In the Wake of the Graf Spee
In the Wake of the Graf Spee

Author: Enrique Dick

Publisher: WIT Press

Published: 2014-12-16

Total Pages: 251

ISBN-13: 184564932X

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This is an indispensable book for anyone wanting to know more about the before, during and after the Battle of the River Plate, the naval tactics that were employed, the games of diplomacy, the honour of the captains and crews, and the ground- breaking technology involved. The book takes a balanced view of pre-war and post-war events that shaped those years and of Argentina’s willingness to take the crew of the Graf Spee in and offer them refuge, which proved to be beneficial to both communities. For those with an interest in social history, the book tells the fascinating story of the changes that the arrival of 200 young German sailors in the foothills of the Sierras de Córdoba meant for what in 1940 had been a small village, Villa General Belgrano, where their traditions still endure. The technical details of the Graf Spee are set out in an Appendix at the back of the book where readers with an interest in such things will be able to find a comprehensive description of her own fascinating story and details of her armaments and capabilities in both words and numbers. The illustrations have been carefully selected in an attempt to reflect what that era was really like and the context in which she was built. Contents include: The Kriegsmarine; Life on board; The outbreak of war; Battle stations; Buenos Aires to Capilla Vieja; Illustrious name, Illustrious ship and both the early and final years.

Command Decisions: Langsdorff and the Battle of the River Plate
Command Decisions: Langsdorff and the Battle of the River Plate

Author: David Miller

Publisher: Pen and Sword

Published: 2013-04-08

Total Pages: 214

ISBN-13: 1473822343

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This compelling new study of the Battle of the River Plate concentrates on Kapitn zur See Hans Langsdorff, the commander of the German pocket battleship Graf Spee it is written from his point of view. The story of his mission at the start of the Second World War to prey on merchant shipping is graphically retold, and Langsdorffs command decisions are the primary focus of David Millers gripping narrative. He considers in vivid detail the factors Langsdorff had to consider as he assessed the situation of his ship and choose his course of action. He describes the intelligence Langsdorff received and his knowledge of the position and strength of the forces of the Royal Navy that were arrayed against him. Langsdorffs interpretation of his mission and the tense calculations he had to make in order to carry it out are the essential elements of this dramatic story.Langsdorff, operating alone and thousands of miles away from home and with no prospect of support, had to grapple with the enormous burden of a lone command. He made grave mistakes, and these are ruthlessly exposed. But this fascinating re-examination of his actions and his leadership does nothing to diminish his reputation as a brave and honourable officer.

The German War Machine in World War II
The German War Machine in World War II

Author: David T. Zabecki

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA

Published: 2019-12-02

Total Pages: 457

ISBN-13:

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This invaluable resource offers students a comprehensive overview of the German war machine that overran much of Europe during World War II, with close to 300 entries on a variety of topics and a number of key primary source documents. This book provides everything the reader needs to know about the German war machine that developed into the potent armed force under Adolf Hitler. This expansive encyclopedia covers the period of the German Third Reich, from January 1933 to the end of World War II in Europe, in May 1945. Dozens of entries on key battles and military campaigns, military and political leaders, military and intelligence organizations, and social and political topics that shaped German military conduct during World War II are followed by an illuminating epilogue that outlines why Germany lost World War II. A documents section includes more than a dozen fascinating primary sources on such significant events as the Tripartite Pact among Germany, Italy, and Japan; the Battle of Stalingrad; the Normandy Invasion; the Ardennes Offensive; and Germany's surrender. In addition, six appendices provide detailed information on a variety of topics such as German aces, military commanders, and military medals and decorations. The book ends with a chronology and a bibliography of print resources.

Battleships: The First Big Guns
Battleships: The First Big Guns

Author: Philip Kaplan

Publisher: Pen and Sword

Published: 2014-04-15

Total Pages: 146

ISBN-13: 1783462930

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This new addition to the Images of War series takes as its focus the early Big Gun battleships that saw development and deployment during the First World War. Iconic ships such as HMS Warspite and Malaya feature amidst this pictorial history that is sure to appeal to fans of the series, and naval enthusiasts in particular. ??Vessels featured include the battleship Royal Sovereign, the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle, the cruiser HMS Gloucester, the Queen Elizabeth class battleship HMS Barham and the Italian battleships Littorio, Cesare, Duillo, Vittorio Veneto, Conte di Cavour and Doria, amongst many others. British and international battleships feature side by side in a publication that offers a truly representative selection of the kind of vessels in action at this time.

An Honorable German
An Honorable German

Author: Charles McCain

Publisher: Hachette+ORM

Published: 2009-07-25

Total Pages: 264

ISBN-13: 0446550868

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“A truly epic and stirring tale of war, love, and the sea . . . An original and surprising look at World War II from the other side.”—Nelson DeMille When World War II begins, Max Brekendorf, a proud young German naval officer, fights for his country with honor and courage. With the unstoppable German war machine overrunning Europe, Max looks ahead to a bright future with his fiancée, Mareth. But as the war progresses, their future together becomes less and less certain. German victories begin to fade. In the North Atlantic, Max must face the increasing strength of the Allies on ever more harrowing missions. Berlin itself is savaged by bombing, making life for Mareth increasingly dangerous and desperate. And as the Third Reich steadily crumbles, Nazi loyalists begin to infiltrate Max’s crew and turn their terror on Germany’s own armed forces. Recognizing what his nation has become, Max is forced to make a choice between his own sense of morality, and his duty to the Reich. With its stirring, rarely seen glimpse of the German home front during WWII, vivid characters, and evocation of the drama and terror of war at sea, An Honorable German is a suspense-filled story of adventure, of love and loss, and of honor and redemption. “A fast paced, old fashioned naval yarn that crackles with authenticity, An Honorable German will leave the taste of salt on your tongue as you breathlessly turn the pages. A first-class tale that aficionados of the Second World War will find especially satisfying. I enjoyed it immensely!”—Christopher Reich, New York Times bestselling author “Outstanding maritime action sequences.”—Publishers Weekly

