From November 1941, German submarines arrive at La Pallice after completing their combat mission. Their crews are housed in the town of La Rochelle, the third U-Boote Flotilla's support point, while their building is maintained in the submarine base. During the first half of 1942, these submariners achieved many successes by attacking allied ships off the American coast. They then patrol West Africa but do not prevent the Allies from landing there on 8 November. At the beginning of 1943, the submarines that leave La Pallice take part in the biggest attacks of packs against the Allied convoys crossing the North Atlantic. In May 1943, at the height of the battle, this base accommodates up to 19 U-Bootes simultaneously. But this month also marks the turning point of the Battle of the Atlantic, with 41 German submarines sunk, both by the navy and the Allied air force. This sector is temporarily abandoned, the time that the U-Boote receive new anti-aircraft guns and a detector able to warn them if an aircraft approaches. In the meantime, the submarines leaving La Rochelle are sent to patrol the African coast, the Caribbean or Guyana; others will anchor mines in front of the American coasts or are prepared to join the Mediterranean. From September 1943, equipped with a new radar detector and especially acoustic torpedoes to eliminate the destroyers escorting convoys, the U-Boote attempt to resume the fight in the North Atlantic. But the Allies, always ahead in both technological and digital terms, remain the strongest. In the spring of 1944, the submarines of La Pallice were equipped with schnorchel and sent to Brest. On June 6, they leave for Normandy to try to counter the huge Allied landing fleet. In August 1944, La Pallice, place of withdrawal of the submarines of the Breton bases, found a strong activity. Then the U-Boote evacuate the base towards Norway. While the French army holds a seat around La Rochelle, two submersibles still come to make a stop in the spring of 1945.
Discover the destiny of the 73 U-Bootes passed by La Pallice thanks to 650 vintage photos, most of them unpublished, very precisely captioned and placed chronologically, as well as numerous plans and documents. Month after month, you will learn about the technical innovations aboard the U-Boote and the strategic maneuvers in which they participate, as well as the actions of the Allies and the French Resistance to counter them. This book will also make you follow the life of returning submarines on the ground, thanks to numerous testimonies. An essential book for all fans of the Battle of the Atlantic, submarines or the history of La Rochelle.
