Sea Monsters

Savage Submarine Commanders of World War Two

Description

The true story of a deeply murderous intent that lurked menacingly beneath the waves during World War Two. The torpedoes strike explosively and nine thousand people die — five thousand of them are just defenceless children. Another ship founders after being attacked by a brutal submarine commander and the ship’s crew and passengers are used in a murderous kind of blood-sport. Merchant seamen are savagely machine-gunned in the water, callously slaughtered with hand-grenades or simply left to the circling sharks. And hundreds of doctors, nurses, ship’s crew, ambulance drivers and hospital orderlies are viciously killed without compassion, despite being protected by the Geneva Convention.

From the heart-rending account of the sinking of the German liner Wilhelm Gustloff in 1945 — the worst maritime disaster in world history — through to a variety of other brutal actions carried out by numerous submarine commanders, including the sinking of the hospital ship Centaur in 1943, this book comes from the deep shadows of a tragic past. It reveals the terrible truth of a secretive war that was responsible for the deaths of unimaginable numbers of innocent people.

Sea Monsters includes powerful and poignant interviews with survivors — never before published.

Genres

About the author(s)

Tony Matthews is a Welsh–Australian historian and author who has devoted his career to uncovering the hidden stories of Australia’s past. Since migrating in 1972, he has written nearly 40 books—including best-selling regional histories and gripping true crime anthologies—and produced more than a dozen documentaries for the ABC and Seven Network, as well as hundreds of radio programs.

Born in Swansea, Wales, and educated at Clevedon College, Tony travelled widely before settling in Australia to pursue his lifelong passion for history. His first book was published in 1986, with many titles since achieving strong sales—most notably Crosses: Australian Soldiers in the Great War, which remained on Queensland bestseller lists for 13 consecutive weeks.

Renowned for his meticulous research and accessible storytelling, Tony brings history to life through compelling narratives and unforgettable characters. His colonial true crime books have been serialised on radio and praised for their vivid, dramatic flair.