This is an autobiographical novel by Wolfgang Ott....This is without a doubt one of the best books I have read in a long time...It is about a German seamans' experiences during WWII. He is crewing a Minesweeper for a good part of it..but eventually gets assigned to Submarines...and the last third of the book is about those experiences.....I just couldnt put this book down...A must read for anyone interested in the Kriegsmarine....