First edition copy of “IRON COFFINS: A PERSONAL ACCOUNT OF THE GERMAN U-BOAT BATTLES OF WORLD WAR II” by Herbert A. Werner.

Volume is bound in black cloth with the title on the spine. Full color dustjacket is worn with one chip at the bottom of the spine and one small tear at top of spine. Lower front has a crease line.

Volume meas. approx. 6.25 x 9.25 inches and runs 329 pages. Page edges show light dirt. Binding is very good and the interior is clean with a center section of numerous black & white photos.

The book is from the collection of a US Navy veteran who met Mr. Werner on two separate occasions and had him sign the book both times.

Herbert Werner was born on May 13, 1920 in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany. He joined the navy in 1939 as an officer candidate and became a midshipman in November 1940. In April 1941 he was appointed watch officer on U-557 under Ottokar Paulshen and carried out three war patrols with her, from April to November 1941, during which he was involved in a number of engagements and took part in the sinking of five merchant ships.

Werner was promoted and sent to U-boat school for training, before joining U-612 in April 1942 as first watch officer under Paul Siegmann. U-612 was lost accidentally in August 1942 while working up, although most of the crew were saved; they were transferred en bloc to U-230. Werner accomplished four patrols with her (seeing only one success) up to December 1943, when he was again promoted and sent to commanders’ school.

In April 1944 he took command of U-415 but made only two abortive sorties before she was sunk in harbor after detonating a mine. Werner then took command of U-953, in August 1944 and escaped with her to Norway, from whence he made one unfruitful patrol before the German surrender in May 1945.

Werner is thought to have moved to the US in 1957 and there wrote this bestselling memoir. He is believed to have died in April 2013 in Vero Beach, Florida.

The previous owner visited Mr. Werner in his hometown in June of 1973. At that time the author signed the title page “TO TIMOTHY, WITH MY VERY BEST WISHES. HERBERT A. WERVER JUNE 27, 1973.” Then in 1984 the books owner attended the Delaware Valley American Society of Naval Engineers function in Philadelphia which featured Mr. Werner. It was there that the author signed the book for a second time. He wrote “AND AGAIN WE MEET IN PHILADELPHIA. 12/11/84 HERBERT.” The flyer advertising that event comes with the book. Both inscriptions are done in strong ink.  [ad]

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