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Codename Nemo: The Hunt for a Nazi U-Boat and the Elusive Enigma Machine
The white-knuckled war saga of the US Navy task force who achieved the impossible on June 4, 1944, capturing Nazi submarine U-505, its crew, technology, encryption codes, and an Enigma cipher machine—the first seizure of an enemy ship in battle since the War of 1812 and one that undoubtedly shortened the duration of the war.
On June 4, 1944—two days before D-Day—the course of World War II was forever changed. That day, a US Navy task force achieved the impossible—capturing a German U-Boat, its crew, all its technology, Nazi encryption codes, and an Enigma cipher machine. Led by a nine-man boarding party and the maverick Captain Daniel Gallery, US antisubmarine Task Group 22.3’s capture of U-505 in what was called Operation Nemo was the first seizure of an enemy ship in battle since the War of 1812, one of the greatest achievements of the US Navy, and a victory that shortened the duration of the war.
Charles Lachman’s white-knuckled war saga and thrilling cat-and-mouse game is told through the eyes of the men on both sides of Operation Nemo—German U-Boaters and American heroes like Lieutenant Albert David (“Mustang�), who led the boarding party that took control of U-505 and became the only sailor to be awarded the Medal of Honor in the Battle of the Atlantic; and Chief Motor Machinist Zenon Lukosius (“Zeke�), a Lithuanian immigrant’s son from Chicago who dropped out of high school to enlist in the Navy and whose quick thinking saved the day when he plugged a hole of gushing water that was threatening to sink U-505. Three thousand American sailors participated in this extraordinary adventure; nine ordinary American men channeling extraordinary skill and bravery finished the job; and then—like everyone involved—breathed not a word of it until after the war was over. Nothing leaked out. In Berlin, the German Kriegsmarine assumed that U-505 had been blown to bits by depth charges, with all hands lost at sea. They were unaware that the U-Boat and its secrets, to be used in cracking Nazi coded messages, were in now American hands. They were also unaware that the 59 German sailors captured on the high seas were imprisoned in a POW camp in Ruston, Louisiana, until their release in 1946 when they were permitted to return home to family and friends who thought they had perished. Following Operation Nemo step-by-step, author Charles Lachman has crafted a deeply researched, fast-paced World War II narrative for the ages.
On June 4, 1944—two days before D-Day—the course of World War II was forever changed. That day, a US Navy task force achieved the impossible—capturing a German U-Boat, its crew, all its technology, Nazi encryption codes, and an Enigma cipher machine. Led by a nine-man boarding party and the maverick Captain Daniel Gallery, US antisubmarine Task Group 22.3’s capture of U-505 in what was called Operation Nemo was the first seizure of an enemy ship in battle since the War of 1812, one of the greatest achievements of the US Navy, and a victory that shortened the duration of the war.
Charles Lachman’s white-knuckled war saga and thrilling cat-and-mouse game is told through the eyes of the men on both sides of Operation Nemo—German U-Boaters and American heroes like Lieutenant Albert David (“Mustang�), who led the boarding party that took control of U-505 and became the only sailor to be awarded the Medal of Honor in the Battle of the Atlantic; and Chief Motor Machinist Zenon Lukosius (“Zeke�), a Lithuanian immigrant’s son from Chicago who dropped out of high school to enlist in the Navy and whose quick thinking saved the day when he plugged a hole of gushing water that was threatening to sink U-505. Three thousand American sailors participated in this extraordinary adventure; nine ordinary American men channeling extraordinary skill and bravery finished the job; and then—like everyone involved—breathed not a word of it until after the war was over. Nothing leaked out. In Berlin, the German Kriegsmarine assumed that U-505 had been blown to bits by depth charges, with all hands lost at sea. They were unaware that the U-Boat and its secrets, to be used in cracking Nazi coded messages, were in now American hands. They were also unaware that the 59 German sailors captured on the high seas were imprisoned in a POW camp in Ruston, Louisiana, until their release in 1946 when they were permitted to return home to family and friends who thought they had perished. Following Operation Nemo step-by-step, author Charles Lachman has crafted a deeply researched, fast-paced World War II narrative for the ages.
352 pages, Hardcover
Published June 4, 2024
139 people are currently reading
3468 people want to read
About the author
Charles Lachman
11books36followersCharles Lachman is Executive Producer of the television news magazine show, Inside Edition. Previously he was Managing Editor of the nightly news broadcasts at WNYW-TV in New York City and was a reporter for the New York Post.
