Hermann Bauer Hermann Bauer ( 22 July 1875 — 11 February 1958 ) was a German naval officer who served as commander of the U - boat forces of the " Kaiserliche Marine " during World War I . In addition to his World War I career , Bauer is well known as the author of the book " Das Unterseeboot " , a treatise on the design and operation of U - boats , which was later translated into English by Hyman G . Rickover . Rickover ' s translation became a basic text for the US submarine service . Career . Bauer joined the " Kaiserliche Marine " as a cadet in April 1892 , completing his basic training aboard the sailing frigate , before attending the Naval Academy in 1892 - 1893 . He continued his training on the ship and the cruiser . After a second period of study at the Naval Academy in 1894 - 1895 Bauer was promoted to " Unterleutnant zur See " on 15 September 1895 and subsequently served on the battleship . In 1897 Bauer served on the frigate before transferring to the light cruiser as a deck officer . On 12 April 1899 he was promoted to " Leutnant zur See " and then served as watch officer on the torpedo training ship . From October 1900 to September 1903 , he served as a company officer , deck officer , first officer , and then the commander of the " II . Torpedo - Abteilung " ( " 2nd Torpedo Division " ) . Bauer served for more than a year as commander of the " II . Torpedo - Abteilung " , and was simultaneously commander of " Torpedodivisionsbootes D9 " , Flag Lieutenant of " II . Torpedobootsflottille " , and Flag Lieutenant and commander of the torpedo boat " S125 " . On 1 April 1904 he was promoted to " Kapitänleutnant " . Between October 1906 and September 1908 Bauer served in the shipbuilding department of the " Reichsmarineamt " , and subsequently served as a navigation officer aboard the cruiser . He was promoted to " Korvettenkapitän " on 16 October 1909 . He served as first officer of the battleship for a year , then spent two and a half years as adjutant of the Imperial Shipyard at Wilhelmshaven . Between November 1913 and March 1914 Bauer commanded the light cruiser . He was then transferred to the U - boat arm , where he served as commander of " I . Unterseebootsflottille " , and during World War I served as " Führer der Unterseeboote " ( " Commander of Submarines " ) until 4 June 1917 , and as such was promoted to " Fregattenkapitän " on 16 April 1915 . On 24 July 1917 he was appointed commander of the battleship and on 14 October 1917 was promoted to " Kapitän zur See " . Bauer took command of the battleship on 5 August 1918 , and shortly before the war ' s end also commanded the battleships and . Between December 1918 and March 1919 Bauer returned to command of the " II . Torpedo - Abteilung " , before moving to the Naval Dockyard at Wilhelmshaven , at first serving as equipment manager , then from October 1919 as director , and as such was promoted to Rear Admiral on 1 April 1922 . From June to September 1923 Bauer was chief of the General Office of the Navy in the Naval High Command . On 1 October 1923 he was promoted to command of the " Marinestation der Nordsee " and in that capacity was promoted to Vice Admiral on 1 February 1925 . On 5 October 1928 Bauer was appointed Chief of the Naval Command , but on 30 November 1928 , on his promotion to Admiral , he retired . Bauer declared himself available to the Navy on 25 July 1939 , but was not called up for active military service .