As an avid reader with an interest in history and non fiction among other genres, I was intrigued when reading the description of this book. I had never before heard of this chapter of World War II history, and looked forward to learning more. The way Charles Lachhman pulls the reader in from the start, and keeps the story going, had me turning the pages quickly. Despite knowing how it ended, I really enjoyed learning all of the background and how this incredible mission was pulled off.

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I had never heard of this event in WWII and was intrigued to learn more about it and I’m glad I did! This book is ripe with details and the author’s writing style puts you right in the action.

It was great to learn more from the American side and the author shows both sides (the American and German) as a way to round out the full narrative. As another commenter noted, I’m not sure we need sympathy towards the Nazi, but either way, it was interesting to read both sides.

Definitely recommend this read as it was extraordinary to read!

From the very first page this book grips you. This was done in such a realistic and respectful way to lieutenant Gallery and his men who made history during WWII. The characters were enticing and realistic and you felt for each of them. The actions of as very well written and kept me engaged in the story the whole time. You can tell that Mr. Lachlan did his research and really wanted to tell one of the most fascinating and historically important stories in WWII. I also thought it was great that he included the German pov, it felt like it gave the full story. Absolutely loved this book will be buying my own copy and looking forward to reading more of Charles Lachlan’s work.

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.

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.

3.5 stars, rounded upward.

Code Name Nemo is the true story of how U.S. Naval Commander Dan Gallery and his men captured a German U-boat during World War II. My thanks go to NetGalley, Diversion Books, and Dreamscape Media for the review copies. This book will be available to the public June 4, 2024.

German U-boats were brilliantly engineered submarines that were the terror of the seas for Allied forces in the Atlantic theater during World War II. They were extremely difficult to detect, and were responsible for sending not only Allied ships, but also Merchant Marine vessels and other commercial craft to the bottom of the ocean. Until Gallery took the initiative to capture one, the U.S. Navy had been hard pressed just to sink the treacherous subs rather than be sunk by them. To capture one was an intelligence coup of the highest order, providing the Allies with not only the technical details of the U-boats themselves, but also a host of military secrets kept onboard, including the codes that in turn led to the plans and locations of other German subs.

No Naval officer had even attempted such a thing before. Nazis were expected to destroy their subs rather than allow them to be taken; this, even if it meant all or part of the crews had to drown with the vessels. But lately, it was known that there were sailors that were conscripted and who were not Germans, men from conquered European nations. Gallery believed that some of these men would now choose to surrender and live, rather than drown themselves for the Fuhrer. Gallery was right.

Lachman does a presentable job of describing the events leading up to the sub’s capture, and he chooses to tell it from dual perspectives, and so we see it through both American eyes and those of the Germans. I am not a fan of this trend. For starters, I don’t see this as a good time, if such exists, to depict Nazis as warm and fuzzy fellows that just happened to be on the losing side of history. Furthermore—and I’ve said it before, so forgive me if you are my longtime reader and growing sick of my saying this—you never see historical writers take this tack when detailing the events of the Pacific theater. It’s as if there’s an implied requirement, saying, Look here. We are all (Caucasian) human beings, after all.

That aside, I enjoyed this book, particularly the most exciting part when they board the sub and have to prevent its exploding, or sinking fast along with the U.S. sailors that have come on deck. There is a certain amount of information dumping up front that slows things down a bit up front, and that might also confuse a reader or listener trying to remember the many names and personal histories of those involved. I can see the reasoning behind all of it; some of those mentioned in this book will have descendants that swell with pride as they hear of the courage and cleverness of their great-great whatevers, and who may be devastated to see their late relative omitted. However, the narrative would flow better if the details were streamlined.

I primarily use the audio version, with the Kindle version as backup for rechecking facts. Some of the time I used both at once. Qarie Marshall is the reader for the audio, and does an outstanding job of taking me back in time, once the story gets moving.

The research is adequate, but not stellar. Certain sources get the lion’s share of use, primarily Dan Gallery himself, who has written at length about his experience. I found myself wondering, from time to time, if I would have been better served to read his own account rather than this one. But by then I had this one well underway, so I went with it.

