User:OberMegaTrans/SS2018/DasBootFilm

Deadline
Next Wednesday, 20th June

Part 1
Handlung

Die Ein- und Auslaufszenen gestalten sich anders. Im Roman läuft das Boot von Saint-Nazaire aus, einem großen U-Boot-Hafen an der Loire-Mündung. Im Film läuft das Boot von La Rochelle aus. Erst als im Roman gegen Ende der ersten Unternehmung der Brennstoff knapp wird, erwägt „der Alte“, La Rochelle anzusteuern (siehe U-Boot-Bunker). Im Film (alle Versionen) werden drei Schiffe versenkt: zwei während des Angriffs auf einen Geleitzug und etwas später noch ein angeschossenes Schiff, bei dem der Alte, wegen der Menschen an Bord, rückwärts fahren lässt. Im Roman hingegen werden vier Schiffe versenkt: die drei Schiffe, die auch im Film zu sehen sind, und noch ein angeschossener Nachhinker (das heißt Nachzügler) aus dem Geleitzug. Beim Einlaufen am Ende des Filmes sieht man vier weiße Wimpel für die versenkten Schiffe, genauso wie im Roman. U 96 operiert im Roman unter der Kennung UA. Im Roman wird das Geleit, aus dem UA die drei Schiffe versenkt, auch von anderen deutschen Booten angegriffen. Aus der Perspektive der Leute auf UA, die die Funksprüche hören, rundhorchen und weiteren Feuerschein sehen, wird der Angriff im Buch noch um einiges größer dargestellt. Der Film konzentriert die Darstellung auf das Abschießen der Torpedos und die anschließende Verfolgung durch zwei englische Kampfschiffe.

Translation: Robin TheKitzi

Story Line

The entry and exit scenes are different. ; In the novel, the boat leaves from Saint-Nazaire, a large submarine port at the mouth of the Loire. leave out fullstop turn into: ...the Loire whereas in the film/movie ... In the film, the boat leaves from La Rochelle. Only when fuel becomes scarce in the novel towards the end of the first venture does "the old man" consider heading for La Rochelle (see submarine bunker). In all versions of the film/ the film (all versions) three ships are sunk: two during the attack on a convoy and a little later another ship that was shot, where "the old man", because of the people on board, lets go backwards (?? what) gives the command to turn back. In the novel, however, four ships are sunk: the three ships, which can also be seen in the film, and another shot laggard from the convoy /another which was lagging behind was also shot (again, bad German to begin with). At the end of the film you can see four white pennants for the sunken ships, just like in the novel. The U 96 operates under the code UA. In the novel, the escort from of which the UA sank the three ships is also attacked by other German boats. (In the novel, the escort, of which the UA sunk three ships, is also attacked by german submarines.) From the perspective of the people on the UA, who hear the radio messages, who listen around and see more fire action, (who listen to the attack and see the glow of more attacks) the attack in the book is shown much bigger. The film focuses on the shooting of the missiles and the subsequent pursuit by two English fighter ships. /From the point of view of the people on board the UA, who hear the radio messages and see the glow of further attacks, the fight is described to be much more spectacular compared to the movie, which focuses on the missile launch and the subsequent pursuit by two English warships.

Proofreading 1: Serpent s tooth in coursive As a whole I think in this part the German is already really bad especially in some parts so that that has to be corrected as well which makes the translation tricky.

typed out a corrected version to make everything cleaner Serpent s tooth (talk) 14:27, 21 June 2018 (UTC)

Plot

The entry and exit scenes are different; in the novel, the boat leaves from Saint-Nazaire, a large submarine port at the mouth of the Loire whereas in the movie the boat leaves from La Rochelle. Only when fuel becomes scarce in the novel towards the end of the first venture does "the old man" consider heading for La Rochelle (see submarine bunker). In all versions of the film three ships are sunk: two during the attack on a convoy and a little later another ship that was shot, where "the old man", because of the people on board, gives the command to turn back. In the novel, however, four ships are sunk: the three ships, which can also be seen sinking in the film, and another, which was lagging behind, was also shot. At the end of the film you can see four white pennants for the sunken ships, just like in the novel.

