The German Navy in World War Two; A Reference Guide to the Kriegsmarine, 1935-1945

The format is approximately 9.875 inches by 10 inches. 224 pages. Illustrated with over 330 photographs and drawings. Biographical Notes. Chronology. Glossary. Warship data. Select Bibliography. Appendices. Index. The dust jacket has some wear, soiling and discoloration. Jak P. Mallman Showell, the son of a U-boat Diesel Mechanic who was killed in action, was born in Hamburg in 1944 and grew up amidst the ruins of the great firestorm. He came to London in 1954 and has lived in England ever since. Being bi-lingual has helped him in understanding documents produced by both sides of the war. He worked as teacher and educational science adviser for many years before turning to writing, researching and photography. Jak is the English Language Representative for the German U-boat Museum (formerly U-Boot-Archiv) and has been awarded the Silver U-boat Badge by the German Submariners' Association in Munich for furthering international relations and maintaining naval traditions. He has produced more than forty books about naval activities during the Second World War. His research is based on original first-hand documents such as wartime logs, accounts written shortly after the events and on many personal interviews. This has led his reviewers to recognizing him as being 'the respected authority'. From the front flap of this 224 page book: this invaluable compendium provides a basic reference guide to the ships, organization, command and rank structure, leaders and uniforms of the Kriegsmarine. Although heavily outnumbered by the navies of Great Britain and the United States, the German Navy was a considerable thorn in the side of her two powerful adversaries. The U-boat campaign in the North Atlantic threatened to starve Britain into submission, while such major warships as 'Tirpitz', 'Scharnhorst' and 'Gneisenau' posed a constant threat to Allied shipping lanes. The author has scoured previously untapped sources and collections to provide a wealth of information. The contents include: Major Aspects of German Naval History; Organization of the Kriegsmarine; The German Fleet; Rank, Uniform, Awards, and Insignia; Biographical Notes on notable personalities; Features of the Atlantic U-boat; Chronology; a Glossary and appendices on German Flags, Naval Charts, and 'Enigma'. Each section is lavishly illustrated with photographs, maps, and drawings to provide a valuable companion to German naval studies." Presumed First U. S. Edition, First printing.…