"Against All Odds"
by Robert Taylor

Speaking of the threat posed by the German U-Boats, Winston, Churchill said:

"Battles might be won or lost, enterprises might succeed or miscarry, territories might be gained or quitted, but dominating all our power to carry on the war, or even keep ourselves alive, lay our mastery of the ocean routes and the free approach and entry to our ports.....The only thing that ever really frightened me during the war was the U-Boat peril."

Over 2770 merchant ships were sunk by the U-Boats, but they in turn paid a terrible price: Over 500 U-Boat Captains were lost with over 30,000 men. Of the 1150 U-Boats placed in service, over half were lost in action during the 1939-45 combat.

The U-Boat sailors were among the bravest fighting men of WWII. They pressed home their attacks when their position seemed hopeless, battled against vastly superior numbers, made hugh sacrifices and won their victories often in the most appalling conditions. That their fearsome trade was decreed by lunatic politicians does nothing to diminish their seamanship and the magnitude of their accomplishments. Their bravery was of the highest order.

Robert's painting AGAINST ALL ODDS portrays the renowned defiance of the U-Boat crews. Caught on the surface by
a PBY Catalina of the Fleet Air Wing based at Port Lyautey in French Morocco, the gun crews of a type VIIc U-Boat are
quickly into action. The 3.7 cm anti-aircraft gun is hurriedly re-loaded while on the upper platform the two 2 cm anti-aircraft twins take chunks out of the Catalina's tail - enough damage to secure a respite from the attack. Soon they will dive to relative safety beneath the Atlantic swell.

A masterpiece of military art from the master of air and sea painting. A true collector's gem and signed by four submariners of the German Kreigsmarine, all of whom are holders of the Knight's Cross. They are: Karl-August Landfermann, Rudolf Muhlbauer, Heinrich Schroeteler, and Helmut Witte.