Synonymous with such infamous battleships as the Bismarck, Scharnhorst, and Tirpitz, the German Navy or Reichsmarine was renamed the Kriegsmarine in 1935 after the emergence of the Nazi State, and went through a major reorganization in 1939. During World War II, it became a much-feared adversary both on and beneath the high seas with its marauding U-boat "wolf packs" coming close to defeating Britain in the Battle of the Atlantic. This enthralling study examines the different roles of the Fleet and its organization and training activities during the war years. Incidents and operations are paired with technical data for ships, U-boats, and their weaponry. A guide to German Navy uniforms and insignia is also included together with full details of rank structure and specialist trades.
