Kriegsmarine Norway Command 1940-45 - Fleet by Lawrence Paterson Paperback

About the Book

Fully illustrated, this is the first full history of the Kriegsmarine's challenging operations from occupied Norway, tackling Allied sea power in the North Sea and Arctic.

Book Synopsis

Fully illustrated, this is the first full history of the Kriegsmarine's challenging operations from occupied Norway, tackling Allied sea power in the North Sea and Arctic.

The invasion of Norway was intended to secure Germany's northern flank, and win access to the Atlantic and to vital Scandinavian resources. It was the Kriegsmarine's biggest, most testing, and most costly amphibious operation, and victory only brought new demands on the mauled surface fleet.

Naval historian Lawrence Paterson here examines the Kriegsmarine's presence and operations in occupied Norway, as the fleet fought to secure its new waters and launch offensive operations, first against the British and later the Soviets. It is a theatre most famous as the last lair of Germany's battleships and for operations against the Arctic Convoys, but operations involved the full spectrum of the navy. Convoy protection, coastal security and interdiction were vital throughout the war and relied heavily on Germany's workhorse Vorpostenboote.

Illustrated with some rare and unpublished photos, superb original artwork, diagrams and maps, this book explores the full story of the Kriegsmarine in Norway. From warships and combat to its strategic tasks, the complex and confusing command structure, intelligence, logistics, security and facilities, it is the first comprehensive history of Germany's fleet in the far north.

About the Author

Lawrence 'Larry' Paterson is a diving instructor who spent years researching German wrecks off Brittany, from which his first book First U-boat Flotilla directly resulted. Since then he has had over 20 books published, mostly on the Kriegsmarine. He attributes much of his interest in World War II to his grandfathers; one of whom was an ANZAC during the First World War, the other a Royal Navy stoker in the Second.