Lachman is the author of In the Name of the Law, The Last Lincolns: The Rise and Fall of a Great American Family, A Secret Life: The Lies and Scandals of President Grover Cleveland and most recently Footsteps in the Snow.
Lachman is the author of In the Name of the Law, The Last Lincolns: The Rise and Fall of a Great American Family, A Secret Life: The Lies and Scandals of President Grover Cleveland and most recently Footsteps in the Snow.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
June 17, 2024
I have read other books about the Enigma cipher machine, but I had not read the story of how some American sailors stole one in 1944. Typically, when a German submarine was threatened with capture the crew scuttled the vessel in order to destroy the Enigma machine and critical documentation, but this time the scuttling failed. U-505 was captured in tact, and its crew was imprisoned until World War II had ended. All of that had to remain a secret. It was essential that Germany believe that the submarine and its crew were lost. Keeping that secret might have been the hardest challenge.
This book was a very compelling read. Parts of it were exciting, and all was informative. There was just enough biographical material on both the Americans and the Germans, and the book explained what happened to them (and the submarine) after the war. I liked the fact that the experiences of the Germans was covered too. The narrator of the audio book did a good job and did not over dramatize his narration.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
This book was a very compelling read. Parts of it were exciting, and all was informative. There was just enough biographical material on both the Americans and the Germans, and the book explained what happened to them (and the submarine) after the war. I liked the fact that the experiences of the Germans was covered too. The narrator of the audio book did a good job and did not over dramatize his narration.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
June 7, 2024
The U-505 story
If you read a lot of naval history (fiction included), you are familiar with stories in which sailors from one vessel board and capture another in battle. That happened a lot in the days of the tall ships, but fell out of fashion when ships were able to fire at each other from miles apart. The publisher's blurb claims that before 1944 the last "seizure of an enemy ship in battle" occurred during the War of 1812. (I don't vouch for the accuracy of this claim, which, frankly, I doubt.) I say "before 1944" because on 4-June-1944 American sailors boarded and captured the German submarine U-505. The same blurb implies that 's is the story of that capture. It would be more accurate, however, to say that CONTAINS the story of the capture of U-505.
In fact, is a longitudinal history of U-505, extending from its launch 24-May-1941 to its current display in the Chicago Museum of Science and industry. It also tells the personal stories of many of the sailors whose careers involved U-505, both the Germans who fought in it from 1941-1944, and the US sailors who captured it and brought to port.
This is a great story, and I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I have two complaints, one minor and the other more important. I have already hinted at the first. felt padded to me with a lot of history not strictly relevant to the capture. That is, we read of U-505's missions from 1941-1944. These are not uninteresting, but they are not really very different from the missions of other World War II U-boats. The unique interest of U-505 is its capture, and much in seemed unnecessary to that story.
My other, more important complaint, was the failure of to place the operation in the context of English code-breaking operations. Capturing a submarine is a difficult and dangerous operation -- why go to that trouble? The reason is hinted at in the subtitle, . The value of a captured sub is intelligence. With a captured submarine you can study how a German submarine and torpedoes work. But more important than that is to get hands on German codebooks and cryptographic equipment. That is the Enigma machine mentioned in the subtitle. English mathematicians led by Alan Turing at the famous Bletchley Park operation broke the Enigma code and were reading German radio messages from fairly early in the war. (This is an utterly fascinating story told in ' biography of Turing, .) There were several different versions of the Enigma. By far the most sophisticated was the naval Enigma, which German vessels of war, submarines included, carried. Bletchley Park could not crack the naval Enigma until they managed to capture one.
(In fact, the English captured thousands of Enigma machines. After the war they distributed them to their allies suggesting they could be used for secure communications. Without, of course, telling those allies that England had broken the code and could read any such communications. If you ever wonder how England got the nickname "Perfidious Albion", here's a hint.)
That is the most important reason why a captured German submarine was such a prize. The English were, of course, entirely aware of this. What's more, they had already mounted successful operations to capture naval enigmas. The first was U-110 in May 1941, before the USA had even entered the war. However, the English were acutely aware that this intelligence was valuable only if the Germans didn't know their opponents had an Enigma. Keeping the secret of captured Enigmas was so important that the English destroyed and sank the captured vessels.
