hucks216
08-04-2010, 09:19
I am currently ploughing through a really great book on the Norwegian Campaign of 1940 and just thought I'd post my recommendation here.
Titled The German Invasion Of Norway 1940 by Geirr H Haarr (ISBN 978-1-84832-032-1) it is a book that concentrates on the Naval aspects of the campaign from all sides in the run-up and execution of Operation Weserubung. Despite the author being Norwegian, and the book title hinting at a German 'slant' to the narrative it is in fact a very fairly written book, all sides receiving a balanced, and totally unbiased, coverage. It is obvious that Haarr has gone to great lengths in his research in all 3 main countries to obtain material for this book. I couldn't believe how the Norwegian leaders missed all the signs that something was afoot, something I was not aware of, including the sinking of a troop transporter off the coast of Norway by the Polish submarine Orzel. Looking at the jigsaw pieces in the book you can't help but think "How did they not connect the dots?"
A few more maps wouldn't of gone amiss but that is a minor issue more than made up for with some great photographs, alot previously unseen I believe including Blucher's stern rising out of the water as she goes under rather than just the often seen one of her listing over to port, and photos of the damage to the Konigsberg just prior to sinking from the authors own collection.
Here are a couple of sample paragraphs to whet the appetite..
"The first 28-cm high explosive shell passed close over Blucher's bridge, impacting with devastating effect in the lower part of the command tower, sending large parts of it overboard. The main flak fire-control platform was totally destroyed and most of the personnel there, including the second gunnery officer, Kapitanleutnant Pochhammer, were killed. Inside the foretop there were few casualties, but it filled with acrid smoke and had to be evacuated, including the main fire-control centre. On the crowded bridge, everybody was pounded by the pressure of the passing shell and the shock of the blast. Splinters rained, but nobody was seriously hurt."
...and alittle further on with the engagement of the Lutzow...
"Kapitan Thiele immediately ordered fire, but Lutzow's gunnery officers could see little more than those on Blucher had, and they were at a further disadvantage being down the fjord with a limited sector of fire. The secondary guns opened up, but had no clear targets. Instead, the cruiser received three 15cm hits in quick succession."
I really do recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in the Naval aspects of a campaign that has previously seen far more coverage of the land campaign or of just the Narvik destroyer battles. As this book shows, there was far more to it than that.
Titled The German Invasion Of Norway 1940 by Geirr H Haarr (ISBN 978-1-84832-032-1) it is a book that concentrates on the Naval aspects of the campaign from all sides in the run-up and execution of Operation Weserubung. Despite the author being Norwegian, and the book title hinting at a German 'slant' to the narrative it is in fact a very fairly written book, all sides receiving a balanced, and totally unbiased, coverage. It is obvious that Haarr has gone to great lengths in his research in all 3 main countries to obtain material for this book. I couldn't believe how the Norwegian leaders missed all the signs that something was afoot, something I was not aware of, including the sinking of a troop transporter off the coast of Norway by the Polish submarine Orzel. Looking at the jigsaw pieces in the book you can't help but think "How did they not connect the dots?"
A few more maps wouldn't of gone amiss but that is a minor issue more than made up for with some great photographs, alot previously unseen I believe including Blucher's stern rising out of the water as she goes under rather than just the often seen one of her listing over to port, and photos of the damage to the Konigsberg just prior to sinking from the authors own collection.
Here are a couple of sample paragraphs to whet the appetite..
"The first 28-cm high explosive shell passed close over Blucher's bridge, impacting with devastating effect in the lower part of the command tower, sending large parts of it overboard. The main flak fire-control platform was totally destroyed and most of the personnel there, including the second gunnery officer, Kapitanleutnant Pochhammer, were killed. Inside the foretop there were few casualties, but it filled with acrid smoke and had to be evacuated, including the main fire-control centre. On the crowded bridge, everybody was pounded by the pressure of the passing shell and the shock of the blast. Splinters rained, but nobody was seriously hurt."
...and alittle further on with the engagement of the Lutzow...
"Kapitan Thiele immediately ordered fire, but Lutzow's gunnery officers could see little more than those on Blucher had, and they were at a further disadvantage being down the fjord with a limited sector of fire. The secondary guns opened up, but had no clear targets. Instead, the cruiser received three 15cm hits in quick succession."
I really do recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in the Naval aspects of a campaign that has previously seen far more coverage of the land campaign or of just the Narvik destroyer battles. As this book shows, there was far more to it than that.