The combination of increased tonnage and increased naval protection of shipping convoys made it much more difficult for U-boats to make a significant dent in British shipping. merchant marine and Navy entered the war, drastically increasing the amount of tonnage of supplies sent across the Atlantic. Britain's vulnerable shipping situation existed until 1942, when the tides changed as the U.S. The continuous action surrounding British shipping became known as the Battle of the Atlantic, as the British developed technical defences such as ASDIC and radar, and the German U-boats responded by hunting in what were called "wolfpacks" where multiple submarines would stay close together, making it easier for them to sink a specific target. Cross-Atlantic trade in war supplies and food was extensive and critical for Britain's survival. In the early stages of the war the U-boats were extremely effective in destroying Allied shipping due to the large gap in mid-Atlantic air cover. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill later wrote "The only thing that really frightened me during the war was the U-boat peril." To compensate, Germany's new navy, the Kriegsmarine, developed the largest submarine fleet going into World War II. The Armistice of 11 November 1918 ending World War I had scuttled most of the old Imperial German Navy and the subsequent Treaty of Versailles of 1919 limited the surface navy of Germany's new Weimar Republic to only six battleships (of less than 10,000 tons each), six cruisers, and 12 destroyers. servicemenĭuring World War II, U-boat warfare was the major component of the Battle of the Atlantic, which began in 1939 and ended with Germany's surrender in 1945. *When German U-Boats were captured these Junghans timers were a VERY sought-after bring back WWII German souvenir for U.S. We have not tampered with the inside or disassembled it but believe the inside mirrors the great condition as well. Because of how well the watch looks from the outside this is most likely just small loose gear on the inside. This WWII U-Boat watch has an incredible patina on the outside, however, the timer does not function. This Junghans WWII U-Boat stopwatch timer is in the incredible condition given its age while showing the perfect amount of wear and salty appearance. This is the classic design for German torpedo timing and used in U-Boats and E-Boats in the North Atlantic during the first and second world wars. Offered as found, in original condition, not cleaned or polished. These chronometers were very important onboard the German U-Boat submarines or battleships, used when launching torpedoes and for many other tasks. Very rare original German WWII Kriegsmarine U-Boat stopwatch, made by the legendary company Junghans. Wright - 342nd Bomb SquadronĬollections: 'Edward Wiswesser' - U.S.N. ID PostersĬollections: Combat Artwork of Lt. WroblewskiĬollections: Soviet Pe-2 Dive Bomber Wreckage FragmentsĬollections: WWII D-Day Airborne Paratrooper Sainte-Mère-Église Normandy ArtifactsĬollections: 1942-44 U.S. Morford 100th Bomb Group - 351st Bomb Squadron LettersĬollections: 33rd Photo Reconnaissance Squadron - Sgt. Newton 719th Bomb Squadron Italy Bomb Raid Target PhotosĬollection: Sgt. McNamara 4th Machine Record UnitĬollections: German Ju-52 Luftwaffe Aircraft Wreckage Fragment 2 KIA (Shot Down 2-22-44)Ĭollections: German FW-190 Luffwaffe Wreckage FragmentsĬollections: German Ju-87 Luffwaffe Wreckage FragmentsĬollections: WWII German Soldier Letters & Death CardsĬollection: Sgt. Battlefield PhotographsĬollections: 1941-44 KIA Named German Soldier's Combat LettersĬollection: 1944-45 WWII Sgt. Naval Carrier Pilot (Fitzgerald) Identification Posters *NEW Collections: WWII B-25 & B-24 Pacific Theater Mission Raid PhotographsĪerial Recon & Bombing Raid Mission Photographsġ944-45 U.S. Rix B-29 Navigator XXI Bomber Command JAPAN Target Maps *NEW Collections: TOP SECRET D-Day B.I.G.O.T. * NEW Collections: WWII 1940 Battle of Britain German He111 Aircraft Wreckage *NEW Collections: WWII Operation Market Garden 82nd Airborne & WACO Glider Fabric *NEW Collections: 460th Bomb Group Mission Raid Photographs