Covering all classes of vessel, and all theatres of war, from the sorties into the Atlantic by the capital ships Bismarck, Tirpitz, Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, to the actions of the E-boats in the English Channel and the Mediterranean.

The story of the Kriegsmarine's desperate attempts to turn back the Allies at the end of World War II.

This book offers an outstanding visual record of the history, uniforms and gear used by the Kriegsmarine. Over 500 pages, 2600 photographs (most unpublished before) accompany the clear, explanatory text.

A complete illustrated study of the German Kriegsmarine throughout World War II. Hamstrung at first by the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, during the 1930s, the German Navy underwent a programme of rearmament in defiance of the restrictions, building modern warships under limitations which forced technological innovation. Submarines were strictly prohibited by the treaty, and yet, following years of covert development, they became one of the Kriegsmarine's most deadly weapons. Blooded in the Spanish Civil War, the surface ships of the Kriegsmarine went on to play a crucial role in the opening salvoes of World War II during the invasions of Poland and Norway, although serious losses here set back plans for the invasion of Britain, and by the end of the war, only a handful of surface vessels remained to be divided up among the Allies. From the beginning of the war, but especially after the fall of France, the dreaded and extraordinarily successful U-boats stalked the Atlantic, threatening vital British shipping convoys and choking off the lifeline of munitions and supply from the US. Once Italy and Japan entered the war, German naval operations expanded to the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean. This highly illustrated volume is a comprehensive study of the German Navy throughout the war, from pocket battleships to torpedo boats.

Although often overlooked in favour of the U-boats or battleships, the vast majority of the Kriegsmarine was formed of the smaller vessels of the coastal forces. These ships and boats, which included minesweepers, torpedo boats, patrol boats, and blockade breakers, gave crucial service to Germany during the war, and many continued serving for decades after the surrender in such tasks as clearing minefields. Also included in these forces was Hitler's yacht, the Ostwind. This book reveals the history of the vessels that formed the backbone of the Kriegsmarine, and combines fascinating anecdotes, detailed technical information, and full-colour artwork.

Arguably of all the branches of the German armed forces in World War Two, only the Kriegsmarine had the ability to bring Britain to defeat once the immediate threat of invasion after Dunkirk had receded. With the threat posed by its U-Boats and great capital ships, such as the Bismarck and Tirpitz, the Kriegsmarine, through its attacks on the convoys bringing vital supplies across the Atlantic, came close to starving Britain into submission. This addition to a popular series will provide the collector with detailed and objective advice on Kriegsmarine memorabilia with the usual guide to values and how to spot forgeries. For all active collectors of Third Reich militaria and those interested in the Kriegsmarine during the period from 1939 to 1945, this will be essential reading.