This biography (finally available in French) is established as a definitive work on the life and career of the Kaleunt of U99. Striving to unravel the mysteries and enigmas of Otto Kretschmer's taciturn character, the author presents his childhood and youth, his stay in Great Britain (important for his career as a submariner) and his first steps as a naval officer.
The story then gives pride of place to the Battle of the Atlantic: all the war patrols aboard the U23 (Typ II) then the famous U99 (Typ VII) are detailed and illustrated with numerous anecdotes and testimonies, drawn from German and Allied sources, as well as correspondence with Otto "the silent" himself, some of his subordinates and comrades, and his adversaries.
A member of the very select club of "aces of Lorient" with Günther Prien and Joachim Schepke, Kretschmer is not only a diligent U-boat commander, perfectionist and terribly gifted in tracking down his enemies, but he is also an innovative tactician, who will develop daring methods to infiltrate the convoys, by deceiving the vigilance of the escorts, attacking at night and on the surface!
Of course, Lawrence Paterson's research work also dwells on the Prussian's relations with his superiors, the Nazi regime and war propaganda, as well as his years of captivity, in particular his controversial activities in British prison camps and Canadians, where Kretschmer never really capitulated to the enemy!
This book far surpasses Terence Robertson's famous biography "The Golden Horseshoe" (published in English in 1955), managing to provide readers with new details and information, thus offering a "living photograph" of life in aboard the U-boats through the brilliant career of Otto Kretschmer!