In fact, the only appearance of the English in is when, after hearing of the capture of U-505, the First Lord of the Admiralty sent a message to Commander in Chief, United States Fleet Earnest King, urging him to keep the capture of U-505 strictly secret. This can fairly be described as a freak-out by the English navy over what those meddling Americans had done. The capture of U-505 was a historic feat and makes a great story. But its importance cannot really be understood without the English context.
is a story of one of the most unusual and harrowing naval operations World War II. It is not perfect, but the imperfections don't detract much from its value as entertainment.
Thanks to Edelweiss and Diversion Books for an advance reader copy of .
.
If you read a lot of naval history (fiction included), you are familiar with stories in which sailors from one vessel board and capture another in battle. That happened a lot in the days of the tall ships, but fell out of fashion when ships were able to fire at each other from miles apart. The publisher's blurb claims that before 1944 the last "seizure of an enemy ship in battle" occurred during the War of 1812. (I don't vouch for the accuracy of this claim, which, frankly, I doubt.) I say "before 1944" because on 4-June-1944 American sailors boarded and captured the German submarine U-505. The same blurb implies that 's is the story of that capture. It would be more accurate, however, to say that CONTAINS the story of the capture of U-505.
In fact, is a longitudinal history of U-505, extending from its launch 24-May-1941 to its current display in the Chicago Museum of Science and industry. It also tells the personal stories of many of the sailors whose careers involved U-505, both the Germans who fought in it from 1941-1944, and the US sailors who captured it and brought to port.
This is a great story, and I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I have two complaints, one minor and the other more important. I have already hinted at the first. felt padded to me with a lot of history not strictly relevant to the capture. That is, we read of U-505's missions from 1941-1944. These are not uninteresting, but they are not really very different from the missions of other World War II U-boats. The unique interest of U-505 is its capture, and much in seemed unnecessary to that story.
My other, more important complaint, was the failure of to place the operation in the context of English code-breaking operations. Capturing a submarine is a difficult and dangerous operation -- why go to that trouble? The reason is hinted at in the subtitle, . The value of a captured sub is intelligence. With a captured submarine you can study how a German submarine and torpedoes work. But more important than that is to get hands on German codebooks and cryptographic equipment. That is the Enigma machine mentioned in the subtitle. English mathematicians led by Alan Turing at the famous Bletchley Park operation broke the Enigma code and were reading German radio messages from fairly early in the war. (This is an utterly fascinating story told in ' biography of Turing, .) There were several different versions of the Enigma. By far the most sophisticated was the naval Enigma, which German vessels of war, submarines included, carried. Bletchley Park could not crack the naval Enigma until they managed to capture one.
(In fact, the English captured thousands of Enigma machines. After the war they distributed them to their allies suggesting they could be used for secure communications. Without, of course, telling those allies that England had broken the code and could read any such communications. If you ever wonder how England got the nickname "Perfidious Albion", here's a hint.)
That is the most important reason why a captured German submarine was such a prize. The English were, of course, entirely aware of this. What's more, they had already mounted successful operations to capture naval enigmas. The first was U-110 in May 1941, before the USA had even entered the war. However, the English were acutely aware that this intelligence was valuable only if the Germans didn't know their opponents had an Enigma. Keeping the secret of captured Enigmas was so important that the English destroyed and sank the captured vessels.
In fact, the only appearance of the English in is when, after hearing of the capture of U-505, the First Lord of the Admiralty sent a message to Commander in Chief, United States Fleet Earnest King, urging him to keep the capture of U-505 strictly secret. This can fairly be described as a freak-out by the English navy over what those meddling Americans had done. The capture of U-505 was a historic feat and makes a great story. But its importance cannot really be understood without the English context.
is a story of one of the most unusual and harrowing naval operations World War II. It is not perfect, but the imperfections don't detract much from its value as entertainment.
Thanks to Edelweiss and Diversion Books for an advance reader copy of .
.
March 1, 2025
An enjoyable read. I love real WWII stories that have fascinating plots. This historical novel tells how a German Uboat was captured & the surrounding circumstances. The author told the stories from both the American side & the German side. I love the mystery & suspense elements of this book� Overall, a pretty good read.