The U 96 operates under the code UA. In the novel, the escort, of which the UA sunk three ships, is also attacked by german submarines. From the point of view of the people on board the UA, who hear the radio messages and see the glow of further attacks, the fight is described to be much more spectacular compared to the movie, which focuses on the missile launch and the subsequent pursuit by two English warships.

Proofreading 2: Chill2Day 1st: Loire sentence: I like the suggestion of leaving out the full stop and making it into one sentence, maybe also check the commas again.

2nd: turn back/go backwards sentence: and a little later another ship that was hit, where "the old man" gives the command to turn back because of the people on board.

For the rest I support the good suggestions of Serpent s tooth

Part 2
Im Zusammenhang des Gefechts um den Geleitzug beschreibt Buchheim weitere Begegnungen mit noch lebenden Schiffbrüchigen, die vom Boot nicht aufgenommen werden. Noch andere Beschreibungen von Begegnungen mit Flößen, auf denen und um die herum bereits umgekommene Seeleute treiben, verdeutlichen das Gewicht dieses Themas. Roman und Film gehen auf leicht unterschiedliche Weise auf die niederschlagende Wirkung ein, die diese Begegnung auf die Besatzung hat – auch auf die Leute im Boot, die den Anblick der Todgeweihten und der Toten nicht selbst erlebt haben. Während dieses Thema im Buch von Anfang an (beginnend mit Gesprächen im Etablissement am Abend vor dem Auslaufen), und immer wieder aufgenommen wird, ist es im Film auf eine einzige Szene konzentriert. Ein Treffer von einem unerwarteten (weil nächtlichen) Flugzeug-Angriff vor Gibraltar verletzt im Film den Obersteuermann Kriechbaum schwer. Es gibt Szenen, in denen der Funker Hinrich als Sanitäter den blutenden und schreienden Obersteuermann versorgt. Im Roman muss Hinrich ebenfalls Verwundete versorgen. Dies geschieht allerdings zu einem späteren Zeitpunkt. Nach dem Einlaufen ist – kurz vor dem Fliegerangriff im Hafen – zu sehen, wie der verletzte Kriechbaum auf einer Trage aus dem Boot gebracht wird. Auf dem Rückmarsch und kurz vor dem Einlaufen in La Rochelle beschreibt Buchheim weitere Ereignisse, die nicht in den Film aufgenommen wurden.

Translation: Timur Chill2Day

In the context of the battle for the convoy, Buchheim describes more encounters with castaways that are still alive but not picked up by the boat. Other reports of encounters with rafts, on and around which dead seamen are already floating, emphasize the importance of this subject. Novel and film both deal in a slightly different way with the depressing impact those encounters have on the crew (including the people on the boat who didn’t witness the sight of the dead and moribund in person). While in the novel this topic is addressed from the beginning and gets picked up again and again (starting with conversations in the establishment the night before sailing), it is reduced to one scene in the film. A hit from an unexpected (nightly) air attack at Gibraltar wounds first mate Kriechbaum gravely. There are scenes in which radio operator Hinrich attends to the bleeding and screaming first mate as a medic. In the novel, Hinrich has to attend to the wounded as well but at a later point in time. After entering the port shortly before the air attack on the harbor, it can be seen / the viewer can see how the wounded Kriechbaum is carried out of the boat on a barrow. On the retreat - shortly before entering La Rochelle - Buchheim describes other events that are not included in the film.

Proofreading 1: TheKitzi

In the context of the battle for the convoy  Buchheim describes more encounters with castaways that are still alive but not picked up by the boat. Other reports of encounters with rafts, on and around which dead seamen are already floating (where already dead seamen are floating on and around), emphasize the importance of this subject. Novel and film both deal in a slightly different way with the depressing impact those encounters have on the crew (including the people on the boat who didn’t witness the sight of the dead and moribund dying in person). While ( in the novel ) this topic gets picked up again and again (in the novel)(starting with conversations in the establishment the night before sailing)  it is reduced to one scene in the film. A hit from an unexpected (nightly) air attack at Gibraltar wounds chief helmsman Kriechbaum heavily. There are scenes in which radio operator Hinrich attends to the bleeding and screaming chief helmsman as a medic. In the novel Hinrich has to attend to the wounded as well but at a later point in time. After the running-in shortly before the air attack in the harbor it can be seen how (maybe just leave out 'it can be seen') the wounded Kriechbaum is carried out of the boat on a barrow. On the way back shortly before entering La Rochelle  Buchheim describes other events that are not included in the film.

