate it :)

[@honestreviewer3283]

I was shocked to see how much nicer American subs (there are some videos on KZbin) were inside than U-boats. Really spacious and "luxurious" (for a fighting machine) compared to their German counterparts.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

I am not at all envious of the men who served on the U-Boats I can tell you that!

[@mr.zondide2746]

Ever notice American sailors on subs are wearing clean uniforms, drinking coffee, eating pie, and Germans appear to be wearing rags, look shaggy, and are miserable

[@ronjones9447]

@@mr.zondide2746 they knew as time passed, death was only a matter of time. But they still did their job and never had a problem getting volunteers

[@patfromamboy]

@@mr.zondide2746 the US subs were larger so that probably helped. I’m going to have to read more to find out because I’m curious now

[@ColoradoStreaming]

USA U-Boats were generally larger because they were build for long range patrols in the Pacific Theater.

[@nevasoba5953]

The smell on those 0:59 boats would’ve been tremendous.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Indeed!

[@joelaw2752]

Nice job!

[@Optim40]

Man who wouldn't want a nice month long cruise in one of those things !

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

😂

[@Optim40]

@@HiddenHistoryYT 😂

[@Warriorking.1963]

Unless we've actually been exposed to hostile fire, nobody knows how they would react in battle... except me! Yes, even though I've been lucky enough to have never had to fight in a war, I know for an absolute fact I would crack if I was in a WW2 submarine/U-boat that was being subjected to a depth charge attack. Respect to the submariners from all nations who served on these things.

[@freeagent8225]

Its always the ' Chief ' that cracks first.

[@andyjohnson3790]

A golden medal should be given to anyone who had to spend months under water with hundreds of men with one hand pumping toilet. I Salute You with weird respect. And THANK YOU

[@Grimenoughtomaketherobotcry]

If they were in a warm climate zone with a calm sea and little chance of attack by aircraft, it wasn't unheard of for sailors to be permitted a salt water swim.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Good point!

[@jebise1126]

taken straight from the movie... also boats were designed for smaller crew. in was crew was often twice the size because of extra tasks and such

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Thanks for watching and have a great week :)

[@jdl9679]

I find a lot of this hard to believe. Yes 6 months is a long time though I believe they didn’t go nearly that length especially during war time fueling rearming etc but a simple splash of water and soap tooth paste was enough to clean one self easily even with a limited amount of fresh water. In all realty the genital areas armpits teeth maybe feet are mandatory for cleanliness anything else can be held out for weeks.

[@brustar5152]

People also need reminding that Corvette duty in the N. Atlantic was miserable as well. Going weeks living in a cold mess bouncing around at the whim of any storm without being able to dry your frozen clothes ain't no picnic. At least a U-boat could dive to get below the weather and you could warm up below. On a sub only the duty con watch was in the cold. The entire crew, other than the stokers, froze on those Corvettes. Their legs were strong though because wearing a wet great-coat for 16 hrs at a time was akin to carrying a 50lb field pack. Subs and those smaller ships that hunted them were equally uncomfortable and dangerous duty.

[@stevefarris9433]

During my years on diesels the longest patrols were 3, maybe 4 months depending on the reason for the patrol. A Westpac trip might take 6/7 months but a lot of that time was spent resupplying in friendly ports. A basin of water just before going on watch was what we had. Brush your teeth, wash your face and work your way down. Body odor was not much of a problem because all you could smell was diesel fuel. The bad smells came when you surfaced. The nukes did not suffer the same kind of water rationing. Heck they had washing machines and all the water the tea kettle provided. Going on patrol on an SSBN missile boat was like going to sea in the Hilton after serving on diesels. Proud to have served with my fellow submariners for 23 years.

[@hannibalheyes339]

Too bad they didn't make wet wipes back then😊

[@elultimo102]

By comparison, US boats were almost luxurious, in terms of crew accommodations, even on the most advanced U-boat models at the end of the war. The Germans treated their crews like prisoners.

[@Archer28M]

Bull Shit.

[@Headhunter_212]

To quote the immortal Patton Oswalt: "Nuthing but swamp ass and nut fog"

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

😂

[@harrysweeten9417]

After hearing and seeing the condition s on a U boat the question is where do I sign up?

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

😂

[@patfromamboy]

I’d be ok for about 3 days and both sets of my underwear would be ruined. “Put on your other set of underwear Patrick!” “These are the other set sir!”

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

😂😂

[@patfromamboy]

@@HiddenHistoryYT bed wetters probably weren’t too popular with the crew.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

@@patfromamboy 😂

[@BobJones-zw3ui]

As far as the stench, I think the tank corps would give them a run for their money.😂😂😂

[@Mein-Darth]

Imagine being sunk and trapped in an U-boat stuff of nightmares.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Completely agree. Thanks for watching and have a great week :)

[@gabir.3207]

Németországban,Kiel várostól nem messze,egy Laboe nevű falu strandján van egy épségben maradt U-Boot, az U-995, VII/C típusú. Múzeum. Én jártam ott,elképesztő hely. Az ottani Haditengerészeti Múzeum része.

