Bismarck

The Final Days of Germany's Greatest Battleship

By: Niklas Zetterling, Michael Tamelander

Narrated by: Charles Constant

Length: 9 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

A gripping tale of heroism - and doom - on the high seas....

The sinking of the German battleship Bismarck - a masterpiece of engineering, well-armored with a main artillery of eight 15-inch guns - was one of the most dramatic events of World War II. She left the port of Gotenhafen for her first operation on the night of 18 May 1941, yet was almost immediately discovered by Norwegian resistance and Allied air reconnaissance. British battlecruiser Hood was quickly dispatched from Scapa Flow to intercept the Bismarck, together with new battleship Prince of Wales. They were ordered to find the ship quickly because, on their way from the USA, several large convoys were heading for Britain.

On 24 May, Bismarck was found off the coast of Greenland, but the ensuing battle was disastrous for the British. The Hood was totally destroyed within minutes (with only three crewmen surviving), and Prince of Wales was badly damaged. The chase resumed until the German behemoth was finally caught, this time by four British capital ships supported by torpedo-bombers from the carrier Ark Royal. The icy North Atlantic roiled from the crash of shellfire and bursting explosions until finally the Bismarck collapsed, sending nearly 2,000 German sailors to a watery grave.

Tamelander and Zetterling's work rests on stories from survivors and the latest historical discoveries. The book starts with a thorough account of maritime developments from 1871 up to the era of the giant battleship, and ends with a vivid account, hour by hour, of the dramatic and fateful hunt for the mighty Bismarck, Nazi-Germany's last hope to pose a powerful surface threat to Allied convoys.

©2009 Niklas Zetterling & Michael Tamelander (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Well done and suspenseful

What made the experience of listening to Bismarck the most enjoyable?

Although we know the outcome the story is rendered in an interesting manner.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Bismarck?

The persistent British chase which involves lost contacts and fortuitous misinformation.

Which scene was your favorite?

The Catalina's discovery of Bismark.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The death of the Hood.

Any additional comments?

Very well done.

Awesome story - horrible reader

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The narrator

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The only detractor - most people listen while driving, is the book producer trying to kill us with this guy??? Not sure if he was a real person or a machine... So monotone and boring.

Well-researched and written book on a famous naval battle.

A very good book on the famous battle between the British and German Navies and during the earlier part of the war.

Bismarck

Well narrated, and very well written. The crescendo of the Bismarck’s clash with the Royal Navy, the pursuit and final stand make for very good story telling.

Best and most detailed factual telling of Operation Rhine on Audible

Fantastic listen - if you have any interest in WW2, in particular naval aspects, then this book should be definitely on your radar.

Well researched, with a real in depth look at the events before and leading up to the Bismarcks grim end, I've listened to this book several times already and I can't really pay it any higher compliment; it's that stuffed with information on anything from the technology in the ships (both allied and axis, naturally), to interviews and testimony from the men who where there, that listening several times is a must if you're to have a chance of taking it all in.

Easily 5* and the best book on Audible that tackles this subject.

A Great Overall Story!

This was a great book. It gives you the typical information about the life of the Bismarck, but you also get to spend a little time with Lutjens on the Scharnhorst before hand. Along with this, you also get better light on how things proceeded from the British side when trying to find the Bismarck at sea. The KMS Bismarck was a great battleship, that lead a very short life.

Interesting history but a dry presentation

I am a fan of naval history so I enjoyed the audible book. However the presentation sounded like someone reading a shopping list that had been translated from another language.

Enthusiasts who appreciate naval history will be ok with that, but the casual listener should listen to a sample to see what you think.

Excelente book... superb narration.

If you could sum up Bismarck in three words, what would they be?

Accurate, compelling and exciting

Any additional comments?

A must-read for those who like www II historical books, and also for those who just like a compelling and gripping story.

Great reflection of the battles of two super-power

What did you love best about Bismarck?

I greatly appreciated the over-arching history of the Bismarck with the roles it played in the early part of the war with Op. Rheinübung.In addition, i found the climatic final battle to be of great detail and execution.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Not really applicable.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

I feel the narration was moderate; considering it is a non-fiction book of history, I was satisfied.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It is a great book, but for one sitting may be difficult as there is a lot of information being played out through the story with the detailed accounts of the characters involved and the duties being performed.

Any additional comments?

As a student of WW2 history, I found this to be a very informative & detail-oriented book. I learned a lot more about the Kriegsmarine objectives and the overall intentions to disrupt the British supply routes. I feel the author performed an excellent job on providing details of the overall story and how the Bismarck played in that role from the beginning. The battle of the Denmark Strait was a tragic outcome for the Royal Navy, and the ensuing chase of the Bismarck proved for a very riveting story. In this story, you'll find the compassion of the Royal Navy towards the sailors of the Bismarck after it's sinking - it really tells the human side of the war, which can often times be glossed over in books.If you have any interest in learning more about the North Atlantic war, this is a great place to look.

If youre going to get paid to read a historical work atleast care enough to learn proper pronunciation

Its Pronounced “Folk-Sul” not “Four Castle” and a million other things you mis pronounced because you didnt bother to do your homework. Great book read by someone who wasnt into it.