Proofreading 2: FlaschenLicht

I'd put a comma between convoy and Buchheim in the 1st sentence.

In the 4th sentence, I'd add what I wrote in bold. I'd also put a comma between the closing bracket and it is.

I also think chief helmsman is th ewrong word, I'd use First Mate. gravely is also an alternative to heavily I like a bit more.

Entering port might be a better term than running-in.

All my other changes and suggestions are in bold.

Part 3
Zuerst stoppt das Boot ein spanisches Passagierschiff. Das Passagierschiff entgeht nur durch einen defekten Torpedo und das nachfolgende Aufdecken eines Fehlers bei der Identifizierung des Schiffes einer erfolgreichen Torpedierung. Später trifft UA auf ein weiteres deutsches U-Boot, das vor dem Hafen von La Rochelle steht und auf sein Geleit wartet. Das andere U-Boot gerät auf eine Mine und wird kurz darauf von einem englischen Flugzeug versenkt. Von diesem Boot stammen die Verwundeten, die Hinrich versorgen muss. Unmittelbar nach dem Einlaufen erfolgt sowohl im Buch als auch im Film ein konzentrierter Angriff von Bombern und Jägern auf die Flakstellungen und Bunker im Hafen. Dieser Angriff wird im Film in sehr starker Form gezeigt. Die Überlegenheit der Engländer im Luftraum, die Zufälligkeit des Getroffenwerdens oder Überlebens, die Aussichtslosigkeit des gesamten „Unternehmens“, die sich abzeichnet, und die Katastrophe des Krieges werden im Roman und im Film jedoch gleichermaßen deutlich – symbolisiert in der Figur des „Alten“, der am Ende der langen Feindfahrt an der zerbombten Anlegestelle vor dem Wrack des eigenen Bootes zusammensinkt. Personen Im Film hat „der Alte“ die tragende Rolle. Er wird nie beim Namen genannt, aus Buchheims Überlieferungen ist aber bekannt, dass immer, wenn Buchheim auf U 96 gefahren ist, Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock der Kommandant war.

Translation: Mia FlaschenLicht

First, the boat stops a Spanish liner. The liner only evades a successful torpedo launching because of a defect torpedo and the subsequent detection of an error in identifying the liner. UA later encounters another German submarine, which lies in the roads off the port of La Rochelle, waiting for its convoy. That submarine later hits a mine and, briefly afterward, is sunk by a British aircraft. The injured Hinrichs has to attend to come from that submarine. In both the film and the novel, a concentrated attack by bomber and fighter aircrafts on flak emplacements and bunkers takes place immediately after the entering of the port. In the film, this attack is strongly emphasized and well conveyed. The superiority of the RAF, the pure chance of being hit or surviving, the hopelessness of the whole task which stands out, and the calamity of the war are all equally apparent in both novel and film. All this is symbolized by the "Old Man", who breaks down in front of the wreck of his own boat at the bombed landing stage after the war cruise ends.

Characters

The “Old Man” is the movie’s leading role. His name is never mentioned, but according to the author Buchheim, U 96’s captain was always Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock when Buchheim traveled with U 96.

Proofreading 1: Chill2Day suggestions in bold

already incorporated the suggestions:) Thanks! FlaschenLicht

Proofreading 2: 16bienchen06

I agree with the edited translation. :)

The injured, Hinrichs has to attend to, come from that submarine. I would add those commas here to get a better understandig of the sentence.

