{"product_id":"u-48-the-most-successful-u-boat-of-the-second-world-war-1848326068","title":"U-48: The Most Successful U-Boat of the Second World War","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eISBN:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1848326068\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/strong\u003e Franz Kurowski\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e New\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFollowing the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, Germany was not permitted to build or operate submarines. However clandestine training onboard Finnish and Spanish submarines took place and U-boats were still built to German designs in Dutch yards.At the outset of the Second World War, Dnitz argued for a 300-strong U-boat fleet, since his force of 57 U-boats could only inflict pin-pricks against British seaborne trade. In August 1939, U-48 left Germany, commanded by Vaddi Schultze, to take up a waiting position around England.It scored its first success on 5 September, when it torpedoed the British freighter Royal Sceptre, then the Winkleigh on 8 September. On both occasions - the first of many - Schultze showed himself to be a notable humanitarian: he addressed signals to Churchill giving positions of the sinkings so that crews could be saved.By 1 August 1941, U-48, the most successful boat of the Second World War, had sunk 56 merchant ships of 322,478 gross tons and one corvette. She was then transferred to the Baltic as a training boat. Schultze became commander of operation 3 U-Flotilla and later was appointed commander, II\/Naval College Schleswig. He died in 1987 at the age of 78. U-48 was scuttled on 3 May 1945.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mia Karts","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51877020008736,"sku":"NEW1848326068","price":79.18,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0980\/7426\/3840\/files\/51ICREF-K-L.jpg?v=1781764118","url":"https:\/\/miakarts.com\/products\/u-48-the-most-successful-u-boat-of-the-second-world-war-1848326068","provider":"Miakarts Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}