How Hitler Boats Brought World War II To America

World War II is one of the most significant events in human history, shaping the course of nations and generations. While the conflict mainly took place in Europe and Asia, its impact reached far beyond those continents and even made its way to the shores of America. In this article, we will explore the role of Hitler boats in bringing World War II closer to American soil.

Adolf Hitler, the infamous German dictator, recognized the strategic importance of naval power during wartime. He believed that controlling the seas was crucial to achieving his aggressive expansionist goals and subjugating his enemies. With this vision in mind, he ordered the construction of a formidable fleet of naval vessels.

The German U-boats, or Unterseeboots, played a significant role during World War II. These submarines were designed to operate efficiently underwater and were equipped with torpedoes, making them a deadly threat to enemy ships. The U-boats were an integral part of Hitler's naval strategy and were often deployed to disrupt Allied shipping routes in the Atlantic Ocean.

The Burning Shore: How Hitler's U-Boats Brought World War II to America

by Reinhold Niebuhr(Kindle Edition)

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3527 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	322 pages
Paperback	:	84 pages
Item Weight	:	10.2 ounces
Dimensions	:	8.46 x 0.29 x 10.92 inches

FREE

One of the defining moments that brought World War II closer to American shores was the sinking of the USS Robin Moor on May 21, 1941, off the coast of West Africa. The German U-boat U-69 attacked the American merchant ship, leaving its crew stranded at sea. This incident was a clear indication that the war was encroaching on American territory, even before the United States officially entered the conflict.

The sinking of the USS Robin Moor was not an isolated event. Hitler's U-boats wreaked havoc on American merchant ships, sinking dozens during the early years of the war. These attacks were intended to disrupt the flow of supplies and demoralize the American people, knowing that a neutral United States would eventually join the Allies in their fight against the Axis powers.

The most devastating blow to American shores came with Operation Drumbeat, also known as Paukenschlag. This operation involved launching U-boat attacks along the eastern seaboard of the United States. Hitler hoped that these attacks would ignite panic and force the American government to divert resources from the war effort in Europe to protect its own coastlines.

German U-boats successfully infiltrated American waters, sinking numerous ships and causing significant damage. The coastal cities of New York, New Jersey, and North Carolina experienced the horrors of U-boat attacks firsthand, demonstrating that World War II could no longer be seen as a distant conflict.

The most shocking and catastrophic event occurred off the coast of North Carolina. On June 14, 1942, the German U-boat U-701 torpedoed the SS Montebello, an oil tanker carrying millions of gallons of crude oil. The resulting explosion ignited the oil spill, creating a massive inferno that engulfed neighboring ships and parts of the coastline. This incident served as a wakeup call for the American government, highlighting the need to strengthen coastal defense measures.

As U-boat attacks continued, the United States gradually shifted its focus from neutrality toward active involvement in the war. The sinking of American merchant ships and the resilience of the American people in the face of these attacks played a vital role in shaping public opinion and galvanizing support for war against the Axis powers.

Eventually, the United States established the Eastern Sea Frontier, deploying military resources to protect its coastal waters from further U-boat attacks. Convoy systems were introduced to ensure safer transportation of goods, and massive investments were made in naval vessels and aircraft to counter the threat posed by Hitler's boats.

, Hitler's U-boats played a significant role in bringing World War II closer to America. The sinking of American merchant ships and the destruction caused along the eastern seaboard served as a wake-up call for the American government and its people. These attacks prompted the United States to abandon its neutrality and actively join the Allied forces in their fight against Hitler and his aggressive expansionist goals. The legacy of these Hitler boats is a reminder of the resilience and determination shown by the American nation during the darkest days of the war.

The Burning Shore: How Hitler's U-Boats Brought World War II to America

by Reinhold Niebuhr(Kindle Edition)

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3527 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	322 pages
Paperback	:	84 pages
Item Weight	:	10.2 ounces
Dimensions	:	8.46 x 0.29 x 10.92 inches

FREE

On June 15, 1942, as thousands of vacationers lounged in the sun at Virginia Beach, two massive fireballs erupted just offshore from a convoy of oil tankers steaming into Chesapeake Bay. While men, women, and children gaped from the shore, two damaged oil tankers fell out of line and began to sink. Then a small escort warship blew apart in a violent explosion. Navy warships and aircraft peppered the water with depth charges, but to no avail. Within the next twenty-four hours, a fourth ship lay at the bottom of the channel -- all victims of twenty-nine-year-old Kapitäeutnant Horst Degen and his crew aboard the German U-boat U-701.

In The Burning Shore, acclaimed military reporter Ed Offley presents a thrilling account of the bloody U-boat offensive along America's east coast during the first half of 1942, using the story of Degen's three war patrols as a lens through which to view this forgotten chapter of World War II. For six months, German U-boats prowled the waters off the eastern seaboard, sinking merchant ships with impunity, and threatening to sever the lifeline of supplies flowing from America to Great Britain. Degen's successful infiltration of the Chesapeake Bay in mid-June drove home the U-boats' success, and his spectacular attack terrified the American public as never before. But Degen's cruise was interrupted less than a month later, when U.S. Army Air Forces Lieutenant Harry J. Kane and his aircrew spotted the silhouette of U-701 offshore. The ensuing clash signaled a critical turning point in the Battle of the Atlantic -- and set the stage for an unlikely friendship between two of the episode's survivors.

A gripping tale of heroism and sacrifice, The Burning Shore leads readers into a little-known theater of World War II, where Hitler's U-boats came close to winning the Battle of the Atlantic before American sailors and airmen could finally drive them away.