Part 4
Dies ist insofern wichtig, als „der Alte“ am Ende des Films vermutlich stirbt, im Buch das Schicksal des „Alten“ aber offen gelassen wird. In der Romanfortsetzung, in der er am Leben ist, wird klar, dass er beim Bombenangriff nicht gestorben ist. Tatsächlich hat Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock den Krieg überlebt und starb im Jahr 1986. Er war sogar einmal bei den Dreharbeiten zu „Das Boot“ anwesend. Mit seinen dreißig Jahren ist „der Alte“ eines der ältesten Besatzungsmitglieder. Der Altersunterschied zwischen dem dreißigjährigen Kommandanten und den achtzehn- bis knapp über zwanzigjährigen Besatzungsmitgliedern wird sowohl im Buch als auch im Film thematisiert. Die Schauspieler im Film sind und wirken jedoch teilweise älter als zwanzig oder dreißig Jahre. Der Film zeigt eine ausführliche Szene zwischen August Johann – dem „Gespenst“ – und dem „Alten“, in der sich Johann dafür entschuldigt, dass er während der Wasserbombenverfolgung seine Gefechtsstation befehlswidrig verlassen hat. Im Dialog dieser Szene wird das Kriegsgericht thematisiert, das für dieses militärische Vergehen angerufen werden kann. Im Buch existiert diese Szene nicht, der „Alte“ wettert jedoch unmittelbar nach dem Vorfall, dass er den Betreffenden „einsperren“ lasse. Der betreffende Matrose im Buch ist allerdings nicht Johann, sondern der Obersteuermann Karl Franz. Die Person Johann gibt es im Buch auch; der Film fasst hier zusammen.

Translation: Sabrina 16bienchen06

This is important insofar as the "Old Man" probably dies at the end of the film, but the fate of the "Old Man" is left open in the book. The continuation of the novel, in which he is alive, clarifies that he has not died during a bombing raid. In fact, Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock survived the war and died in 1986. He was even present during the filming of "Das Boot". At the age of thirty, the "Old Man" is one of the oldest crewmembers. The age difference between the thirty-year-old commander and the eighteen to just over twenty-year-old crewmembers is addressed in both the book and the film. However, the actors in the film are and partially appear to be older than twenty or thirty years. The film shows a detailed scene between August Johann - the "ghost" - and the "Old Man", in which Johann apologizes for having left his combat station unlawfully during the water bombing prosecution. The dialogue of this scene broaches the issue of the court-martial, which can be invoked for this military offense. In the book, this scene does not exist, the "Old Man" fulminates immediately after the incident ranting that he would "lock up" the person concerned. The sailor in question in the book, however, is not Johann, but the first mate Karl Franz. The person Johann is also in the book; the film summarizes here.

Proofreading 1: FlaschenLicht

Proofreading 2: MeoCB

Part 5
Der I. WO (erster Wachoffizier) wird als überkorrekt und besonders linientreu dargestellt. Dies geschieht auf unterschiedliche Weise: Der Film hebt die Linientreue des I. WO innerhalb kleiner Szenen außerhalb der Gefechte stark hervor. Der I. WO ist darin beispielsweise im Hintergrund zu sehen, wie er Fähnrichsunterricht erteilt und dabei Parolen über soldatischen Anstand von sich gibt. Im Roman begeht der I. WO allerdings einen folgenschweren Fehler: Im Gegensatz zu seiner sonstigen Korrektheit versäumt er es, im Schiffsregister auch die Nachträge nach dem gestoppten Passagierschiff (s. o.) zu durchsuchen. Er klassifiziert das im Nachtrag korrekt aufgeführte Schiff fälschlich als nicht gemeldet. Dies und die zu lange überfällige Reaktion der anderen Mannschaft führt dazu, dass „der Alte“ das Passagierschiff für ein verdecktes US-amerikanisches Schiff hält, von dem aus im Geheimen andere Kriegsschiffe zur Hilfe gerufen werden. Er lässt es torpedieren, der Torpedo ist jedoch – wohl wegen Schäden, verursacht durch die Wasserbomben vor Gibraltar – defekt und läuft nicht. Gerade noch rechtzeitig vor weiteren Torpedoschüssen stellt sich heraus, dass es sich um ein spanisches und somit neutrales Schiff auf dem Weg nach Buenos Aires handelt. Nur der Zufall hat hier eine Katastrophe verhindert. Dieser ganze Vorgang fehlt im Film völlig. Der kauzige Kapitänleutnant Philipp Thomsen hatte in Korvettenkapitän Karl Thurmann ein reales Vorbild.

