What do you think?
Rate this book
Bismarck: 24 Hours to Doom
May, 1941. The most powerful battleship the world has ever seen, the German Navy’s Bismarck, breaks out into the Atlantic to ravage Allied convoys. Together with the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen, the Bismarck will seek to deliver a killer blow to Britain’s war effort.
The British launch an all-or-nothing bid to sink her, with the Home Fleet and other naval units steaming hard from all points of the compass, straining every sinew to trap and destroy Bismarck. HMS Hood, the battlecruiser pride of the Royal Navy, is destroyed within eight minutes of engaging Bismarck on 24 May. However, the brand new battleship HMS Prince of Wales lands a pivotal blow on Bismarck, puncturing a fuel tank, forcing the German battleship to make for refuge in a friendly port.
Reeling from the loss of the Hood, the Royal Navy redoubles its efforts, intent on avenging lost shipmates. Aircraft carrier Ark Royal, along with battleships King George V and Rodney, plus cruisers and destroyers, are among those who hunt and pursue the foe over more than 1,700 miles.
This is the story of Bismarck’s fateful final twenty-four hours on 26/27 May 1941: the finale of the hunt and the culminating brutal close-quarters battle as Bismarck makes a desperate bid to escape the enemy.
Using eyewitness accounts of Royal Navy sailors, Royal Marines and Swordfish torpedo-bomber aviators – including searing testimony gleaned by the author during unique interviews with a ‘band of brothers’ who were in the thick of the action - Ballantyne brings one of the Second World War’s most dramatic events thundering to life. He also draws on new research in museum archives and other accounts from both the British and German side, to present a multi-dimensional, cinematic telling of a legendary episode in naval combat history.
The British launch an all-or-nothing bid to sink her, with the Home Fleet and other naval units steaming hard from all points of the compass, straining every sinew to trap and destroy Bismarck. HMS Hood, the battlecruiser pride of the Royal Navy, is destroyed within eight minutes of engaging Bismarck on 24 May. However, the brand new battleship HMS Prince of Wales lands a pivotal blow on Bismarck, puncturing a fuel tank, forcing the German battleship to make for refuge in a friendly port.
Reeling from the loss of the Hood, the Royal Navy redoubles its efforts, intent on avenging lost shipmates. Aircraft carrier Ark Royal, along with battleships King George V and Rodney, plus cruisers and destroyers, are among those who hunt and pursue the foe over more than 1,700 miles.
This is the story of Bismarck’s fateful final twenty-four hours on 26/27 May 1941: the finale of the hunt and the culminating brutal close-quarters battle as Bismarck makes a desperate bid to escape the enemy.
Using eyewitness accounts of Royal Navy sailors, Royal Marines and Swordfish torpedo-bomber aviators – including searing testimony gleaned by the author during unique interviews with a ‘band of brothers’ who were in the thick of the action - Ballantyne brings one of the Second World War’s most dramatic events thundering to life. He also draws on new research in museum archives and other accounts from both the British and German side, to present a multi-dimensional, cinematic telling of a legendary episode in naval combat history.
258 pages, Paperback
First published May 20, 2016
120 people are currently reading
132 people want to read
About the author
Iain Ballantyne
26 books34 followers'Bismarck: 24 Hours to Doom - 80th anniversary edition' is Iain's latest book and an updated and expanded new version of the 2016 original, this time published both as an e-book and a shop paperback. His previous book was 'Arnhem: Ten Days in The Cauldron' (Sept 2019), also for Agora Books.
Although he has written several naval history books, including those on the Second World War and the Cold War, Iain Ballantyne has, during the course of his career as a journalist, editor, and author, also covered the activities of land forces.
Those assignments took him to Kuwait, Oman, Northern Ireland, Bosnia, the Czech Republic, Latvia, and Hong Kong, sometimes during times of conflict. Iain has visited WW2 battlefields in company with those who fought there as young men, while also spending hours in conversation with Arnhem veterans.
