La batalla del Atlántico

by Andrew Williams

From 1939 until 1942, Hitler's U-boats - his 'grey wolves' - threatened to accomplish what his air force had hitherto been unable to to starve Britain into submission. The struggle for control of the Atlantic was to become the longest, and one of the most bitterly fought campaigns of World War II. For Winston Churchill it was 'the only thing that ever really frightened me during the war'. During the course of five bloody and uncertain years, Britain and her Allies lost more than fifty thousand seamen and fifteen million tons of shipping protecting this lifeline. In 'The Battle of the Atlantic', Andrew Williams vividly describes this intense and strategically vital campaign in the fight for Allied victory. '...an excellent book.' Sunday Express

Genres: History, Nonfiction, World War II, Military Fiction, War, Military History, Naval History

Paperback

First published January 12, 2002

About the author

Andrew worked as a senior producer on BBC Television's flagship current affairs programmes, Panorama and Newsnight, covering the major stories of the day. In 1997 he moved to BBC Documentaries and spent the next eleven years writing and directing television documentaries and drama documentaries for the BBC and international co-producers, including the award winning series, 'The Battle of the Atlantic'. He has written two best selling histories of the Second World War; 'The Battle of the Atlantic', and 'D-Day to Berlin'. His first novel, 'The Interrogator', was shortlisted for the CWA Ian Fleming Thriller of the Year Award and the Ellis Peters Historical Fiction Award, and it was the Daily Mail's debut thriller of 2009. His second, 'To Kill A Tsar', was one of the Daily Mail's thrillers of 2010 and was shortlisted for The Scott Prize for Historical Fiction and the Ellis Peters Award. HIs 1960's espionage thriller, Witchfinder, was one of The Times Literary Supplement Books of the Year. Set inside the British intelligence services in the weeks following the defection of master spy, Kim Philby to the Soviet Union, it tells the story of an MI5 and CIA mole hunt that spirals dangerously out of control. Andrew's latest novel, The Prime Minister's Affair, is the story of a plot to blackmail a Labour Prime Minister and bring down the British Government. The Daily Mail described Andrew 'as one of Britain's most accomplished thriller writers', and the Times Literary Supplement noted that 'if le Carré needs a successor, Williams has all the equipment for the role.'

For background to his books and more on the author, visit: http://www.andrewwilliams.tv You can follow and discuss the books with Andrew on Facebook at AndrewWilliamsbooks or follow on twitter @AWilliamswriter.

Reviews

[Práxedes Rivera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent recounting of an oft-overlooked aspect of WWII --the development of submarine warfare. Williams reminds me of David McCullough in his writing style. Multiple snippets of interviews, speeches, diary entries, etc. are woven into the narrative seamlessly. It almost feels as if the protagonists were in a circle taking turns to give their version of events, curated by a managing storyteller. The effect is powerful and memorable.

I would have given it 5 stars if the author had not spent so much time on non-essential parts of the story, such as food shortages in England. They distracted from the overall theme. Otherwise it was great.

Highly recommended.

[Olethros · Rating 4 out of 5]

-Una excelente visión de conjunto.-

Género. Historia.

Lo que nos cuenta. El libro La batalla del Atlántico (publicación original: The Battle of the Atlantic: The Allies' Submarine Fight Against Hitler's Gray Wolves of the Sea, 2002) nos lleva hasta los combates en el Atlántico durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial, hasta las razones estratégicas del Eje y los Aliados a la hora de explicar sus despliegues y tácticas, mientras da voz a los testimonios de participantes en los combates.

¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:

https://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com...

[Jay Wigley · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're looking for a single book that will put the entire Uboat War into perspective, with great anecdotes and thrilling incidents, this is the book for you. If you're already an expert or are looking for in-depth analysis of specific phases of the Uboat struggle, you're more likely to be happier with another, longer volume. But this was perfect for me. Well-written, well-illustrated, and balanced--just the book on the Battle of the Atlantic I had been looking for a long time.