Translation: Maria MeoCB

The chief mate (I think First Mate is a better known alternative) is often depicted as prim and unwilling to deviate from the rules. This part of his character is showcased in different ways, most notably in scenes that take place outside of combat. The chief mate can be seen giving ensign lessons and spouting parols about a soldier’s decorum. However, in the book the chief mate makes weighty mistake: Antithetical to his usual behaviour, he neglects to check the shipping register for mentions of the previously stopped passenger vessel (see above). Although the ship has been correctly identified as a passenger vessel in the shipping register, the chief mate mistakenly classifies it as non-registered. This along with the past-due reaction of the crew leads to “the Old Man” believing the passenger vessel to be a hidden US-American ship that is being used to secretly call on more warships for help. As a reaction, the chief mate orders the ship to be torpedoed (fired at). But the torpedo, having been damaged by water bombs at Gibraltar, is defective and doesn’t function (properly). Just in time before the crew torpedoes the ship again, they realize that it is a Spanish and therefore a neutral vessel on its way to Buenos Aires. Coincidence was the only thing preventing a catastrophe from taking place. This entire sequence of events is missing from the movie. The slightly (somewhat) strange lieutenant Philipp Thomsen was inspired by real life lieutenant commander Karl Thurmann / was inspired by lieutenant commander Karl Thurmann who served as real-life model for the character.

Proofreading 1: 16bienchen06

I would also use "first mate" for Obersteuermann to have a consistency

The first mate makes a ? weighty mistake

I like serpent s tooth version of the last sentence a little bit better

Proofreading 2: Serpent s tooth in coursive

Part 6
Literarische Vorlage

Die dem Film zugrundeliegende Handlung im Roman Das Boot spielt im Zweiten Weltkrieg auf dem U-Boot U 96, das 1941 aus Saint-Nazaire ausläuft. Autor Buchheim verarbeitet in dem Buch seine persönlichen Erfahrungen als Kriegsberichter und schildert die Situationen der U-Boot-Besatzung mit großer Präzision. Der Roman erschien 1973. Buchheim brauchte über 25 Jahre, bis er psychisch in der Lage war, seine Tagebuchaufzeichnungen und Schriften aus dem Jahr 1941 zu sichten und mit der Niederschrift des Romans zu beginnen. Der Roman basiert hauptsächlich auf den Erfahrungen, die Buchheim auf zwei Feindfahrten sammeln konnte. Er begleitete als Kriegsberichterstatter die siebte Feindfahrt des zur 7. U-Boot-Flottille gehörenden U 96, die vom 26. Oktober bis 7. Dezember 1941 dauerte. An Bord von U 309 nahm er an zwei weiteren Fahrten teil, von denen eine vermutlich nur eine Übersetzfahrt war.

Ausstattung (Sets and Models)

Für die detailgetreue Filmausstattung war der Requisiteur Peter Dürst verantwortlich. Das Innere von U 96 wurde von der Bavaria Film detailgetreu nachgebaut und ist 55 Meter lang. Ein Original dieses U-Boot-Typs ist zwar 67 Meter lang, im Nachbau fehlen aber lediglich die nicht begehbaren Bug- und Heckspitzen, weil sie für die Dreharbeiten nicht gebraucht wurden. Die Kulisse ist in der Bavaria Filmstadt ausgestellt und für Besucher begehbar.

Translation: Janna Serpent s tooth

Literary Source

The plot of the novel “The Boat”, which the movie is based on, plays out in the second World War on the submarine U 96 which departs from Saint-Nazaire in 1941. Lothar-Günther Buchheim, the author of the novel, seeks to process his own experiences in his book, retelling the life of a submarine crew with remarkable precision. The novel was published in 1973, mostly due to the fact that Buchheim needed over twenty five years until he felt mentally ready to start reviewing his diary notes and writings which he had made in 1941 and turn them into a complete book. Consequentially the novel is based on experiences he made on his two war patrols. On one of these patrols he accompanied the seventh tour of the U 96 which belonged to the 7th submarine fleet, lasting from 26th October until December 7th in 1941. On board of the U 309 he took part in two further tours, one of which was most likely only a transfer journey.