As a teenager, Iain embarked on an expedition to follow the course of the Rhine, including a pilgrimage to Oosterbeek and Arnhem. He retraced the route of the British Airborne soldiers in 1944 as they tried to take the famous ‘bridge too far’.
Iain Ballantyne’s assignments as a writer on naval affairs have taken him from the Arctic to mine infested waters off war-torn Kuwait, aboard a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier off Libya, into the South China Sea and below the Irish Sea in a hunter-killer submarine.
Iain has contributed to coverage of naval and military issues in national and regional newspapers, and provided analysis and commentaries for radio and television, as well as prestigious publications by NATO and the Royal Navy.
His most recent naval history book was 'The Deadly Trade: The Complete History of Submarine Warfare from Archimedes to the Present' (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2018). It was published in the USA in December 2018, as 'The Deadly Deep' (Pegasus Books).
Iain's other books include ‘Hunter Killers’ (Orion, 2013), which was published in the USA in September 2019 as 'Undersea Warriors' (Pegasus Books).
Iain won a Mountbatten Certificate of Merit for his action-packed depiction of the pursuit and destruction of Hitler's flagship as recounted in ‘Killing the Bismarck’ (Pen & Sword, 2010).
In 2017 he was awarded a Fellowship by the UK’s Maritime Foundation. One of its top annual awards, it recognised Iain’s immense contribution to the maritime cause since 1990, as a journalist, author of naval history books and Editor of 'WARSHIPS International Fleet Review' magazine from 1998 to the present.
Although he has written several naval history books, including those on the Second World War and the Cold War, Iain Ballantyne has, during the course of his career as a journalist, editor, and author, also covered the activities of land forces.
Those assignments took him to Kuwait, Oman, Northern Ireland, Bosnia, the Czech Republic, Latvia, and Hong Kong, sometimes during times of conflict. Iain has visited WW2 battlefields in company with those who fought there as young men, while also spending hours in conversation with Arnhem veterans.
As a teenager, Iain embarked on an expedition to follow the course of the Rhine, including a pilgrimage to Oosterbeek and Arnhem. He retraced the route of the British Airborne soldiers in 1944 as they tried to take the famous ‘bridge too far’.
Iain Ballantyne’s assignments as a writer on naval affairs have taken him from the Arctic to mine infested waters off war-torn Kuwait, aboard a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier off Libya, into the South China Sea and below the Irish Sea in a hunter-killer submarine.
Iain has contributed to coverage of naval and military issues in national and regional newspapers, and provided analysis and commentaries for radio and television, as well as prestigious publications by NATO and the Royal Navy.
His most recent naval history book was 'The Deadly Trade: The Complete History of Submarine Warfare from Archimedes to the Present' (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2018). It was published in the USA in December 2018, as 'The Deadly Deep' (Pegasus Books).
Iain's other books include ‘Hunter Killers’ (Orion, 2013), which was published in the USA in September 2019 as 'Undersea Warriors' (Pegasus Books).
Iain won a Mountbatten Certificate of Merit for his action-packed depiction of the pursuit and destruction of Hitler's flagship as recounted in ‘Killing the Bismarck’ (Pen & Sword, 2010).
In 2017 he was awarded a Fellowship by the UK’s Maritime Foundation. One of its top annual awards, it recognised Iain’s immense contribution to the maritime cause since 1990, as a journalist, author of naval history books and Editor of 'WARSHIPS International Fleet Review' magazine from 1998 to the present.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
September 25, 2019
A short but succinct look at the memorable effort to sink the Bismarck. I knew most of this, but the words of the fighting men added a note of reality to their travails. I especially felt for the flyers from the Ark Royal, who gallantly did their duty despite the odds.
I especially liked the author's quotes from 'Battle of Britain' and 'The Cruel Sea' referring to the young men who fight the wars, and what they are up against. Those who advocate war should never forget what they are asking other men (and women) to do.