[Ricardo García Sánchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mi nota es un 8,5/10.
Andrew Williams, en La batalla del Atlántico, nos ofrece un relato detallado y minucioso de uno de los episodios clave de la Segunda Guerra Mundial. El libro narra la intensa lucha naval entre las fuerzas aliadas y las potencias del Eje, especialmente la Kriegsmarine alemana, que intentaban cortar las rutas de suministro que eran vitales para Gran Bretaña y sus aliados. A lo largo de sus páginas, Andrew Williams combina una narrativa histórica rica en detalles con testimonios personales que aportan una dimensión humana a este conflicto.

Resumen de la obra
La batalla del Atlántico cubre el periodo desde el estallido de la Segunda Guerra Mundial en 1939 hasta la derrota definitiva de los submarinos alemanes en 1945. Andrew Williams describe cómo el Atlántico se convirtió en el campo de batalla donde los submarinos alemanes (U-boats), destructores y convoyes aliados se enfrentaron en una guerra de desgaste. La narración abarca tanto las grandes decisiones estratégicas como los enfrentamientos más pequeños y personales entre marinos y submarinistas.

La obra destaca cómo los avances tecnológicos, como el radar y el sonar, y las mejoras en las tácticas navales de los aliados, fueron cruciales para inclinar la balanza a su favor. Además, Andrew Williams dedica tiempo a explorar los costos humanos de la batalla, tanto para los marineros aliados que defendían los convoyes como para los submarinistas alemanes que vivieron y murieron en condiciones extremas.

El estilo de Andrew Williams es muy accesible, incluso para aquellos que no son expertos en historia militar. Aunque el libro está lleno de datos y hechos históricos, el autor consigue mantener un equilibrio entre la información técnica y el ritmo narrativo. Esto lo hace ideal tanto para los estudiosos de la Segunda Guerra Mundial como para un público más general. Su uso de testimonios directos y cartas personales añade una capa emocional que humaniza el conflicto, evitando que el libro se convierta en una mera exposición de cifras y estrategias.

Andrew Williams también muestra una gran habilidad para desglosar los complejos sistemas de lucha y logística que definieron la batalla en el Atlántico. Describe con claridad las tácticas de los convoyes, el funcionamiento de los U-boats, y cómo ambos lados intentaron ganar ventaja en un teatro de guerra en constante evolución.

Aunque no se trata de una novela con personajes ficticios, el enfoque de Andrew Williams sobre las figuras clave de la batalla, tanto del lado aliado como del alemán, otorga a la obra una sensación de conflicto humano. Destacan personajes como el almirante Karl Dönitz, comandante de la flota submarina alemana, y figuras aliadas como el primer ministro Winston Churchill, para quien la Batalla del Atlántico era "la única cosa que realmente le aterrorizaba".

Andrew Williams también da voz a los marineros comunes y a los oficiales de ambos bandos, mostrando el impacto emocional y psicológico de esta batalla naval prolongada. Sus historias de valentía, desesperación y resistencia en condiciones adversas son un recordatorio del costo humano de la guerra.

Andrew Williams enfatiza el sacrificio colectivo de miles de marineros aliados, cuyos esfuerzos permitieron la continuidad de los suministros vitales para la guerra. También se destaca el sacrificio de los submarinistas alemanes, que sufrieron pérdidas devastadoras hacia el final del conflicto.

El autor también explora cómo la innovación tecnológica, desde los sonares hasta los aviones de largo alcance, jugaron un papel crucial en la victoria aliada en el Atlántico.

El libro también aborda la tensión psicológica que la batalla causó tanto en los aliados, que temían quedarse sin recursos, como en los alemanes, que veían cómo sus submarinos eran cazados con mayor eficacia.
Andrew Williams sugiere que la Batalla del Atlántico fue un microcosmos de la guerra más amplia, una lección sobre la importancia de la logística, la innovación tecnológica y la moral en conflictos prolongados.

La batalla del Atlántico es un trabajo exhaustivo y bien investigado que no solo aporta claridad sobre los aspectos técnicos y estratégicos del conflicto, sino que también ofrece una visión humana y emocional de la guerra. Andrew Williams logra hacer de un episodio histórico denso y técnico algo accesible y conmovedor. Para los interesados en la historia naval, este libro es una fuente inestimable de información.

