Introduction

Das Boot is a 2018 German television series produced for the TV channel Sky and a sequel to Das Boot (1981).

Like the original film, the series is based on Lothar-Günther Buchheim’s 1973 book Das Boot, but with additions from Buchheim’s 1995 sequel Die Festung.

Outline

Under torture, a naval officer reveals to SS-Obersturmbannführer Koch the codename of a German resistance contact working in the Tirpitzufer HQ – ‘Fidelio’. It is August 1943 and Dönitz is withdrawing the U-boats from the Atlantic and sending them to southern Italy. Despite losses in ‘the mousetrap’ of the Mediterranean Sea, Lessing adamantly defends Dönitz’s tactics. As more powerful U-boats are being built, the older non-operational Type VIICs, such as U-330 in Naples, are being put aside for spare parts. While U-949 is minelaying the British supply routes, Commander Bucher sinks a destroyer and is hailed ‘Lucky Franz’. FWO Erdmann continues to inform against dissenters, causing the split of the original crew. With orders to the Strait of Gibraltar with little fuel and few torpedoes, Buchner and his crew dread breaking into ‘the mousetrap’. Klaus Hoffmann is now a war hero, and he and his father, Wilhelm, seek out US Navy Admiral Kenton who could negotiate ‘a dignified surrender’ for Germany. At the premiere of a film about his escapade in America, Klaus receives a camera with Kenton’s instructions to capture secrets of the U-boat operations. Later, a private fight between Wilhelm and Schulz over Hannie’s reputation leads to Wilhelm’s death.

Das Boot Series

You can find a full index and overview of Das Boot Series 04 here.

You can find a full index of the Das Boot TV Series here.

You can find a full index and overview of the Das Boot franchise here.

Production & Filming Details

• Release Date: 23 September 2023.
• Running time: 60 minutes.
• Rating: 18.
• Country: Germany.
• Language: German, English, and French.

Video Clip(s)