The German Navy in the Nazi Era

The German navy's experience under the Third Reich are explored in depth in this history of the Kriegsmarine. It examines the crucial relationship between the naval officer corps, one of the traditional elites of Germany, and the National Socialist Party. The book begins by describing the navy's frustrating experiences in World War I, when inactivity on the part of the surface fleet and poor communication with the other armed services led to a revolutionary atmosphere by 1918. It then analyzes the navy's often troubled relationship with the parties of the Weimar Republic and the admirals' fear of subversion by the German Communist Party (KPD) which contributes to their changing relationship with National Socialism before 1933. The author explores the major expansion of the Kriegsmarine under Admiral Raeder and the difficult relationships with the Sturmabteilung (SA) and the Schutzstaffel (SS) before the outbreak of the war in 1939. He discusses the navy's dogged determination throughout the war in the face of impossible odds and the crucial role played by Admirals Raeder and Donitz.