El enfoque equilibrado de Andrew Williams entre la estrategia militar y las historias personales es lo que hace que este libro destaque. Sin embargo, para los lectores que busquen una obra más centrada en el drama humano que en los detalles técnicos, algunas secciones pueden parecer algo áridas. Aun así, el libro logra una admirable síntesis de historia militar y narrativa humana, lo que lo convierte en una referencia clave para entender la Batalla del Atlántico.

Conclusión: La batalla del Atlántico es una obra sólida que ofrece una visión detallada y matizada de uno de los aspectos más críticos de la Segunda Guerra Mundial. Su mezcla de precisión histórica y narración personal lo convierte en una lectura obligada para aquellos interesados en la historia naval y militar.

[Jose Luis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Libro de 4.5 estrellas

Libro de 304 páginas, Me gustó que tratara de la guerra submarina, después de leer Ataúdes de acero este libro amplía la visión general de la guerra en el atlántico y los distintos aspectos relacionados con ella.
Recomendado el libro para adentrarse en la guerra marítima, si lo encuentras y te gusta el tema de la SGM no dudes en comprarlo.

Es un libro ameno y engancha desde el primer capítulo. Combina los sucesos de la guerra en el atlántico con los testimonios de los sobrevivientes, como indica en el libro: "su fuente de información más importante han sido las entrevistas mantenidas con cerca de cincuenta supervivientes de ambos lados, marinos y aviadores británicos y tripulantes de los submarinos alemanes". El libro está bien escrito y documentado aunque las notas vienen al final de libro y no al pie de página pero no afecta la lectura.

El libro se dedica a los sucesos de los barcos aliados contra los submarinos alemanes, si buscas información sobre batallas navales el libro no es el indicado. Son 12 capítulos que desarrolla los temas de manera amena y nada engorroso con los datos.

Comienza desde 1939 un poco antes de iniciarse la guerra y nos muestra los ánimos en ambos contendientes y como va cambiando en el transcurso de la guerra, se combina el ensayo histórico con los testimonios pero siento que le faltó agregar un capítulo con la historia de los navíos británicos y los submarinos alemanes al finalizar la guerra y cómo las tripulaciones alemanas sobrevivientes fueron "repartidas" en varias cárceles. Viene unas biografías sencillas de varios supervivientes al final del libro.

El libro viene con un apartado de fotografías que se agradece pero uno siempre quisiera más imágenes.

[Frederick Gault · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned a lot of astonishing things, eg: The U Boat fleet was pretty sparse early in the war, but sank a lot of ships before the British developed good strategies to counter them. The U Boat is not really an underwater attack vessel, generally attacking from the surface at night. Technology such as radar and sonar was employed extensively by the British but not by the Germans. The Germans were massively out organized by the British as well. Finally, the US Navy was so arrogant and incompetent early in the war that they almost threw away the British success in the North Atlantic. Losses dropped only after the US starting using convoys and escorts - not to mention turning out the lights on merchant vessels - all things the British desperately tried to get them to do!

[Stuart Austwick · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent perspective.

I have probably read most of the history of the Atlantic War. I just had to read this book even though I thought it would likely be a waste of time for me.
This book added a substantial insight into this most important series of events and was one of the best I have read on this subject. Brilliant work well done.

[Olivia Plasencia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I should state right off the bat that sea combat is not my thing, that being said this book read too much like a book one would be required to read in a history class at university. It was unevenly paced, and I found so many errors, grammar wise, that I was annoyed, and normally I never notice things like that. I did like that you got a lot of the Axis U-boat men's side of the story and how they felt about the war, but again rather than put the quotes in a nice flow of story you just got a block quote that you had to sink your teeth into. I would have only given this book two stars but the number of pictures in the book and the way they were spread out helped make the book less dry. I normally never finish a book that I do not like but I wanted to learn more about battles in the water. I will confess I did not see the TV series that went with this book, perhaps if I had it would have been less painful to read but really a lot of things needed to be explained and were not. I had my phone by me to constantly use google to look up foreign words, most of which meant solider or captain, or seafaring words I am just not familiar with. Read if you want a challenge but not to relax.

