Being a war correspondent, he joined the crew of the famous German
submarine U-96 in 1941 to photograph and describe it in action. Based
on these experiences, he wrote "Das Boot" about thirty years
later.
German author, publisher, painter and art collector, probably best
known for his international bestseller "Das Boot", which was made into
the hit movie Das Boot (1981).
Created the Museum of Imagination, now called the Buchheim Museum, in
Bernried on Lake Starnberg, containing his collection of Expressionist
paintings and graphics, but also curiosities such as nutcrackers or
carousel animals (2001).