Das Boot, or The Boat, is a German miniseries that first aired in 1984 with three 100 minute episodes. It was basically a extended version of the Oscar nominated Wolfgang Petersen film of the same name, based on the novel by Lothar-Gunther Buchheim.  The miniseries producers consulted with two U-boat captains to ensure authenticity.

The miniseries tells the true stories of the men on U-boat, U-96, during World War II.  The story covers the hunt for other boats and the excitement of battle under water. The men on U-96 are all ordinary sailors trying to do their duty for their country. Petersen was trying to take the audience into the minds of the men on the boat and he was extremely detailed oriented.

As a result, the film was historically accurate and a huge success.

The production of Das Boot lasted two years. All the scenes were shot in sequence, so the actor’s appearances would be correct. This allowed beard and hair to grow as if it would have on the boat.  The actors were not allowed to go into the sunlight during filming so that their skin would get paler over time. Two full-sized Type VIIC boats were built one for shots outside and the other on a motion mount for indoor scenes.

A new camera was created to film most of the interior shots.  Cinematographer Jost Vacano’s camera design was a hand-held camera with two gyroscopes for stability. It is smaller than a normal Steadicam and was perfect for the constant movement of the set.

The story of Das Boot is told through the eyes of Lt. Werner, a war correspondent to the submarine. He observes the differences between new crew members and hardened veterans. After endless days of boredom the crew spots a British convoy and the excitement hits.  The crew faces a roller coaster of morale, storms and enemy fire but somehow seem to keep moving.