The German Navy in the Nazi Era Review

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(More customer reviews)Charles Thomas has produced a great book on the Kriegsmarine, the neglected branch of the Wehrmacht. The Heer (army), and the Luftwaffe (air force), held Hitler's attention far more than the Kriegsmarine (navy), and the history of this troubled arm of the German military is well explained. From it's destruction after WWI, through to the clandestine planning for a new navy in the inter-war years, to the arrival of Hitler and the Nazi party, and the ramifications for the new navy, it is an enjoyable read, with good illustrations. All the key personnel are ably described, as is the constant frustration of it's chief planners with Hitler's preoccupation with the Heer and Luftwaffe. All the ships of the surface navy are covered, as well as good accounts of their various histories. The apparent champions of the Kriegsmarine, the U-boats, are also covered well, from their struggling creation, to it's rise as the chief assault force of the Third Reich, in terms of damage done to the Western Allies, to it's utter destruction is covered. A great book for the layman and dedicated student likewise.
A top read!


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The German navy's experience under the Third Reich are explored in depth in this history of the Kriegsmarine. It examines the crucial relationship between the naval officer corps, one of the traditional elites of Germany, and the National Socialist Party. The book begins by describing the navy's frustrating experiences in World War I, when inactivity on the part of the surface fleet and poor communication with the other armed services led to a revolutionary atmosphere by 1918. It then analyzes the navy's often troubled relationship with the parties of the Weimar Republic and the admirals' fear of subversion by the German Communist Party (KPD) which contributes to their changing relationship with National Socialism before 1933. The author explores the major expansion of the Kriegsmarine under Admiral Raeder and the difficult relationships with the Sturmabteilung (SA) and the Schutzstaffel (SS) before the outbreak of the war in 1939. He discusses the navy's dogged determination throughout the war in the face of impossible odds and the crucial role played by Admirals Raeder and Donitz.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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