[@Leningrad_Underground]

Have you got a posting showing what "Death" was like on U boat. Kinda ballance it out with the 72,000. allied merchant seamen who perished

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

I have actually looked into this in the past, I’ll see if I can make a video out of it!

[@PlushPineapple]

My great uncle worked in a u-boat (U-371) in ww2 but sadly he died in 1942

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Thank you to him for his service and sacrifice, he is a hero! We remember him today 🫡

[@PlushPineapple]

@@HiddenHistoryYT thanks?

[@amrendrasingh9619]

👀do you realize he worked in a G-E-R-M-A-N S-U-B-M-A-R-I-N-E during W-W-2👀

[@PlushPineapple]

@@amrendrasingh9619 ? yea...

[@joshuar6580]

There’s a great book on German U boats in WW2 called Iron Coffins. Best book I ever read.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

On my bookshelf right now! Thanks for watching and have a great weekend :)

[@joshuar6580]

@@HiddenHistoryYT give it a read if you haven’t already. Great book read it maybe 5 times

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

@@joshuar6580 I need to! May start it today after I finish my Bismarck Survivor’s book (which has been fantastic!)

[@joshuar6580]

@@HiddenHistoryYT good deal. Liked subscribed. Good find

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

@@joshuar6580 Greatly appreciate it :)

[@ronjones9447]

Being a huge ww2 history fan, I’ve always pictured myself as a commanding officer of a u boat in the early years, chances are I would not have survived the war

[@freeagent8225]

Me too, as a child growing up in Australia i wanted to be a U- Boot Captain. My dream never eventuated but its so good to dream when young. In another life perhaps ?

[@Jleed989]

Must be a thrill destroying all of those unarmed merchant ships

[@ronjones9447]

@@Jleed989 if it was only that easy. Dangers from the sea, air and surface. Mechanical problems, constant fear, poor living conditions, limited water, chilling/incredibly hot bridge watches, storms, faulty torpedoes the list goes on and on. Just like a 20 million dollar football player, if it was that easy we’d all do it

[@frederickherring2284]

In the Oberon Class, The Shower is where we stowed our Beer

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Great information! Thank you for your service as well!

[@JustaRemf]

Good video. Worth noting that 68% of the total Uboat service personnel lost their lives at sea.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Jaw dropping numbers indeed. Appreciate you watching & have a great weekend :)

[@unnamedchannel1237]

Wouldn’t want to drink from the water tank if it had fuel in it on the previous tour

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Facts

[@kirkstinson7316]

Fresh water was NOT made/carried primarily for drinking. Batteries always came first. And that salt water soap? What do you think it was used for? Yes, it was bad but it was used for washing

[@jumi9342]

German subs had saltwater soap so you could at least scrub yourself down. They also could shave but most just didn't bother with it. Source: Das Boot by Buchheim

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Thanks for watching and have a great week :)

[@jonathanmendoza742]

U boat crew is a special breed of warrior

[@ernestwhite2989]

I met an old U-boat guy he was crazy as a loon,this was in the 90s.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Very cool 😂 Thanks for watching Ernest, have a great weekend :)

[@charlesforrest7678]

They didn't call them bubbleheads for nothing.

[@EchoesofWarYT]

Very nice

[@beef539]

How the hell could you stand this lifestyle? 6 weeks would be mentally draining but 6 months of this? Holy shit you’d go nuts.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Agreed! Appreciate you watching and have a great week :)

[@sailawaybob]

I think i would have preferred being on the Bismarck and we knew how that turned out

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Not a great option either way 😂 Thanks for watching :)

[@nigel900]

Fascinating. 👍🏻

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Thanks for watching!

[@davehughesfarm7983]

This was pretty rough...Imagine days on end of it.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

I know I wouldn’t have been able to handle it! Thanks for watching and have a great week Dave :)

[@johnhiggins4470]

There was no air conditioning in a U boat. The interior had the same temperature as the water around the boat. Think of the North Atlantic in winter.

[@technoviking9999]

Best job ever! Also most of these men died in the war.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Thanks for watching & have a great weekend :)

[@CropDuster-kz6uq]

These guys had guts.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

A very tough job! Thanks for watching :)

[@rainscratch]

The German film Das Boot (The Boat) is well worth watching.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

I greatly enjoyed it! Appreciate you watching and have a fantastic weekend :)

[@anthonygerace8926]

Misery, usually ended only by death. I wonder how the conditions on American submarines compared to conditions on the German U-boots. Were conditions on the American subs any better? Probably not.

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Life on an American Submarine in WW2 kzbin.info/www/bejne/j3zEfGCCl7pqY8U

[@walterkronkitesleftshoe6684]

The fact that the USN called their own subs "Pig boats" will direct you to the correct answer.

[@tweezerjam]

This seems must worse than jail. So Lame. 😂 Really cool footage 👍🏼

[@HiddenHistoryYT]

Thanks for watching and have a great week :)

[@kyleyoung1156]

The song at the end was the best part!