Black May

Title: "Black May: The Epic Story of the Allies' Defeat of the German U-Boats in May 1943" by Michael V. Gannon

Key Themes:

• Turning Point of the Battle of the Atlantic: The book focuses on the pivotal month of May 1943, when the Allies successfully turned the tide of the Battle of the Atlantic against the German U-boats.
• Allied Tactics and Innovations: It highlights the new tactics, weapons, and coordinated forces used by the Allies to counter the German U-boat threat.
• Historical Context: The narrative provides a comprehensive account of the two-year period during which German U-boats dominated the Atlantic, and how the Allies eventually gained the upper hand.
• Human Drama: The book delves into the personal stories of sailors, commanders, and U-boat crew members, adding a human element to the historical narrative.

Plot Summary: The book chronicles the dramatic shift in the Battle of the Atlantic during May 1943. For two years, German U-boats had been wreaking havoc on Allied shipping, turning the Atlantic into a "killing field." However, in May 1943, the Allies launched a concerted effort using new tactics and advanced weapons. This led to a significant defeat for the German U-boats, with 41 U-boats destroyed and 37 damaged in the North Atlantic. The narrative draws on previously unreleased transcripts of secretly recorded conversations of U-boat POWs to provide a detailed and engaging account of this pivotal battle.

Critical Reception:

• Publishers Weekly: Described as "A compelling, comprehensive account of the turning point of the Battle of the Atlantic in May 1943."
• Carlo D’Este: Praised as "A gripping tale of the undersea (or U-Boat) war by one of our finest naval historians. Highly recommended."
• Vice Admiral James F. Calvert: Noted that "BLACK MAY does the best job I have seen yet of describing in detail why the U-boats lost the Battle of the Atlantic.....It is a significant addition to the history of World War II."

Overall, "Black May" is a highly regarded historical account that not only provides a detailed analysis of the strategic and tactical aspects of the Battle of the Atlantic but also humanizes the conflict through personal stories and first-hand accounts.