German Kriegsmarine in World War II: Order of Battle

Germany s navy, the Kriegsmarine, played a critical role in the Third Reich s attempt to restrict the flow of supplies, men and materiel from the United States to Britain in the early years of the war and from North America and Britain to the Soviet Union from 1941. Such was the success of the U-boats in particular, by the end of the war more than 3000 Allied ships with a combined gross tonnage 14.5 million had been sent to the bottom of the sea.

Broken down by campaign and key actions, Order of Battle: German Kriegsmarine in World War II illustrates the strengths and organizational structures of the Third Reich s navy, building into a detailed compendium of information. Full-color order of battle tree diagrams help the reader quickly understand the make up of U-boat flotillas and surface fleets. Examples from key moments in the war include the U-boat wolfpack group West, which harried Allied shipping in the summer of 1941 and the fleet gathered for the invasion of Denmark in April 1940.

With extensive organizational diagrams, tables and full-color maps, Order of Battle: German Kriegsmarine in World War II is an attractive, easy-to-use guide to the German navy of World War II. The book is an essential reference for any serious enthusiast of naval warfare in the twentieth century.