April 8, 2024
I'm not big into military history, but this one was an entertaining story with well-drawn characters and a nice arc. It helped the author immensely that he had access to many good primary sources, including recorded interviews and oral histories. Surprisingly fun--and for true WWII Navy buffs, it will be candy.
May 29, 2024
CODENAME NEMO
This was a very enjoyable and informative telling of the actual attempt to capture a German submarine during the later years of WWII. It is told in a straightforward manner, highlighting the horrific threat of U-boat attacks on Allied ships and the damage they caused.
Throughout the book we get to know Captain Dan Gallery, leader of the USS Guadalcanal, a “Baby Flat Top� - a mass produced smaller aircraft carrier. We meet Kapitänleutnant Harald Lange who skippers the U505 German submarine. The histories of these men and their boats, before they meet in battle, are fascinating and detailed. The incessant stalking between U-boats and battleships on the Atlantic throughout the war is terrifying and extremely dangerous.
Captain Gallery is obsessed with capturing a German submarine. Plans are made, boarding parties selected and trained, and the hunt is on.
As the two boats meet we learn about the various crewmen, both American and German, and how the encounter proceeds. Pretty exciting and unbelievably dangerous stuff. The things they accomplished are nothing short of amazing. In an attempt to keep the mission a secret, CODENAME NEMO is born. And keeping it secret may have been the hardest part of all.
If you like reading about WWII, the Navy, and submarines I don’t know how this wouldn’t be enjoyable. Great to learn of yet another amazing achievement during the war. A terrific epilogue finishes the tale very nicely.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Charles Lachman, and Diversion Books for the opportunity to read and review this book. Extensive notes, bibliography, and photos.
This was a very enjoyable and informative telling of the actual attempt to capture a German submarine during the later years of WWII. It is told in a straightforward manner, highlighting the horrific threat of U-boat attacks on Allied ships and the damage they caused.
Throughout the book we get to know Captain Dan Gallery, leader of the USS Guadalcanal, a “Baby Flat Top� - a mass produced smaller aircraft carrier. We meet Kapitänleutnant Harald Lange who skippers the U505 German submarine. The histories of these men and their boats, before they meet in battle, are fascinating and detailed. The incessant stalking between U-boats and battleships on the Atlantic throughout the war is terrifying and extremely dangerous.
Captain Gallery is obsessed with capturing a German submarine. Plans are made, boarding parties selected and trained, and the hunt is on.
As the two boats meet we learn about the various crewmen, both American and German, and how the encounter proceeds. Pretty exciting and unbelievably dangerous stuff. The things they accomplished are nothing short of amazing. In an attempt to keep the mission a secret, CODENAME NEMO is born. And keeping it secret may have been the hardest part of all.
If you like reading about WWII, the Navy, and submarines I don’t know how this wouldn’t be enjoyable. Great to learn of yet another amazing achievement during the war. A terrific epilogue finishes the tale very nicely.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Charles Lachman, and Diversion Books for the opportunity to read and review this book. Extensive notes, bibliography, and photos.
May 31, 2024
This was probably the best-written nonfiction history book I’ve ever read. I was so interested in the stories of the men involved in and leading up to the capture of U505 and the way it all unfolded, I almost forgot I was reading a nonfiction book.
I really enjoyed hearing about each of the men’s backstories - both US and German, who they were, what they did and then their investment in WW2 and the U505 capture. It was incredible to hear what they risked, how they interacted, and how they viewed their service in the war and their mission. It excellently weaved in the entire plot of the mission and happenings of it, as well as briefly touched on the after-story of each of them. By getting personal with each of the men, it caused you to become invested in what was going rather than just listing facts and stats, tho it was not lacking for information either.
I do think the blurb for the book fell short in accurately portraying the book. The capture of U505 wasn’t even introduced until about 50% in - the first half was about U505, the individuals and their backstories on either side of the war involved with it, and set the scene for how the U boats were affecting the Allies in the fight against the Nazis. If you’re going into the book thinking it’s only about the capture of U505 because of the blurb, it’s going to feel like you veered off course.
All in all I thoroughly enjoyed the audiobook, the writing, narrator etc. Highly recommend it.
Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this audiobook. All opinions are mine.
I really enjoyed hearing about each of the men’s backstories - both US and German, who they were, what they did and then their investment in WW2 and the U505 capture. It was incredible to hear what they risked, how they interacted, and how they viewed their service in the war and their mission. It excellently weaved in the entire plot of the mission and happenings of it, as well as briefly touched on the after-story of each of them. By getting personal with each of the men, it caused you to become invested in what was going rather than just listing facts and stats, tho it was not lacking for information either.
