Hell Below

In the early days of World War II, German U-boats patrolled the North Atlantic, stalking and sinking cargo ships within sight of Manhattan, New Jersey, and North Carolina's Outer Banks. These "wolf packs" also played a cat-and-mouse game with Allied submarines, which had deadly consequences. This six-episode Smithsonian Channel-aired series recalls those desperate days of North Atlantic warfare, where the Nazi goal was to cut vital British lifelines carrying fuel, weapons, wheat, and other foodstuffs, hopefully bringing the landlocked island of England to the brink of starvation. The documentary effectively conveys the sheer terror of depth charges, which carried the threat of a near direct hit that could blast a breach in the vessel, sending men to instant death on the ocean floor. Early Allied commanders were deemed too risk-averse, and the home front was slow to realize the threat that a lighthouse, illuminated skyline, or carelessly lit cigarette could pose by alerting the Nazis to a good target. Both sides improvised, with commanders consulting commercial tour guides and old school atlases to help navigate. Other hazards encountered included storms, high seas, and an "air gap" in the mid-Atlantic that left convoy ships without air cover due to their distance from land. There were "fog of war" mistakes, as when an Allied commander fired on survivors of a sinking German ship, only to later discover that many were transported prisoners of war. The series describes the routine of submarine crews, an alternation of boredom and terror, the latter helped by a shot of "depth charge medicine”—a glass of brandy meant to steady the nerves. Some of the tactics described, including the U-boats' penetration of the interior of Allied convoys, could rival any Hollywood production for excitement. Combining fascinating vignettes and outstanding special effects, this is highly recommended. Aud: P. (S. Rees)