THE STORY

Using a dynamic mix of archival footage, interviews with veterans, and dramatization, War at Sea documents the role of the Royal Canadian Navy and Merchant Navy in The Battle of the Atlantic. Part I: U-boats in the St. Lawrence tells of the little-known Battle of the St. Lawrence, when German U-boats boldly sank ships right on Canada's doorstep. The saga of the Canadian war at sea begins with the Corvettes--nicknamed "the cheap and nasties" by Winston Churchill. Their job was to keep open the vital supply lines between North America and Great Britain. The German submarine command was determined to cut these off and starve Britain into submission. Allied Naval Command, including Canada's Chief of Naval Staff, critically underestimated the seriousness of this threat.

THE CHARACTER

Captain Paul Hartwig is a crafty, highly intelligent U-boat Captain. A pragmatic, patient man he is highly respected by his crew. He is very aware that war is cruel and fickle. He has compassion for his enemies and realizes that though he has had many victories the tide may quickly turn against him. His crew and his submarine may become the next casualties in the every growing death toll of the War of the Atlantic. He roams the depths of the St. Lawrence attacking ship after ship, unabated. He can not understand how it has been so easy for him to sink ships and evade capture.

COMMENTS

" I have done a number of docu-drama type shows over the years and have enjoyed them immensely because they often comprise of a series of monologues that recount actual events. Storytelling in its purest form. For this to be successful the actor must disappear. Ego and artifice must be dropped to make room for the natural unfolding of story. .."

Comments continued - REAL AUDIO CLIP