I especially liked the author's quotes from 'Battle of Britain' and 'The Cruel Sea' referring to the young men who fight the wars, and what they are up against. Those who advocate war should never forget what they are asking other men (and women) to do.
December 31, 2020
This book tells the story of the 24 hours leading up to Bismarck’s final encounter, and the encounter itself, focussing on the experiences and recollections of veterans in the lead-up to, and during the battle. It is written in an easy-to-read, engaging style that engages readers emotionally, and structured and paced in a way that draws them in. The language is accessible, and the layout of the text on the page is good. It draws on both primary (focussing on interviews undertaken by the author of British veterans) and secondary sources, and contains a bibliography – indeed, by collecting the experiences of the veterans discussing in the book, the author has helped further our understanding of Bismarck’s final action.
To its credit, it covers both sides in the engagement, giving an impression of both the tension in the British sailors and the gloominess that overtook the crew of the Bismarck after they lost steering control. It is largely even-handed, and pulls no punches in highlighting the concern some sailors and airmen had over the continued shelling of Bismarck after she had been silenced (while also outlining possible reasons why Tovey, Dalrymple-Hamilton et al did what they did).
Passages in the book are often written in the present tense, creating a sense of urgency and immediacy that is a refreshing change of pace to many historical works. It does at one point slide a little into myth with the comment that Britain alone was fighting the Nazis in May 1941 (even just limited to the hunt for the Bismarck this doesn’t hold true - the British-built but Australian-crewed destroyer Nestor was at sea in the North Atlantic during the hunt for the Bismarck), but by and large any dramatic language is reasonable for the context and the information (within the limits of veteran’s recollections – see below) accurate.
It was understandable not including editorial notes when some of the veterans’ recollections were off on points of detail (For example, Rodney’s turrets did not have 32-inch faces), as this kind of approach would have taken away from the pace of the book, and the immersion of the reader in the story – but it does mean that details in the book based on individual recollections shouldn’t necessarily be taken at face value.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read, providing a different, interesting and refreshingly human-focussed perspective on a well-covered engagement. The only thing that held it back for me was the language occasionally being a bit ‘fast and loose’, but this was very rare, and not material to the core contribution made by the book. Given its relatively short length and accessible nature, I’d wager it’s the kind of book that could appeal to both those casually interested in the Second World War at sea, and particularly the Royal Navy and the Kriegsmarine, as well as people more deeply into the topic.
To its credit, it covers both sides in the engagement, giving an impression of both the tension in the British sailors and the gloominess that overtook the crew of the Bismarck after they lost steering control. It is largely even-handed, and pulls no punches in highlighting the concern some sailors and airmen had over the continued shelling of Bismarck after she had been silenced (while also outlining possible reasons why Tovey, Dalrymple-Hamilton et al did what they did).
Passages in the book are often written in the present tense, creating a sense of urgency and immediacy that is a refreshing change of pace to many historical works. It does at one point slide a little into myth with the comment that Britain alone was fighting the Nazis in May 1941 (even just limited to the hunt for the Bismarck this doesn’t hold true - the British-built but Australian-crewed destroyer Nestor was at sea in the North Atlantic during the hunt for the Bismarck), but by and large any dramatic language is reasonable for the context and the information (within the limits of veteran’s recollections – see below) accurate.
It was understandable not including editorial notes when some of the veterans’ recollections were off on points of detail (For example, Rodney’s turrets did not have 32-inch faces), as this kind of approach would have taken away from the pace of the book, and the immersion of the reader in the story – but it does mean that details in the book based on individual recollections shouldn’t necessarily be taken at face value.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read, providing a different, interesting and refreshingly human-focussed perspective on a well-covered engagement. The only thing that held it back for me was the language occasionally being a bit ‘fast and loose’, but this was very rare, and not material to the core contribution made by the book. Given its relatively short length and accessible nature, I’d wager it’s the kind of book that could appeal to both those casually interested in the Second World War at sea, and particularly the Royal Navy and the Kriegsmarine, as well as people more deeply into the topic.
