Casemate Publishing

Bismarck: The Final Days of Germany’s Greatest Battleship

by  Niklas Zetterling & Michael Tamelander

Reviewed By  Mike Hinderliter, IPMS# 45124

MSRP: $32.99 ISBN: 978-1-935149-04-0 Hardcover, 320 pages Website: www.casematepublishing.com Casemate’s book on the Bismarck is a very exciting read. The Bismarck was the lead ship of this class of battleship with a length of 823.5 feet, and a beam of 118.1 feet. This beast displaced over 50,000 tons when fully loaded and carried eight 15-inch guns. The Bismarck was the largest battleship built in her time and was supposed to be the leader of a class of fast battleship squadrons. She was bigger, faster, and had the most modern weaponry of any other battleship built at that time (the Yamato was not commissioned until after Bismarck was sunk.). So what happened? Niklas Zetterling and Michael Tamelander explain everything in their three-part book. The first part is divided into ten chapters explaining the lessons learned from earlier wars, maritime development since 1871, how cruiser warfare was used by the Germans to disrupt British merchant shipping, and the different operations associated with this. Part two is in fifteen chapters, and follows the Bismarck on her first operation on 18 May 1941 and how the Norwegian resistance and Allied air reconnaissance almost immediately spotted her, as well as the chase that took place to end her. Part three is the final night of the Bismarck done in three chapters and an epilogue. The authors tell the story with accounts from survivors and the latest historical discoveries in a "you were there" style that just keeps your interest. This hour-by-hour account is just like watching a movie. I really enjoyed this book and was unable to put it down. As soon as you start reading it you can almost hear Johnny Horton singing "Sink the Bismarck". I actually went to YouTube and played the song to set the mood. This has got to be one of the better accounts of this famous ocean battle of WWII. I highly recommend this book for anyone that likes the study of naval battles or just wants to read about an action-packed sea battle. Thanks to IPMS/USA and Tara Lichterman at Casemate publishing for letting me read this wonderful book.