[Jeff Muñiz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Similar to other books that I have read on the same subject. Enjoyed the personnel accounts of the individuals. Would have been nice to see a chart including monthly/yearly statistics for sinkings and production on both sides. Nothing fancy, but something quick to refer to while reading. Maybe with a graph to show where the critical points overlapped. Would have preferred this to the notes on contributors.

[Rob Jeffery · Rating 4 out of 5]

So heartbreaking to think of the thousands of sailors who lost their lives in the North Atlantic during WWII. The writer writes in such a way that you draw your breath in anxious desperation, feeling that you`re right there on the watch with the convoy sailors who saw the cold grey conning tower rise out of the black waters of the Atlantic. Despair, doom, and death followed in the u-boat`s wake.

[Chowhound88 (a.k.a. Ralph) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very good and informative book.

[Blake Hiatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read.

[Stuart Harland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent overview of this campaign. The sheer scale of the losses is breathtaking. The summary of the campaign against the Eastern American coast is fascinating.

[Avis Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

Williams provides a broad overview for the struggle for the Atlantic Ocean. You see into the mind of Admiral Donitz and learn why he made his decisions, and you follow some of his submarine crews as they stalk their prey, and you watch the development of the U-boat wolfpack.

Churchill was worried that the Axis would sink so much tonnage that Britain would not be able to keep itself supplied. Eventually radar and better assault tactics damaged German submarines faster than they could be built or crewed and destroyed U-boat morale.

German crews were profoundly shocked the first time they were located while hidden underwater by aircraft, then bombed with depth charges by air, thanks to radar. Donitz and the German High command went into denial in the face of superior Allied technology, a denial that ultimately doomed them.

The book is as good a work as A Bridge Too Far or The Dam Busters. The latter is a good comparison, because it outlines the air strategy the British used against the Germans much the same way The Battle of The Atlantic explains the convoy-vs submarine strategy the British used against the Germans.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Andrew Williams The Battle of the Atlantic is a good companion to an excellent History Channel miniseries. If you are lucky you might get the commercial free version on military history. The miniseries is excellent and worth the watching. Williams' book is excellent and borders on a four star because it is well written and informative. However it is a survey of the Battle of the Atlantic. With the other great if not classic material out there Williams depends on oral histories which are critical to keep but must be bolstered by the wealth of the material out there on the Battle of the Atlantic. With that being said Williams does a good job of bring some information such as interrogation of captured U-boat crews which I haven't read before. It was a good book but felt like it needed something more and I think that would be the miniseries it was a companion with.

[Stephen Tubbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most impressive thing for me was the fair representation in the number of interviews between allied and axis service men most of whom were in the front line. Their related experiences (officers and non-commissioned) will be of inestimable value when added to our knowledge of this major battle in WWII. The other lasting impression I had was of the total respect mariners had for the sea and for each other - friend or foe.

[Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked learning about the different tactics and found it very interesting to learn how much technology changed from the beginning of the war to the end. I guess the U boat XXI coming into the war so late was quite fortuitous for the Allies. Survivors, prisoners of war and their eye witness accounts make this book worth reading. Interesting stuff.

[Jeff Wombold · Rating 3 out of 5]

A must for any submariner. It shows that all submariners are alike

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like history and this book is much like Bitter Ocean. However, in my opinion, the writing wasn't as distant from the reader. One could relate better to it.

[James Webster · Rating 3 out of 5]

You can tell this is a book to accompany a TV series. But it's got enough to be serious and, of course, the eye-witness material is good.

[Brian Waddell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pleasantly surprised. Lots of human interest along with the general run of the battle. A good read.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superb.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great overview and compelling story of this vital but often overlooked campaign.

[Luis Cardenas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stalingrado, Overlord, el Alamein. Son esas las batallas más conocidas en todo el contexto de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, Andrew Williams revela con precisión las bajas, las tácticas y las formas en que los submarinos del mariscal Doenitz casi ganan la guerra al cortar el cordón de suministros aliados en el mar.