German submarines sank an enormous amount of British and Commonwealth shipping in the Atlantic and for a time in 1916 food stocks in Britain were down to about six weeks' supply. German submarines aslo sank some neutral ships and by sinking American ships they brought the U.S. into the war.
The nickname of German submarines during World War I was "U-boats," which stands for "Unterseeboot," meaning "undersea boat" in German. These submarines played a significant role in naval warfare, employing tactics such as unrestricted submarine warfare to disrupt Allied shipping. U-boats became notorious for their effectiveness in sinking merchant and military vessels. The term has since become synonymous with German submarines in both World Wars.
During World War II, German submarines (U-boats) sank approximately 2,800 Allied ships, totaling around 14 million gross tons. Italian submarines contributed by sinking around 1,300 vessels, amounting to about 3 million gross tons. Together, these submarines played a significant role in disrupting Allied shipping and maritime operations throughout the war.
The German name for submarines in both World War I and World War II was "U-Boot," which is short for "Unterseeboot," meaning "undersea boat." These vessels played a crucial role in naval warfare, particularly in disrupting Allied shipping through unrestricted submarine warfare. The U-Boots were known for their stealth and effectiveness in the Atlantic Ocean.
Supplying the allies with armaments and food supplies across the Atlantic ocean with great resistance from German u boat submarines
The role of submarines during the second world war was primarily the destruction of enemy commerce, and occasionally heavy naval units such as battleships, cruisers, and aircraft carriers. Since the battle of the atlantic was fought primarily against German Submarines which were targeting Allied merchant vessels, there would have been very little point to using submarines.
In both WWI & WWII, German subs were used for "Guerre de Course"...Commerce Raiding. Strong navies fight "Guerre de Escadre" Fleet against Fleet. Germany never had a strong navy, and was thus relegated to merchant raiding.
During World War II, approximately 1,550 submarines were lost by all navies involved in the conflict. This includes around 750 German U-boats and 200 American submarines, among others. The losses were due to various factors, including enemy action, accidents, and mechanical failures. Overall, the submarine warfare of WWII was intense and played a crucial role in naval strategy.
The British Lusitania was sunk of Ireland by the German submarines. 128 Americans perished. At the time, America was neutral and had nothing to do with the war. However, to be fair, the Germans had no way of knowing if Americans were aboard.
The role of a German citizen is to vote for government.
Submarines were crucial in World War II for their role in naval warfare, particularly in disrupting enemy supply lines through strategic blockades and attacks on merchant ships. The German U-boats targeted Allied shipping in the Atlantic, significantly impacting logistics and resource availability. Conversely, Allied submarines, especially in the Pacific, played a vital role in undermining Japanese naval strength and disrupting their supply chains. Their stealth and ability to operate underwater made them formidable tools in achieving naval supremacy.
The term "U-boat" comes from the German word "U-Boot," which is short for "Unterseeboot," meaning "undersea boat." This designation was used primarily during World War I and World War II to refer to German submarines. The "U" represents "Unter" (under), while "Boot" means "boat." The U-boats were notable for their role in naval warfare, particularly in the Battle of the Atlantic.