Those that enjoy military history might enjoy this story, and for them, I rate this book four stars. As a general read for history buffs, it may be more of a three star read. If you are the latter and considering reading it, you may want to get it free or cheap, rather than investing full cover price.

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.

Real Rating: 3.25* of five

Step-by-step indeed. Ploddingly paced, full of the sort of detail and acronyn-heavy information that professional historians batten on, and that do less for me than sci-fi infodumping does in the reading pleasure metrics, I had to bail just before the halfway point. It really shouldn't surprise me that I couldn't get deeply immersed in the read because submarine stories have to be very fast-paced for me not to fixate on the claustrophobia of their raison d'etre. Underwater! NO FRESH AIR! Lots of bodies all squished up with no personal space! *shudder*

As I mentioned, that needs a fast narrative pace with plenty of action for me to overcome. I didn't get that here. If you're an Erik Larson fan, that is not this writer's style. He's closer to Russell S. Bonds or Stephen Harrigan: Details accumulate, characters emerge in relief or simply can't be recreated, but nowhere is your pulse going to pound.

Diversion Books offers hardcovers for $29.99 from 4 June 2024, should you be deeply fascinated by details of the Battle of the Atlantic.

An outstanding look at the events leading to the capture of the U-505 during WW2. The story is well-told from both sides of the conflict. The author does a great job in presenting the individuals who participated in this event.

Having been to Chicago and being able to see and tour this artifact, made the story so much more interesting and meaningful, From the standpoint of an ex-submariner, the story is accurate and the accounts of what the individuals went through in their submarine life only added to my enjoyment. A great read!

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Charles Lachman took on a journey in 1944 on the hunt for a U-Boat 505, all its technology, Nazi encryption codes, and an Enigma cipher machine. But we were also with the crew of the U-505. Both sides played a cat-and-mouse game around the Atlantic Ocean until the US Navy captured it on June 4, 1944. Lachman brings continues the journey after the capture from both sides.

It is very well-researched and written. All WWII history nerds should read this one. Why are there not more stories about U-505 and the capture?! You can see U-505 now at The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. The submarine is now the world’s only remaining Type IX-C submarine and a National Historic Landmark.

Thank you, NetGalley and Diversion Books for an advanced copy.

I have to first thank Netgalley and Diversion Books for sending me an ARC of my first official 5-star book of 2024.

Charles Lachman had my attention from start to finish. A non-fiction account of an overshadowed, highly covert, seemingly impossible mission that reads as page turning fiction. Lachman tastefully bonds the reader to all of the major characters in the book by providing a sincere and calculated look into each’s background, ethos and personalities. The characters, both American and German are thus humanized, flawed, heroic, funny, cowardly and captivating. They’re real and you are given the ability to imagine each man.

I learned so much about the Battle of the Atlantic and was stunned to learn German subs were patrolling the waters and sinking ships just off the coast of the US eastern seaboard. I particularly liked Lachman’s choice to spend time telling both sides of the story. The German U-Boats objectives, day-to-day life and logistics were equally as fascinating as life aboard the American destroyers and anti-submarine warships.

The book culminated in the capture and recovery of U-Boat 505, which was a truly gripping experience from initial contact to final tow. An amazing story of decision making, intelligence and indescribable courage. Lachman does well ending the book with the very well deserved short stories of the crews awards and impact the event had on their lives forever.

My favorite book of the year so far. I will be getting this book in hard copy the minute it hits shelves. Charles Lachman, you have a new fan. Well done.

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.

Captain Daniel Gallery, commanding an antisubmarine task group in the Atlantic, wanted to capture a German U-boat. This is the story. Author Charles Lachman wrote a rollicking tale with phrases like “the sudden noise scares the daylights out of everyone” and “he still has his draft card—from World War I.”
The way it reads like fiction, I wondered if some of it was. One officer had been on the “aircraft carrier USS Long Island as an engineering officer. He participates in in historic events: the Battle of Midway.” Everyone knows the carriers at Midway were the Enterprise, Yorktown, and Hornet. I googled Long Island. It was an escort carrier guarding the west coast during the battle. I googled many things, and they checked out.
The capture of U-505 was perilous, both during the seizure and afterwards in keeping it secret. This is fascinating reading.