Equipment (Setting and Models)

On the set of the movie property master Peter Dürst was responsible for accuracy in detail. The inside of U 96 was rebuilt by Bavaria Film, resulting in a set that measured 55 m (180 feet) in length. The original built of this type of submarine is 67 m (219 feet) long, but the set included only the parts of the submarine which were accessible, leaving out the inaccessible bow and rear peaks as they weren’t needed for the filming of the movie. The entire set is on exhibit in Baravia Filmstadt, the museum that is connected to the film studios of Bavaria Film. Visitors are even allowed to step into the model of the U 96.

Proofreading 1: MeoCB

Literary Source

The plot of the novel “The Boat”, which the movie is based on, plays out in the second World War on the submarine U 96 which departs from Saint-Nazaire in 1941. Lothar-Günther Buchheim, the author of the novel, seeks to process his own experiences in his book, retelling the life of a submarine crew with remarkable precision. The novel was published in 1973, mostly due to the fact that Buchheim needed over twenty five years until he felt psychologically (mentally) ready to start review (reviewing) his diary notes and writings which he had made in 1941 and turn them into a complete book. Consequentially the novel is based on experiences he made (had) on his two war patrols (maybe start a new sentence?) on one of which he accompanied the seventh tour of the U 96 which belonged to the 7th submarine fleet, lasting from (the 26th of October until the 7th of December or from October 26th until December 7th) 26th October until 7th of December 1941. On board of the U 309 he took part in two further tours, one of which was most likely only a transfer journey.

Equipment (Setting and Models)

On the set of the movie property master Peter Dürst was responsible for accuracy in detail. The inside of U 96 was rebuilt by Bavaria Film, resulting in a set that measured 55 m (180 feet) in length. The original built of this type of submarine is 67 m (219 feet) long, but the set included only the parts of the submarine which were accessible, leaving out the inacessible (inaccessible) bow and rear peaks as they weren’t needed for the filming of the movie. The entire set is on exhibit in Baravia Filmstadt, the museum that is connected to the film studios of Bavaria Film. Visitors are even allowed to step into the model of the U 96.

Thanks, I corrected some of the text, have a look again if you'd like :)  Serpent s tooth (talk) 14:21, 21 June 2018 (UTC)

Proofreading 2: TheKitzi I agree with the word improvements, i would leave the sentence (Consequentially the novel...) as it is.

Final Draft Pt. 5 & 6
The chief mate is often depicted as prim and unwilling to deviate from the rules. This part of his character is showcased in different ways, most notably in scenes that take place outside of combat. The chief mate can be seen giving ensign lessons and giving fierce speeches about a soldier’s decorum. However, in the book the chief mate makes a grave mistake: In contrast to his usual behaviour, he neglects to check the shipping register for mentions of the previously stopped passenger vessel (see above). Although the ship has been correctly identified as a passenger vessel in the shipping register, the chief mate mistakenly classifies it as non-registered. This along with the long overdue reaction of the crew leads to the “Old Man” believing the passenger vessel to be a covert US-American ship that is being used to secretly call more warships for help. As a reaction, the chief mate orders the ship to be fired at. But the intended torpedo, having been damaged by water bombs at Gibraltar, is defective and doesn’t function properly. Just in time, before the crew targets the ship again, they realize that it is a Spanish vessel on its way to Buenos Aires and therefore neutral. Coincidence was the only thing preventing a catastrophe from taking place. This entire sequence of events is missing from the movie. The somewhat strange lieutenant Philipp Thomsen was inspired by lieutenant commander Karl Thurmann who served as real-life model for the character.