April 18, 2023
A short, blow-by-blow account of the hunt for and sinking of the Bismarck. Starting with the destruction of HMS Hood and tracing events to the Bismarck’s final moments. There’s also a postscript detailing the fate of the other vessels that took part.
There’s probably not much here that you didn’t know already but what lifts it out of the ordinary is the inclusion of first-hand testimony from men who took part in the battle, on both sides. That gives the events a very human face and what comes across strongly is the mutual respect that sailors have for each other, even if they’re the enemy.
There’s probably not much here that you didn’t know already but what lifts it out of the ordinary is the inclusion of first-hand testimony from men who took part in the battle, on both sides. That gives the events a very human face and what comes across strongly is the mutual respect that sailors have for each other, even if they’re the enemy.
October 7, 2024
Great read, loved the authors style it’s easy to follow and very thorough.
April 16, 2025
I first read of the pursuit of the Bismark as one chapter in a big hard back book of "Great Sea Battles." It gave me an overview of the frantic few days in May 1941 when first the mighty Hood was sunk and then a few days later the Bismark followed it to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.
Subsequently I read "Pursuit: the sinking of the Bismark" by Ludovick Kennedy who - as a junior officer on a destroyer - was witness and participant in that tumultuous battle.
Ballantyne's account focuses on events in the aftermath of the Hood's demise and is distinguished by the many eye witnesses being quoted - including Ludovick Kennedy!
The main events of the narrative are familiar to me,
the damage that Prince of Wales inflicted which forced Bismark to abandon its mission and run for Brest,
the Victorious's unsuccessful swordfish attack,
the Bismark eluding its pursuers and separating from the Prinz Eugen,
HMS Rodney joining the search and making up for its slow speed by anticipating the Bismark's movements,
the rediscovery of the Bismark,
that final desperate swordfish strike from Ark Royal which, in jamming the Bismark's steering sealed her fate, and
the inevitable arrival of King George V and Rodney to pound the great battleship into submission.
However, Ballantyne's account offers some fresh perspective and new insights into those events, not least in the account of the Polish manned destroyer Piorun - whose captain was only foiled by foul seas from trying to ram the Bismark.
Ballantyne gives a more detailed account, and helpful plotting diagram, of the manouevers in the final battle, as Rodney, King George V, Norfolk and Dorsetshire circled the beleagured Bismark and pounded her to a ruin.
It has always seemed strange how the Bismark that had a few days earlier so efficiently executed the Hood in the Denmark Strait, failed to score any hits on the British vessels pounding it at the end.
Partly this may be due to the depressed morale hampering the efficiency of the once crack crew, a failing that the morose and pessimistic Admiral Lutjens must take some blame for - despite the evidence of King Theoden at the battle of the Pelennor fields, it turns out that being told you ride to certain death is NOT a great motivator.
Other reasons include Dalyrmple-Hamilton's skillful management of his ship - the Rodney - as it closed the distance to the target. Where Holland in the Hood had relied - unsuccessfully on speed to see him through the danger zone, Dalyrmple Hamilton weaved his way through the incoming storm of German shells.
More importantly perhaps was the early damage done to the Bismark. The action started at around 8:48 and by 9:10 the Bismark was effectively finished as a fighting force. What followed was an hour and a half of sheer butchery as the circling warships pounded the doomed vessel from every side, but it refused to sink.
Even the cruisers were able to close to a point where their 8" guns did terrible damage to a superstructure that provided little armoured protection to the command and control centres of the German Battleship.
Also Ballantyne confirms for me what I had long suspected, is that Rodney, with its 16" guns was the ship that did most damage. Had King George V had to turn home from lack of fuel, Rodney and the cruisers could well have finished the Bismark off unaided. King George V - without Rodney would have struggled.
The final chapter of the book - the wheel turns - explores the fate of the ships that sank the Bismark. Just as the wheel turned for the Bismark from victory over the Hood to defeat days later, so too several of those who hunted the Bismark were in turn to slip beneath the waves, victims of U-boats, aircraft attacks, or surface to surface to surface combat.