I do think the blurb for the book fell short in accurately portraying the book. The capture of U505 wasn’t even introduced until about 50% in - the first half was about U505, the individuals and their backstories on either side of the war involved with it, and set the scene for how the U boats were affecting the Allies in the fight against the Nazis. If you’re going into the book thinking it’s only about the capture of U505 because of the blurb, it’s going to feel like you veered off course.
All in all I thoroughly enjoyed the audiobook, the writing, narrator etc. Highly recommend it.
Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this audiobook. All opinions are mine.
May 13, 2024
All Versions Available June 4/2024
Disclaimer: Please note that I received an Audio ARC from NetGalley and Dreamscape Media, in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
⭐⭐⭐⭐�
Lachman’s detailed narrative takes us back to June 4, 1944, just before D-Day, when a US Navy task force achieved the impossible by capturing a German U-Boat, along with its crew, technology, and encryption codes. Through the eyes of both American heroes and German U-Boaters, Lachman paints a vivid picture of Operation Nemo, a thrilling cat-and-mouse game that undoubtedly shortened the duration of the war.
What struck me most about this book is the incredible bravery and skill of the men involved. Their courage in the face of danger is truly inspiring, and Lachman does an excellent job of bringing their stories to life.
The level of research that went into this book is clear on every page, and Lachman’s fast-paced storytelling keeps you hooked from start to finish. It’s a fascinating glimpse into a little-known chapter of World War II history, and I couldn’t put it down.
If you’re looking for a gripping and well-researched war narrative, this book is definitely worth a read. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed!
Get it at�
📗 - Hard Copy -📗
Your Local Canadian Book Seller
Indigo
Amazon Canada
📱 - Digital - 📱
Kobo
Kindle
🎧 - Audio - 🎧
Audible
Libro.FM
Disclaimer: Please note that I received an Audio ARC from NetGalley and Dreamscape Media, in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
⭐⭐⭐⭐�
Lachman’s detailed narrative takes us back to June 4, 1944, just before D-Day, when a US Navy task force achieved the impossible by capturing a German U-Boat, along with its crew, technology, and encryption codes. Through the eyes of both American heroes and German U-Boaters, Lachman paints a vivid picture of Operation Nemo, a thrilling cat-and-mouse game that undoubtedly shortened the duration of the war.
What struck me most about this book is the incredible bravery and skill of the men involved. Their courage in the face of danger is truly inspiring, and Lachman does an excellent job of bringing their stories to life.
The level of research that went into this book is clear on every page, and Lachman’s fast-paced storytelling keeps you hooked from start to finish. It’s a fascinating glimpse into a little-known chapter of World War II history, and I couldn’t put it down.
If you’re looking for a gripping and well-researched war narrative, this book is definitely worth a read. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed!
Get it at�
📗 - Hard Copy -📗
Your Local Canadian Book Seller
Indigo
Amazon Canada
📱 - Digital - 📱
Kobo
Kindle
🎧 - Audio - 🎧
Audible
Libro.FM
May 18, 2024
Excellent! I had no idea about the history of the U505, the escort carrier USS Guadalcanal, and Captain Dan Gallery. I'm so glad I took copious notes to keep track of all the names, and there were a LOT of names. I didn't know who the major players were and most names were recurring, so I feel that my efforts were helpful. The book seems to move slowly but it all comes together in due time. There were a lot of moving parts and Charles Lachman's words, as narrated by Qarie Marshall, brought this historical gem to life for me.
IMO, the best part of this book is the epilogue, but you must read the rest for the epilogue to have meaning.
Content Considerations: cussing- h*ll, Chr**t, and, I believe, at least one F-bomb was dropped. Most of this was toward the beginning and was contextually appropriate.
Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for allowing me to listen to this audiobook.
#CodenameNemo #NetGalley
IMO, the best part of this book is the epilogue, but you must read the rest for the epilogue to have meaning.
Content Considerations: cussing- h*ll, Chr**t, and, I believe, at least one F-bomb was dropped. Most of this was toward the beginning and was contextually appropriate.
Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for allowing me to listen to this audiobook.