Literary Source

The plot of the novel “The Boat”, which the movie is based on, plays out in the second World War on the submarine U 96 which departs from Saint-Nazaire in 1941. Lothar-Günther Buchheim, the author of the novel, seeks to process his own experiences in his book, retelling the life of a submarine crew with remarkable precision. The novel was published in 1973, mostly due to the fact that Buchheim needed over twenty five years until he felt mentally ready to start reviewing his diary notes and writings which he had made in 1941 and turn them into a complete book. Consequentially the novel is based on experiences he made on his two war patrols. On one of these patrols he accompanied the seventh tour of the U 96 which belonged to the 7th submarine fleet, lasting from 26th October until December 7th in 1941. On board of the U 309 he took part in two further tours, one of which was most likely only a transfer journey.

Equipment (Setting and Models)

On the set of the movie property master Peter Dürst was responsible for accuracy in detail. The inside of U 96 was rebuilt by Bavaria Film, resulting in a set that measured 55 m (180 feet) in length. The original built of this type of submarine is 67 m (219 feet) long, but the set included only the parts of the submarine which were accessible, leaving out the inaccessible bow and rear peaks as they weren’t needed for the filming of the movie. The entire set is on exhibit in Baravia Filmstadt, the museum that is connected to the film studios of Bavaria Film. Visitors are even allowed to step into the model of the U 96.

Full version
Story Line

The entry and exit scenes are different. In the novel the boat leaves from Saint-Nazaire, a large submarine port at the mouth of the Loire whereas in the movie the boat leaves from La Rochelle. Only when fuel becomes scarce in the novel towards the end of the first venture does the “Old Man” consider heading for La Rochelle (see submarine bunker). In all versions of the movie, two ships are sunk during the initial convoy. A little later another ship is shot, but the “Old Man”, due to the people onboard the vessel, orders a retreat. In the novel, however, four ships are sunk: The three ships also shown in the film and another one from the convoy which was lagging behind. At the end of the film you can see four white pennants for the sunken ships, just like in the novel. The U 96 operates under the code UA. In the novel, the escort, of which the UA sunk three ships, is also attacked by German submarines. Shown from the perspective of the people on the UA, who hear the radio messages and see the fire from further attacks, the scope of the attack seems much bigger than it does in the movie, which focuses instead on the missile launch and the subsequent pursuit by two English warships.

In the context of the battle for the convoy, Buchheim describes more encounters with castaways that are still alive but not picked up by the boat. Other reports of encounters with rafts, on and around which dead seamen are already floating, emphasize the importance of this subject. Novel and film both deal with the depressing impact those encounters have on the crew (including the people on the boat who didn’t witness the sight of the dead and doomed in person) in slightly different ways. While in the novel this topic is addressed from the beginning and gets picked up again and again (starting with conversations in the establishment the night before sailing), it is reduced to one scene in the film. A hit from an unexpected nightly air attack at Gibraltar wounds first mate Kriechbaum gravely. There are scenes in which radio operator Hinrich attends to the bleeding and screaming first mate as a medic. In the novel, Hinrich has to attend to the wounded as well but at a later point in time. After entering the port shortly before the air attack on the harbor, the wounded Kriechbaum is shown being carried out of the boat on a barrow.

During the retreat - shortly before entering La Rochelle - Buchheim describes other events that are not included in the film. First, the boat stops a Spanish passenger vessel. The liner only evades a successful torpedo launching because of a defect torpedo and the subsequent detection of an error in identifying the liner. UA later encounters another German submarine, which lies in the roads off the port of La Rochelle, waiting for its convoy. That submarine later hits a mine and, briefly afterwards, is sunk by a British aircraft. The injured people Hinrichs has to attend to come from that submarine. In both the film and the novel, a concentrated attack by bomber and fighter aircrafts on flak emplacements and bunkers takes place immediately after the entering of the port. In the film, this attack is strongly emphasized and well conveyed. The superiority of the RAF, the pure chance of being hit or surviving, the hopelessness of the whole task which stands out, and the calamity of the war are all equally apparent in both novel and film. All this is symbolized by the "Old Man", who breaks down in front of the wreck of his own boat at the bombed landing stage after the war cruise ends.