That shared vulnerability explains how victors and victims bond, with surviving crew somehow separated from the crew+warship entity that had to be destroyed.
Subsequently I read "Pursuit: the sinking of the Bismark" by Ludovick Kennedy who - as a junior officer on a destroyer - was witness and participant in that tumultuous battle.
Ballantyne's account focuses on events in the aftermath of the Hood's demise and is distinguished by the many eye witnesses being quoted - including Ludovick Kennedy!
The main events of the narrative are familiar to me,
the damage that Prince of Wales inflicted which forced Bismark to abandon its mission and run for Brest,
the Victorious's unsuccessful swordfish attack,
the Bismark eluding its pursuers and separating from the Prinz Eugen,
HMS Rodney joining the search and making up for its slow speed by anticipating the Bismark's movements,
the rediscovery of the Bismark,
that final desperate swordfish strike from Ark Royal which, in jamming the Bismark's steering sealed her fate, and
the inevitable arrival of King George V and Rodney to pound the great battleship into submission.
However, Ballantyne's account offers some fresh perspective and new insights into those events, not least in the account of the Polish manned destroyer Piorun - whose captain was only foiled by foul seas from trying to ram the Bismark.
Ballantyne gives a more detailed account, and helpful plotting diagram, of the manouevers in the final battle, as Rodney, King George V, Norfolk and Dorsetshire circled the beleagured Bismark and pounded her to a ruin.
It has always seemed strange how the Bismark that had a few days earlier so efficiently executed the Hood in the Denmark Strait, failed to score any hits on the British vessels pounding it at the end.
Partly this may be due to the depressed morale hampering the efficiency of the once crack crew, a failing that the morose and pessimistic Admiral Lutjens must take some blame for - despite the evidence of King Theoden at the battle of the Pelennor fields, it turns out that being told you ride to certain death is NOT a great motivator.
Other reasons include Dalyrmple-Hamilton's skillful management of his ship - the Rodney - as it closed the distance to the target. Where Holland in the Hood had relied - unsuccessfully on speed to see him through the danger zone, Dalyrmple Hamilton weaved his way through the incoming storm of German shells.
More importantly perhaps was the early damage done to the Bismark. The action started at around 8:48 and by 9:10 the Bismark was effectively finished as a fighting force. What followed was an hour and a half of sheer butchery as the circling warships pounded the doomed vessel from every side, but it refused to sink.
Even the cruisers were able to close to a point where their 8" guns did terrible damage to a superstructure that provided little armoured protection to the command and control centres of the German Battleship.
Also Ballantyne confirms for me what I had long suspected, is that Rodney, with its 16" guns was the ship that did most damage. Had King George V had to turn home from lack of fuel, Rodney and the cruisers could well have finished the Bismark off unaided. King George V - without Rodney would have struggled.
The final chapter of the book - the wheel turns - explores the fate of the ships that sank the Bismark. Just as the wheel turned for the Bismark from victory over the Hood to defeat days later, so too several of those who hunted the Bismark were in turn to slip beneath the waves, victims of U-boats, aircraft attacks, or surface to surface to surface combat.
That shared vulnerability explains how victors and victims bond, with surviving crew somehow separated from the crew+warship entity that had to be destroyed.
August 15, 2023
This is an account of the World War 2 Naval chase and battle which led to the sinking of the German battleship Bismarck. It recalls the story from the loss of the H.M.S Hood to the final defeat of the Bismarck, focusing in particular on the day before and of the battle.
The chase started in a quite understated way by Norwegian resistance spotters for the Allies sending them information that the Bismarck and it’s escort was on the move out of the Baltic.
This was followed shortly by a confrontation between the Bismarck, it’s escort and the British ships H.M.S Prince of Wales and H.M.S Hood. The former got mauled by heavy fire, but in a shock loss the H.M.S Hood was sent to the bottom.
