Das Boot

Das Boot reimagines the claustrophobic world of a German U-boat and the occupied cities that feed its missions. The series follows a largely inexperienced submarine crew assigned a secret, high-risk operation in the Atlantic while tensions rise aboard and ashore. Parallel storylines trace a young German woman caught between loyalty to her country and clandestine ties to the French resistance, exposing how ordinary people make impossible choices during war. Characters face command pressure, mechanical failure and moral uncertainty as the fight around them becomes as hazardous as the sea itself. Key characters include Robert Ehrenberg and Bobby Schulz, whose bond and inexperience shape daily life aboard, while officers and civilians ashore wrestle with Nazi authority and underground resistance.

Released in 2018, the series was directed by Dennis Gansel and created by Tony Saint, Johannes W. Betz and Colin Teevan, drawing on the original Das Boot novel and film. It was produced for television with international partners.

The show received industry recognition in Germany and Europe, earning nominations that highlighted its production design, cinematography and lead performances. It also drew praise for sound design and set work, marking it as a technically ambitious television production.

By updating a familiar story for television, Das Boot renewed interest in submarine dramas and wartime moral dilemmas. Its realistic U-boat sequences and city-set tension influenced later European TV thrillers and sparked discussions about collaboration, resistance and the civilian cost of war, including debates about representation and modern production craft.

Critics and viewers clock the series at a middling-to-positive level, with a 6.9/10 vote average from viewers. Reviews often praise atmosphere and moral complexity while noting uneven pacing; performances by Franz Dinda and Anna Schudt frequently stand out, reinforcing themes of duty and identity. Some viewers noted occasional historical inaccuracies.