#CodenameNemo #NetGalley
May 15, 2024
4.5 stars. Resisting the urge to become a WWII nerd just got harder. So well-researched, but also well-written. I'm so obsessed with the dynamic between Gallery and Trosino too.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 22, 2024
Great. Googly. Moogly.
Somehow, in all my war-book reading, I missed this absolutely amazing story; I'm so glad I now have had the opportunity to learn about this amazing mission and how it unbelievably worked, and how the capture of the enemy ship U-505 [something that had not been done since the War of 1812], along with D-Day two days later, helped begin the end of the war.
The bravery of all the men involved was, at times, mind-boggling [imagine being the man that has to be the first man into the German sub without knowing if there were still Germans on the boat, with gun and/or bombs, of if the exiting soldiers had booby-trapped the whole sub], and I once again remember why they are called The Greatest Generation.
This is an excellent story that will keep you at the edge of your seat [and if you are like me, you will learn many, many, many things]! It was just a fantastic read.
Quarie Marshall is a new-to-me narrator, but I will be looking for him in future books I am reading. He does an excellent job telling this thrilling story and really added to the overall experience.
Very well done.
Thank you to NetGalley, Charles Lachman, Quarie Marshall - Narrator, Diversion Books, and Dreamscape Media for providing the audiobook and eBook ARC's in exchange for an honest review.
Somehow, in all my war-book reading, I missed this absolutely amazing story; I'm so glad I now have had the opportunity to learn about this amazing mission and how it unbelievably worked, and how the capture of the enemy ship U-505 [something that had not been done since the War of 1812], along with D-Day two days later, helped begin the end of the war.
The bravery of all the men involved was, at times, mind-boggling [imagine being the man that has to be the first man into the German sub without knowing if there were still Germans on the boat, with gun and/or bombs, of if the exiting soldiers had booby-trapped the whole sub], and I once again remember why they are called The Greatest Generation.
This is an excellent story that will keep you at the edge of your seat [and if you are like me, you will learn many, many, many things]! It was just a fantastic read.
Quarie Marshall is a new-to-me narrator, but I will be looking for him in future books I am reading. He does an excellent job telling this thrilling story and really added to the overall experience.
Very well done.
Thank you to NetGalley, Charles Lachman, Quarie Marshall - Narrator, Diversion Books, and Dreamscape Media for providing the audiobook and eBook ARC's in exchange for an honest review.
December 30, 2024
Those who know me well have enjoyed (endured?) my two favorite conversation topics over dinner many a time: 1) which translation of the Iliad everyone prefers, and 2) U-505 and the day I saw it in person which changed my life. Everyone must go immediately to the Museum of Science and Industry so they can have such a life-changing experience for themselves!! This book was a fascinating (and cheeky) narrative of the fantastical true story that's been in the back of my mind ever since that day and it was incredible to finally hear the details. I really enjoyed the author's voice and all of his funny little asides; nothing better than a historical narrative that's also humorous - a war story with a happy ending. :)
June 23, 2024
Picked up as an ARC at PLA. This is a great story! I am assuming the one error of consistency with Task Group 22.12 vice 21.12 got straightened out before it went to final print.
This was a great story about the capture of the U-505 and the recovery of an Enigma machine. Well written for the general public, not a strict timeline rehashing. Thoroughly enjoyable.
I am sorry that the goal of getting this into print for the 80th anniversary of the capture does not seem to have happened.
This was a great story about the capture of the U-505 and the recovery of an Enigma machine. Well written for the general public, not a strict timeline rehashing. Thoroughly enjoyable.
I am sorry that the goal of getting this into print for the 80th anniversary of the capture does not seem to have happened.
July 3, 2024
I’ve visited U-505 at the Museum of Science and Industry many times in my life. I never knew the story of how we captured this submarine. This book was an awesome story about the events and people involved in capturing a sub during wartime. I appreciated that the story included details about the main soldiers in the rest of their lives after the war.
February 6, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and even with all the different names and storylines, it was easy to follow and keeps your interest! A fascinating tale of WW2 that I had no idea about; which surprised me due to the huge impact the result of capturing this submarine had on the outcome of the war in the Atlantic! (SPOTIFY)
March 5, 2025
Great telling of the history of the crews and staff involved of both sides of the U/505 capture. There is just a confusing issue of how all this helped the Allies that is given maybe two sentences and one mention of the Ultra operation. The title of the book doesn’t lie but it leaves out way too much context. What was the point of all this?
