Bismarck: The Final Days of Germany's Greatest Battleship

by Michael Tamelander, Niklas Zetterling

Overview

The author of Blitzkrieg covers one of the most dramatic events of the Second World War in an “outstanding book about naval warfare” (World War II History).
 
When the German battleship Bismarck—a masterpiece of engineering, well-armored with a main artillery of eight 15-inch guns—left the port of Gotenhafen for her first operation on the night of May 18, 1941, the British battlecruiser Hood and the new battleship Prince of Wales were ordered to find her quickly, as several large convoys were heading for Britain.
 
On May 24, Bismarck was found off the coast of Greenland, but the ensuing battle was disastrous for the British. The Hood was totally destroyed within minutes, with only three crewmen surviving, and Prince of Wales was badly damaged. The chase resumed until the German behemoth was finally caught, this time by four British capital ships supported by torpedo-bombers from the carrier Ark Royal. The icy North Atlantic roiled from the crash of shellfire and bursting explosions until finally the Bismarck collapsed, sending nearly two thousand German sailors to a watery grave.
 
Tamelander and Zetterling’s work rests on stories from survivors and the latest historical discoveries. The book starts with a thorough account of maritime developments from 1871 up to the era of the giant battleship, and ends with a vivid account, hour by hour, of the dramatic and fateful hunt for the mighty Bismarck, Nazi Germany’s last hope to pose a powerful surface threat to Allied convoys.
 
“Exciting story-telling . . . recreat[es] the thrill of the hunt.” —International Journal of Maritime History
 
“[An] epic sea chase and its vivid, human details.” —World War II

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781935149828
Publisher:	Casemate Publishers
Publication date:	01/10/2020
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	328
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Niklas Zetterling is a military historian and researcher at the Swedish Defense College. His previous books include Bismarck, The Korsun Pocket, and The Drive on Moscow, 1941.
Niklas Zetterling is a military historian and researcher at the Swedish Defense College. His previous books include Bismarck, The Korsun Pocket, and The Drive on Moscow, 1941.

Table of Contents

Foreword 7

Prologue 10

Part 1 13

1 Lessons from Previous Wars 14

2 The First Attempt 24

3 Preparations 32

4 Cruiser Warfare 41

5 'Now you pretend to be dead' 50

6 'For the first time in history. . .' 56

7 Operation Berlin 64

8 Operation Rheinüet;bung 82

9 The Home Fleet 95

10 The Visit 101

Part 2 109

11 Departure 110

12 Bunkering in Norway? 121

13 Holland and Tovey Put to Sea 126

14 Break-out 134

15 Pursued 147

16 Collision Course 153

17 Battle in the Denmark Strait 164

18 'Roll out the barrel!' 180

19 Farewell, Bismarck! 190

20 Air Attack 198

21 'Have lost contact with the enemy' 205

22 A Mysterious Signal 215

23 'Battleship sighted' 226

24 The Second Air Attack 233

25 One in a Hundred Thousand 240

Part 3 247

26 The Last Night 248

27 The Last Battle 259

28 The End 273

29 Epilogue 286

Notes 297

Index 313

Editorial Reviews

. . . unable to put it down . . . I highly recommend this book for anyone that likes the study of naval battles or just wants to read about an action-packed sea battle.

IPMS

essential background and new historical insights make otherwise inexplicable elements of the Bismarck story much clearer, without diminishing the drama of the epic sea chase and its vivid, human details.

World War II Magazine

A fresh look at the life and death of the most famous German warship of World War II.

The NYMAS Review

A fresh look at the life and death of the most famous German warship of World War II…a very good read…

StrategyPage

essential background and new historical insights make otherwise inexplicable elements of the Bismarck story much clearer, without diminishing the drama of the epic sea chase and its vivid, human details.

World War II

…a thorough treatment, including material from interviews with survivors of their sinkings and the impact they had on the naval war in the Atlantic.

Seapower

…exciting story-telling. Besides recreating the thrill of the hunt and allowing the reader to trace the movements of both sides on easy to grasp maps and diagrams…presentation in vivid detail and captivating images of the final hours of the German battleship on the ninth day of its first and only combat mission. It is a terrifying tales and a striking reminder of how impersonal, cruel and unforgiving modern military engagements have become... well crafted epilogue to one of World War II’s most notorious naval engagements.

International Journal of Maritime History

A detailed account of one of the most dramatic events of the Second World War, including interviews with survivors

Military History Monthly

”... a very interesting and useful history …once you start… you will be very hard pressed to stop until the smoke has cleared and the ship is sunk.

Internet Modeler

"outstanding book about naval warfare…real time, you are there style that conveys all of the anxiety of actual combat at sea."

WWII History

…unable to put it down…I highly recommend this book for anyone that likes the study of naval battles or just wants to read about an action-packed sea battle.

IPMS/USA