The start of this book reflects on the significance of the loss of the H.M.S Hood for the Royal Navy and the country. Many of the Navy men who would serve in the chase to defeat the Bismarck knew of someone who served on her. For the country, it made the UK feel vulnerable at a time of Luftwaffe air raids and still no sign of direct US entry into the war. The British Government and Royal Navy knew that the Bismarck represented a big threat to the transatlantic convoys keeping the UK in the war. The Royal Navy converged on the Bismarck. The chase was on.
What I think the author did well was to not only keep tension throughout the book but also keep the reader in mind of the fog of war. Finding a target in the Atlantic in that period was a combination of guess work and essentially finding a needle in a haystack. It was only through chance that a Royal Navy flying boat caught sight of the Bismarck. From there the Royal Navy set up an observation relay from the sea and the air until the assets were in a position to attack.
The goal the author had in writing this book was to not only chart this historical event faithfully but also bring in valuable testimonials from those who served in both Navies. This conveys genuine tension, drama and real fear felt by many who were involved in the chase and battle.
The battle when it happens is loud, ugly and as visceral as you could imagine it. Given what actually happened it seems the author felt little reason to over dramatize it. What I found particularly interesting is how the author used this moment to convey the sense of solidarity between the British and German sailors. The former felt a sense of respect for the professionalism of the latter on the whole. Although isolated cases of fanaticism on the part of a few German sailors who were radicalised by the Hitler Youth are grimly reported.
Overall, I believe the author did well to achieve what he wanted to. I felt very immersed in this dangerous and dramatic chase that ended in a cataclysmic naval battle. I believe the addition of the testimonials were integral to the reading experience and gave it much depth. I understand that this book was meant to be a part of a trilogy of books the author wrote about this event. But I personally felt that this was a missed opportunity. I managed to clock this book in a few days, but I felt I didn’t get much sense of the purpose of building the Bismarck. The more detailed book apparently recalls the sinking too. It seems a bit of a shame to keep the background and the chase so separate.
I especially liked the ending which recalled not only the reunions of British sailors and the Bismarck survivors they rescued. There is also a very touching story about how the bell from the sunk H.M.S. Hood was recovered and honoured by a Royal Navy man who lost a family member on the same ship.
The chase started in a quite understated way by Norwegian resistance spotters for the Allies sending them information that the Bismarck and it’s escort was on the move out of the Baltic.
This was followed shortly by a confrontation between the Bismarck, it’s escort and the British ships H.M.S Prince of Wales and H.M.S Hood. The former got mauled by heavy fire, but in a shock loss the H.M.S Hood was sent to the bottom.
The start of this book reflects on the significance of the loss of the H.M.S Hood for the Royal Navy and the country. Many of the Navy men who would serve in the chase to defeat the Bismarck knew of someone who served on her. For the country, it made the UK feel vulnerable at a time of Luftwaffe air raids and still no sign of direct US entry into the war. The British Government and Royal Navy knew that the Bismarck represented a big threat to the transatlantic convoys keeping the UK in the war. The Royal Navy converged on the Bismarck. The chase was on.
What I think the author did well was to not only keep tension throughout the book but also keep the reader in mind of the fog of war. Finding a target in the Atlantic in that period was a combination of guess work and essentially finding a needle in a haystack. It was only through chance that a Royal Navy flying boat caught sight of the Bismarck. From there the Royal Navy set up an observation relay from the sea and the air until the assets were in a position to attack.
The goal the author had in writing this book was to not only chart this historical event faithfully but also bring in valuable testimonials from those who served in both Navies. This conveys genuine tension, drama and real fear felt by many who were involved in the chase and battle.
The battle when it happens is loud, ugly and as visceral as you could imagine it. Given what actually happened it seems the author felt little reason to over dramatize it. What I found particularly interesting is how the author used this moment to convey the sense of solidarity between the British and German sailors. The former felt a sense of respect for the professionalism of the latter on the whole. Although isolated cases of fanaticism on the part of a few German sailors who were radicalised by the Hitler Youth are grimly reported.