June 17, 2024
Fascinating nonfiction account of the capturing of German U-Boat U-505. The details of the capture begin long before June 4, 1944, giving background on all of the US Navy and German officers involved. I found the men's backstories to be incredibly interesting and hearing perspectives from both sides gave a full picture of not only the war, but how the capture was able to happen. There are a lot of names and details to keep straight, but the writing is straightforward and easy to digest. At times I had to remind myself this was a true story and not a great work of fiction (or an action movie)! I really appreciated the accounts of all the men after the war, including what happened to the U-Boat after its capture. I spent a long time googling photos of the boat and crews after I finished listening.
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for my copy of the audio book in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for my copy of the audio book in exchange for my honest review.
December 16, 2024
Good story, bad history! The author used lots of first person accounts, but neglected to research much military history. He refers to F4F Wildcats as “fighter jets!� He neglects to discuss ULTRA program which had already broken the German Enigma codes! He doesn’t discuss much about the Type IX U-boat (which U-505 was), so there was little context about the sub’s capabilities.
June 8, 2025
Incredible accomplishment by American service men in hunting down and capturing German Submarine U-505 during WWII. I just did not find the book that engaging. It might just be me and the fact that I listened to an audiobook without the visual aspect like pictures, references, etc. I read more about this topic after finishing the book on the internet and found that approach more interesting.
June 6, 2024
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook of this narrative of a period in World War II when the US Navy was fighting the Germans with an important need to be able to track, evade and destroy to German U-boats. The story is told in a conversational style and had many harrowing and heartbreaking moments. The loss of ships and lives is immense and the tension of the time and the heroic actions resonate as it unfolds. It was hard to put down.
January 28, 2025
This book was very interesting to me as I did not know anything about the capture of U505 -code name Nemo.
It always impresses me how an author can spin a story out of pieces of history. This book honors those who served in honor of their country
It always impresses me how an author can spin a story out of pieces of history. This book honors those who served in honor of their country
November 21, 2024
I got to visit U-505 in Chicago many years ago. Being able to explore the ship made me feel like a part of the story as I read this. Absolutely incredible story!!!
May 6, 2024
It was a factual book that read as a story. I found it very engaging. It informed without being boring. You learned about the men on both sides on a personal level. I would highly recommend this book.
April 29, 2024
A book about a top secret operation near the end of World War II that was actually many years in the
making.
The book is interesting in that the author tells the tale by introducing us over time to a number of individuals from both America and Germany who all came together on a day in June 1944. We are presented with the back story of these men before they became a part of the war. Once they join the service the path they took to be present on this one day. Best of all the author lets us know what happened to them after this day.
This is not dull history but a vibrant portrait of a time and the people of that time.
I felt that the fact that I had recently read Code Girls made what the American’s accomplished by taking of a German U-boat intact so significant.
Even if you are not interested in the history of World War II, you may enjoy this book as nonfiction thriller.
making.
The book is interesting in that the author tells the tale by introducing us over time to a number of individuals from both America and Germany who all came together on a day in June 1944. We are presented with the back story of these men before they became a part of the war. Once they join the service the path they took to be present on this one day. Best of all the author lets us know what happened to them after this day.
This is not dull history but a vibrant portrait of a time and the people of that time.
I felt that the fact that I had recently read Code Girls made what the American’s accomplished by taking of a German U-boat intact so significant.
Even if you are not interested in the history of World War II, you may enjoy this book as nonfiction thriller.
September 16, 2024
This is a fascinating read. I now know more about naval ships and submarines than I ever thought I would. I had no idea that our Navy had captured a German submarine during WWII and that the Germans didn't even know it! They thought it'd been sunk. You need to read this book.
September 10, 2024
Great portrayal of the events leading up to the capture of U505 from both perspectives.
August 31, 2024
Having toured the UBoat in Chicago at the science museum. I really was interested in reading this book. I really liked the book. I was stunned that the secret was kept by so many people.
August 29, 2024
Fascinating account of one of the most audacious but successful escapades of the USN during WW II.
July 6, 2024
Codename Nemo by Charles Lachman
Narrated by Qarie Marshall
I have been fascinated with WW 2 since I first read an article about it. Then I read A man's search of meaning , a holocaust survivor's accounts of the most inhumane act in the history of mankind which is till to date one of my favourite books. I read many books after that which revolved around WW 2 , some fiction, some non fiction and yet everytime I read something about it it still shocks me to the core.
