90. To The Last Salute

The Memoirs of an Austrian U-Boat Captain
Rated 4 Stars

Regardless of whether or not von Trapp tried to make himself look good, I found this book very interesting. I have always been fascinated by submarines this look at early U-Boats was certainly enlightening. I also proves to me that men are just a little bit crazy. I cannot imagine a sane person setting out to sea to conduct warfare in the boats that are described in this book.

I also never imagined that railway cars could have bed bugs in the upholstery. The things you learn when you read!


"Captain von Trapp's narrative of his wartime U-boat exploits has lurked in German and French for generations and now finds an adequate translator into English in one of his granddaughters. He almost certainly always tried to put his best foot forward, and he emerges from his account as a man of great skill, considerable compassion (even for his victims), and sufficient tact and tolerance to handle the kind of polyglot crews that sailed for the Dual Monarchy. In two submarines, the antique U-5 and the French prize, U-14, he became the highest scoring Austro-Hungarian submariner, despite equipment that was sometimes more dangerous to him and his men than to the enemy. He fought on to the end, knowing that the Dual Monarchy he served so well was crumbling. In the end, he gave the last salute of the title when the imperial flag was hauled down for the last time." BOOK JACKET