Characters

The “Old Man” is the movie’s leading role. His name is never mentioned, but according to the author Lothar-Günther Buchheim, U 96’s captain was always Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock when Buchheim traveled with U 96.

This is important insofar as the "Old Man" probably dies at the end of the film, whereas in the book his fate is left open. The novel’s sequel, in which he is alive, clarifies that he survived the bombing raid. In fact, U 96’s captain Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock also survived the war and died in 1986. He was even present during the filming of "Das Boot".

At the age of thirty, the "Old Man" is one of the oldest crewmembers. The age difference between the thirty-year-old commander and the eighteen to just over twenty-year-old crewmembers is addressed in both the book and the film. However, the actors in the film are and partially appear to be older than twenty or thirty years. The film shows a detailed scene between August Johann - the "ghost" - and the "Old Man", in which Johann apologizes for having left his combat station unlawfully during the depth charge pursuit. The dialogue in this scene broaches the issue of the court-martial, which can be invoked for this military offense. In the book, this scene does not exist, and immediately after the incident the “Old Man” rants that he would "lock up" the person responsible. The sailor in question in the book, however, is not Johann, but the first mate Karl Franz. The character of Johann also exists in the book; the film shortens his involvement.

The chief mate is often depicted as prim and unwilling to deviate from the rules. This part of his character is showcased in different ways, most notably in scenes that take place outside of combat. The chief mate can be seen giving ensign lessons and giving fierce speeches about a soldier’s decorum. However, in the book the chief mate makes a grave mistake: In contrast to his usual behaviour, he neglects to check the shipping register for mentions of the previously stopped passenger vessel (see above). Although the ship has been correctly identified as a passenger vessel in the shipping register, the chief mate mistakenly classifies it as non-registered. This along with the long overdue reaction of the crew leads to the “Old Man” believing the passenger vessel to be a covert US-American ship that is being used to secretly call more warships for help. As a reaction, the chief mate orders the ship to be fired at. But the intended torpedo, having been damaged by water bombs at Gibraltar, is defective and doesn’t function properly. Just in time, before the crew targets the ship again, they realize that it is a Spanish vessel on its way to Buenos Aires and therefore neutral. Coincidence was the only thing preventing a catastrophe from taking place. This entire sequence of events is missing from the movie. The somewhat strange lieutenant Philipp Thomsen was inspired by lieutenant commander Karl Thurmann who served as real-life model for the character.

Literary Source

The plot of the novel “The Boat”, which the movie is based on, plays out in the second World War on the submarine U 96 which departs from Saint-Nazaire in 1941. Lothar-Günther Buchheim, the author of the novel, seeks to process his own experiences in his book, retelling the life of a submarine crew with remarkable precision. The novel was published in 1973, mostly due to the fact that Buchheim needed over twenty five years until he felt mentally ready to start reviewing his diary notes and writings which he had made in 1941 and turn them into a complete book. Consequentially the novel is based on experiences he made on his two war patrols. On one of these patrols he accompanied the seventh tour of the U 96 which belonged to the 7th submarine fleet, lasting from 26th October until December 7th in 1941. On board of the U 309 he took part in two further tours, one of which was most likely only a transfer journey.

Equipment (Setting and Models)

On the set of the movie property master Peter Dürst was responsible for accuracy in detail. The inside of U 96 was rebuilt by Bavaria Film, resulting in a set that measured 55 m (180 feet) in length. The original built of this type of submarine is 67 m (219 feet) long, but the set included only the parts of the submarine which were accessible, leaving out the inaccessible bow and rear peaks as they weren’t needed for the filming of the movie. The entire set is on exhibit in Baravia Filmstadt, the museum that is connected to the film studios of Bavaria Film. Visitors are even allowed to step into the model of the U 96.

Vocabulary
chief mate -> 1. Wachoffizier

first mate -> Obersteuermann

Issues
-> Sometimes the same word could be used to translate two different terms
 * Problems with finding the right words for specific nautical terms
 * sometimes tricky with distinguishing between film and book and where the line is drawn
 * awkward or difficult run on sentences in the German text which made it tricky to translate (see Pts 1&2 for example)