The Sinking of the Blucher

The Battle of Drobak Narrows: April 1940

Geirr H Haarr, Tor Melien

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Hardback

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English

Greenhill Books
01 May 2023

History; Second World War; Naval forces & warfare

'The definitive study of the battle that launched Hitler's conquest of Western Europe.'

- Andrew Lambert

A lesser-known event during World War II, the sinking of the Blücher is key part of naval history that marked the beginning of the Norwegian Campaign. The Sinking of the Blücher is a comprehensive investigation into why the German cruiser, named for Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher (Prussian victor of the Battle of Waterloo), was approaching Oslo on the night of 9th April 1940, why and how she was sunk and the ramifications and significance of the event. The text also explores the influence of the British government and military on the reasons behind Operation Weserübung, the German invasion of Norway. This book is a methodical, unbiased compilation of primary sources and archival material. It details the sequence of events leading to the sinking of the Blücher, the flagship of the force that was to seize Oslo, from setting sail for Norway, to evading British submarines in the Skagerrak, and finally sinking to the bottom of the Drøbak Narrows after being struck by Oscarsborg fortress gunfire and torpedoes. The text, which connects intricate accounts of the attacks, paints a picture of the sinking and explains the politics behind the military operations, and the result of the sinking which enabled King Haakon and his Government to escape to Britain, join the Allies and continue the resistance from there. Simultaneously, the primary source material individualise the sailors and military personnel involved in the sinking from both sides. The writing is accompanied by multiple maps and upwards of 200 stunning, photographs, many never-before-seen.

AUTHOR: Tor Jørgen Melien is a Kommandørkaptein (ret.) (Commander SG) from the Norwegian Navy and has a Cand Philol (MA+) degree in history from the University of Oslo. He served in the Coast Artillery, including Oscarsborg Fortress during the Cold War. In addition, he served as Commander at Bolærne Fort and acting Commander at Rauøy Fort, all part of the events described in this book. Later he worked at The Defence Staff, at the Ministry of Defence, and at NATO SHAPE in Belgium. Melien has been Editor for the Norwegian Military Journal. Since 2008 he has been working as historian and Research Scientist at the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies. Geirr H. Haarr is a Norwegian living in Stavanger. He has written several books in English and Norwegian, focusing on naval history. His books are characterised by thorough research, primary sources and a high degree of objectivity, tying together convoluted storylines into a lucid and engaging narrative. His text has both human and historical interest which appeals to a wide readership.

200 b/w illustrations

By: Geirr H Haarr, Tor Melien
Imprint: Greenhill Books
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 156mm,
ISBN: 9781784388751
ISBN 10: 1784388750
Pages: 272
Publication Date: 01 May 2023
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Unspecified

Tor J rgen Melien is a Kommand rkaptein (ret.) (Commander SG) from the Norwegian Navy and has a Cand Philol (MA+) degree in history from the University of Oslo. He served in the Coast Artillery, including Oscarsborg Fortress during the Cold War. In addition, he served as Commander at Bol rne Fort and acting Commander at Rau y Fort, all part of the events described in this book. Later he worked at The Defence Staff, at the Ministry of Defence, and at NATO SHAPE in Belgium. Melien has been Editor for the Norwegian Military Journal. Since 2008 he has been working as historian and Research Scientist at the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies. Geirr H. Haarr is a Norwegian living in Stavanger. He has written several books in English and Norwegian, focusing on naval history. His books are characterised by thorough research, primary sources and a high degree of objectivity, tying together convoluted storylines into a lucid and engaging narrative. His text has both human and historical interest which appeals to a wide readership.

Reviews for The Sinking of the Blucher: The Battle of Drobak Narrows: April 1940

"""The narrative is incredibly fact-filled and detailed, and includes quotations from the diaries of combatants who participated in the military or diplomatic events. The use of primary sources in multiple languages provides a comprehensive assessment. The excellent maps provide scales of miles or kilometers and are clear, uncluttered renditions of the regional geography and chart the tracks of the naval vessels."" --Sea History ""The definitive study of the battle that launched Hitler's conquest of Western Europe."" --Professor Andrew Lambert, King's College London"