Overall, I believe the author did well to achieve what he wanted to. I felt very immersed in this dangerous and dramatic chase that ended in a cataclysmic naval battle. I believe the addition of the testimonials were integral to the reading experience and gave it much depth. I understand that this book was meant to be a part of a trilogy of books the author wrote about this event. But I personally felt that this was a missed opportunity. I managed to clock this book in a few days, but I felt I didn’t get much sense of the purpose of building the Bismarck. The more detailed book apparently recalls the sinking too. It seems a bit of a shame to keep the background and the chase so separate.
I especially liked the ending which recalled not only the reunions of British sailors and the Bismarck survivors they rescued. There is also a very touching story about how the bell from the sunk H.M.S. Hood was recovered and honoured by a Royal Navy man who lost a family member on the same ship.
February 22, 2024
A close-following narrative of the Bismarck's final days roaming the high seas in May, 1941. Dubbed Operation Rheinubung, the action is meant for battleship Bismarck and heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen to break out into the North Atlantic to go on a spree raiding Allied commerce. In tandem with the lethal U-boats of the time, it was envisioned that Kriegsmarine surface ships would also play a deadly role in inflicting maximum damage on the British war-keeping effort of merchant shipping. In the end, the Royal Navy will throw all it has at the Bismarck, especially after the shocking sinking of the HMS Hood, to ensure the pride of the Kriegsmarine does not escape her ultimate fate.
This book does an awesome job of capturing firsthand testimony from sailors on both sides of the battle, British and German. It is fascinating to know what the combatants are feeling as the engagement rages on minute-by-minute. The ultimate sense of duty and naval brotherhood that prevails is captivating. While the Bismarck is a charring wreck about to be sunk on the morning of May 27, 1941, it is so interesting to see how British sailors in their attacking ships feel bad in a sense at how a beautiful ship like the Bismarck meets such a suffering end. They even go so far as to almost wish they would cease fire upon the Bismarck given she is clearly a burning hulk about to go under without further damage. However, a duty to avenge the loss of the Hood prevails and the British battleships and cruisers must continue to batter Bismarck into oblivion.
Another cruel twist is seen in the rescue effort partaken by British warships to help fetch some of the Bismarck survivors out of the Atlantic. Due to the U-boat threat, the British ships have to leave the scene of battle hastily and thus only have time to pick up some of the Bismarck survivors, leaving many for dead in the ocean.
I would also be remiss not to highlight how some of the scenes back on the home fronts are captured. There are small cutaways to London and Bavaria to follow Churchill and Hitler respectively as they react to the unfolding of events of the Bismarck action. That is another great little touch to this book that ensures it encompasses many perspectives.
All in all, the reader has to be prepared to jump from scene to scene, so to speak. Many different perspectives from different sailors on different ships at different times in the engagement are followed. The closest thing I could compare it to is the 2017 movie Dunkirk in book form. In that sense, it is also entertaining just like a movie.
This book does an awesome job of capturing firsthand testimony from sailors on both sides of the battle, British and German. It is fascinating to know what the combatants are feeling as the engagement rages on minute-by-minute. The ultimate sense of duty and naval brotherhood that prevails is captivating. While the Bismarck is a charring wreck about to be sunk on the morning of May 27, 1941, it is so interesting to see how British sailors in their attacking ships feel bad in a sense at how a beautiful ship like the Bismarck meets such a suffering end. They even go so far as to almost wish they would cease fire upon the Bismarck given she is clearly a burning hulk about to go under without further damage. However, a duty to avenge the loss of the Hood prevails and the British battleships and cruisers must continue to batter Bismarck into oblivion.
Another cruel twist is seen in the rescue effort partaken by British warships to help fetch some of the Bismarck survivors out of the Atlantic. Due to the U-boat threat, the British ships have to leave the scene of battle hastily and thus only have time to pick up some of the Bismarck survivors, leaving many for dead in the ocean.