Now Codename Nemo isn't a horrifying tale to be honest, it is rather exciting accounts of operation Nemo and it was a great book to read.
"On June 4, 1944, the course of World War II was forever changed. That day, a US Navy task force achieved the impossible—capturing a German U-Boat. Called Operation Nemo, it was the first seizure of an enemy ship in battle since the War of 1812, one of the greatest achievements of the US Navy and a victory that shortened the duration of the war."
This book had all my attention from the page 1 till the end. It was quite an interesting read coz of Charles Lachman's writing prowess. There's never a dull or heavy moment in the book, I personally feel that it made the book quite perceptive.
The audiobook narration was good, I wouldn't say it's extraordinary but given the need for the whole subject of the book that we were reading, the narrator has definitely done a good job. It was pleasantly good to listen to the narration.
Thank you Netgalley and dreamscape media for the wonderful ALC in exchange of an honest review.
Narrated by Qarie Marshall
I have been fascinated with WW 2 since I first read an article about it. Then I read A man's search of meaning , a holocaust survivor's accounts of the most inhumane act in the history of mankind which is till to date one of my favourite books. I read many books after that which revolved around WW 2 , some fiction, some non fiction and yet everytime I read something about it it still shocks me to the core.
Now Codename Nemo isn't a horrifying tale to be honest, it is rather exciting accounts of operation Nemo and it was a great book to read.
"On June 4, 1944, the course of World War II was forever changed. That day, a US Navy task force achieved the impossible—capturing a German U-Boat. Called Operation Nemo, it was the first seizure of an enemy ship in battle since the War of 1812, one of the greatest achievements of the US Navy and a victory that shortened the duration of the war."
This book had all my attention from the page 1 till the end. It was quite an interesting read coz of Charles Lachman's writing prowess. There's never a dull or heavy moment in the book, I personally feel that it made the book quite perceptive.
The audiobook narration was good, I wouldn't say it's extraordinary but given the need for the whole subject of the book that we were reading, the narrator has definitely done a good job. It was pleasantly good to listen to the narration.
Thank you Netgalley and dreamscape media for the wonderful ALC in exchange of an honest review.
September 29, 2024
It's an astonishing story. All the people and conditions that had to fall into place for it to happen, and for the Allies to finally defang the U-boat menace in the Atlantic. The extraordinary secrecy (even violating the Geneva convention and keeping Red Cross inspectors in the dark...) and the only Medal of Honor recipient in the Atlantic theater of WWII, Lt Junior Grade Albert David.
And the beauty of this book is that it's an astonishing story that's a pleasure to read. At first I was not sure about the use of present tense, which is unorthodox for a historical account, but soon I was swept along by the narration and the sprawling cast of American and German sailors. Never too technical, it reads like a classic military thriller, and has the virtue of being highly researched and true.
And the beauty of this book is that it's an astonishing story that's a pleasure to read. At first I was not sure about the use of present tense, which is unorthodox for a historical account, but soon I was swept along by the narration and the sprawling cast of American and German sailors. Never too technical, it reads like a classic military thriller, and has the virtue of being highly researched and true.
June 24, 2024
Epic Masterpiece of WWII US Navy & U-boat History
I never take the time to write reviews but feel compelled to for this fantastic book, a real page-turner. This work is riveting from the first page, and continues to thrill as the reader is immersed in the truly incredible history and fate of U Boat 505. This book is a must read for fans of naval history, WWII buffs (or even those with any interest in this era) and lovers of nonfiction (where I fit in). I’m a homemaker, and while reading this I thought about U Boats all day while taking care of my kids! This book is a fitting tribute to the men who completed this heroic mission, and all veterans of the Greatest Generation.
I never take the time to write reviews but feel compelled to for this fantastic book, a real page-turner. This work is riveting from the first page, and continues to thrill as the reader is immersed in the truly incredible history and fate of U Boat 505. This book is a must read for fans of naval history, WWII buffs (or even those with any interest in this era) and lovers of nonfiction (where I fit in). I’m a homemaker, and while reading this I thought about U Boats all day while taking care of my kids! This book is a fitting tribute to the men who completed this heroic mission, and all veterans of the Greatest Generation.
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