What year did Lothar - Gunter Buchheim review " Das Boot " ?
From his experiences , he wrote a short story , "" Die Eichenlaubfahrt "" ( " The Oak - Leaves Patrol " ) and a 1973 novel which was to become an international best - seller , " Das Boot " , followed in 1976 by " U - Boot - Krieg " ( " U - Boat War " ) , a nonfiction chronicle of the voyage .