Battleships: WWII Evolution of the Big Guns
Battleships: WWII Evolution of the Big Guns

Author: Philip Kaplan

Publisher: Pen and Sword

Published: 2015-06-15

Total Pages: 219

ISBN-13: 147384357X

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A pictorial history of American, Japanese, German, and British battleships in World War II. Beginning with a pictorial essay on battleship construction in the 1930s and 1940s, this book looks at the various design facets of the last great capital ships of the world’s navies. Kaplan offers us a glimpse into those massive American and German navy yards and construction facilities that were put to use during this time, acquainting us with the arenas in which these final examples of battleship technology were laid down, built up, launched, fitted out, commissioned and taken out to sea. The book roots itself in a period of monumental change within the history of contemporary warfare. With the baton being passed from the battleship community to that of the aircraft carrier, the iconic battleship was gradually superseded by a new and even more threatening weapons system. It was destined to be consigned to the history books, whilst newer, slicker and more efficient fighting machines took precedence. This publication serves as a tribute to a lost legend of naval warfare. There is a look at some of modern history’s most significant battleships, relaying their thrilling stories, defining characteristics and eventual fates. Ships featured include Scharnhorst, Gneisenau, Warspite, Tirpitz and Yamato. The book is completed with ‘Fast and Last,’ a visit on board the four final examples of battleship technology and design, the last serving battleships USS Iowa, USS New Jersey, USS Wisconsin, and USS Missouri. Their Second World War careers are recounted, as are the qualities that made them special. Praise for Battleships: WWII Evolution of the Big Guns “The author does an excellent job providing insight into the design and building of particular battleship classes. . . . The pictures of battleships that grace this book are one of its chief strengths. . . . this volume provides new information, insights, and images that even some well- read “experts” might find enlightening.” —Naval Historical Foundation

Naval Warfare 1919-45
Naval Warfare 1919-45

Author: Malcolm H. Murfett

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2008-11-04

Total Pages: 648

ISBN-13: 1134048130

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Naval Warfare 1919–45 is a comprehensive history of the war at sea from the end of the Great War to the end of World War Two. Showing the bewildering nature and complexity of the war facing those charged with fighting it around the world, this book ranges far and wide: sweeping across all naval theatres and those powers performing major, as well as minor, roles within them. Armed with the latest material from an extensive set of sources, Malcolm H. Murfett has written an absorbing as well as a comprehensive reference work. He demonstrates that superior equipment and the best intelligence, ominous power and systematic planning, vast finance and suitable training are often simply not enough in themselves to guarantee the successful outcome of a particular encounter at sea. Sometimes the narrow difference between victory and defeat hinges on those infinite variables: the individual’s performance under acute pressure and sheer luck. Naval Warfare 1919–45 is an analytical and interpretive study which is an accessible and fascinating read both for students and for interested members of the general public.

World War Two at Sea
World War Two at Sea

Author: Philip Kaplan

Publisher: Pen and Sword

Published: 2014-02-19

Total Pages: 252

ISBN-13: 147383452X

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This wide-ranging naval history features rare wartime battleship images combined with thrilling first person accounts from servicemen. During the Second World War, big-gun battleships represented the ultimate power of the world’s greatest navies. In this book, veteran battleship crew members describe their unforgettable experiences aboard these iconic vessels. Here are the vivid recollections of a Royal Navy officer at Jutland; tales of the loss of the German warship Scharnhorst in the arctic; combat experience inside a sixteen-inch gun turret aboard an Iowa-class battleship during the Gulf War; and many others. Included too is the story of the great German battleship Bismarck, which sank the pride of the British fleet; the story of HMS Hood; and that of the USS Missouri,on whose deck the final surrender document of the Second World War was signed. The text is combined with a compelling selection of historic images representing the era of the great battleships from the early years through the First and Second World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, and the preservation of a handful of these vessels as museum pieces today.

The Oxford Encyclopedia of Maritime History
The Oxford Encyclopedia of Maritime History

Author: John B. Hattendorf

Publisher:

Published: 2007

Total Pages: 718

ISBN-13:

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From the dawn of seafaring history to the present day, from the first crude canoes and rafts to today's nuclear submarines and supertankers, the Encyclopedia of Maritime History will systematically survey the separate but related interests of general historians and maritime specialists. Comprising more than one million words in four volumes, the work's nine hundred entries will provide a detailed and synthetic overview of the scope and sweep of maritime history, and will bring together in a readily accessible form a range of historical and professional information that can otherwise be found only with the help of an extensive library.