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Werner Fürbringer

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Fips: Legendary U-Boat Commander, 1915-1918 Hardcover – January 1, 2000

by Werner Furbringer (Author), Geoffrey Brooks (Translator)

4.6 21 ratings

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Werner "Fips" Furbringer, one of Germany's most successful U-boat commanders in World War I, recounts his life in the Imperial German Navy, his early assignment on board the submarine that sank the Lusitania in 1915, his three years as a commanding officer, and his capture and life as a British prisoner of war.

Print length

146 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Naval Institute Press
Publication date

January 1, 2000
Dimensions

6 x 1 x 9 inches
ISBN-10

1557502862
ISBN-13

978-1557502865
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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Naval Institute Press; First American Edition (January 1, 2000)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 146 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1557502862
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1557502865
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.4 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1 x 9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #4,728,105 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #7,881 in World War I History (Books)
- #9,595 in Naval Military History

Customer Reviews:
4.6 21 ratings

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4.6 out of 5

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T. Walters

Good Read

Reviewed in the United States on June 6, 2014

Verified Purchase

This was a very good read if you are interested in WWI submarine service this is a must have I had a hard time putting the book down this was an eye opening account of German U-Boat service in WWI.

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Jim Hoffmann

Werner "Fips" Furbringer is one of the greatest war heroes I've ever read about

Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2016

Werner "Fips" Furbringer is one of the greatest war heroes I've ever read about. Frankly, Fips' exploits rank up there with Lee at Chancellorsville, Patton at The Bulge, and Washington at Trenton. The 8 day trek back to Belgium is incredible. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in war exploits. The German youth have a true national hero....

One person found this helpful

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WryGuy2

Interesting WW I Submariner's Memior

Reviewed in the United States on August 23, 2010

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"Fips: Legendary U-Boat Commander 1915 - 1918", by Werner Furbringer is a memoir of a U-Boat commander from World War I. Serving from the beginning of the war until being captured in July 1918, this book provides a snapshot of the ferocious U-Boat war being waged by Germany developed from its infancy, as viewed through the eyes of the author.

Until March 1915, Herr Furbringer served as the watch officer of the U-20, subsequently to achieve international notoriety for sinking the Lusitania (but after the author departed for his own command). His first boat was the UB-2, a 120 ton coastal U-boat that had a top speed ... surfaced or submerged ... of only 5 knots, rendering it incapable of keeping up with most powered steamers.

While reading the relatively short book (146 pages, counting the index), you can see how both the U-Boats and the Allied defenses improved as time went on.

The author, while in command of several U-Boats, sank just over 100 ships, most of which were sailing ships or trawlers. He initially sailed from bases near the Flanders area, which over the course of the war had an 83 percent U-Boat loss rate. (Overall, just under 50 percent of all German U-Boats were lost.) Herr Furbringer describes many close shaves and near-disasters, and was undoubtedly very lucky to survive the war. Although the book ends with the author's repatriation in November 1919, he also served as a submarine staff officer for Germany in World War II until retiring in 1943.

While there is no real attempt here to cover the bigger picture here, I found I learned a great deal about how the World War I submarine campaign was fought. I would have liked the book to have provided more specifications about the ships he commanded, more details of some of his cruises, and maps showing the areas he fought in. But Herr Furbringer's writing style is effective, and the book includes some pictures of a few of his victims.

Overall, I found the book to be well written and worth reading for a commander's eye view of fighting a U-Boat in World War I. I recommend this book.

5 people found this helpful

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MIDN 1/C STEVEN TARR

Bad Title But A Good Book

Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2000

The book is an easy read and does include some interesting links to history. FIPS was assigned to the sub that sank Lusitania but was detached before the sub did that. Some of the parts of the book illuminate the struggle of FIPS and his crew against incredible odds. The fact that FIPS was able to get out these situations is a testament to his skill as a submarine commander. It is incredible to read what these men faced and overcame. History has always portrayed the British as the gentlemen in the U-boat War, at least FIPS brings something else to the table to digest. This book is important historically because of the 83% loss rate in the Flanders Flotilla during World War I. Not many men lived to tell their story. The only problem I had with the book is the title, when I hear the word U-boat Commander FIPS is not the first person that I think of.

8 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

July Japer

Good Book But Over Priced.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 25, 2017

Verified Purchase

A well written book that really helps to give an insight in to what life was like aboard a German U-Boat during the Great War. My only complaint is that it's far too short for a book with an original asking price of £16.95. However, as I didn't pay anywhere near full price it gets the full five stars. If you have an interest in the U-Boat campaign of the First World War this book is a must.

harry 123

Fips; Legendary U-boat commander

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 17, 2012

Verified Purchase

This book is a must have for all seafarer readers, hopefully said as it was at the time, a real eye opener. Not expensive and fast delivery. No complaints.

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