I would also be remiss not to highlight how some of the scenes back on the home fronts are captured. There are small cutaways to London and Bavaria to follow Churchill and Hitler respectively as they react to the unfolding of events of the Bismarck action. That is another great little touch to this book that ensures it encompasses many perspectives.
All in all, the reader has to be prepared to jump from scene to scene, so to speak. Many different perspectives from different sailors on different ships at different times in the engagement are followed. The closest thing I could compare it to is the 2017 movie Dunkirk in book form. In that sense, it is also entertaining just like a movie.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 21, 2024
Gripping, humane work of oral history covering the last day of the battle between the mighty German battleship Bismarck and the Royal Navy ships and aircraft hunting her. String in the human cost of war. Explains how as well as a strategic aim, sinking the Bismarck was a diplomatic essential to influence neutral nations, especially the US, that Britain retained control of the seas. The Bismarck had just, unexpectedly destroyed the British battleship Hood with almost all hands. Its public avenging led to convoys being left unescorted and ships ignoring orders, choosing instead to close on the German flagship.
After encounters that left the Bismarck damaged and unable to sail at speed or steer, its fate was sealed. This book shows how it was destroyed by attritional pounding by multiple vessels, slowly losing its ability to return fire then to take any action. Ballantine doesn’t shy away from the ugly side of what is often seen as a shining victory, as the warship was shot to death over hours.
There is an implication that the business could have been finished quicker and more cleanly by torpedo bombers but the RN did not value carriers and wanted their own big gun ships to take the victory.
The reality of ships leaving many of the enemy survivors to drown for fear of counter-attack by U boats is not ignored, nor are the feelings of guilt this led to in many sailors.
An unexpectedly measured and empathic look at the reality of one of WWII’s famous episodes.
After encounters that left the Bismarck damaged and unable to sail at speed or steer, its fate was sealed. This book shows how it was destroyed by attritional pounding by multiple vessels, slowly losing its ability to return fire then to take any action. Ballantine doesn’t shy away from the ugly side of what is often seen as a shining victory, as the warship was shot to death over hours.
There is an implication that the business could have been finished quicker and more cleanly by torpedo bombers but the RN did not value carriers and wanted their own big gun ships to take the victory.
The reality of ships leaving many of the enemy survivors to drown for fear of counter-attack by U boats is not ignored, nor are the feelings of guilt this led to in many sailors.
An unexpectedly measured and empathic look at the reality of one of WWII’s famous episodes.
September 6, 2017
“Bismark: 24 Hours to Doom” eBook was published in 2016 and was written by Iain Ballantyne (http://iainballantyne.com). Mr. Ballantyne has published 9 books.
I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as ‘G’. This book documents the last 24 hours of actions by the British Navy as they close in on the German battleship Bismarck and sink her.
The book contains first hand accounts gathered by the author of sailors and aviators involved in finding, tracking and finally sinking the Bismarck.
I thought that the 2+ hours I spent reading this World War II History were interesting. The cover art with a head-on shot of the Bismarck seems appropriate. I give this novel a 3.8 (rounded up to a 4) out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as ‘G’. This book documents the last 24 hours of actions by the British Navy as they close in on the German battleship Bismarck and sink her.
The book contains first hand accounts gathered by the author of sailors and aviators involved in finding, tracking and finally sinking the Bismarck.
I thought that the 2+ hours I spent reading this World War II History were interesting. The cover art with a head-on shot of the Bismarck seems appropriate. I give this novel a 3.8 (rounded up to a 4) out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
January 23, 2024
A very good account of the sinking of the German battleship Bismarck in 1941, told almost completely through the eyewitness accounts of those who were there. This type of military history often doesn't "work" for me, especially where not especially relevant soldiers' stories are shoehorned into a more conventional narrative of the events, but when all the accounts concern a short (4 days) period and a single action, it can be very effective, as here. It may help that the interviews were collected with a TV documentary (which was also very well-done) in mind.
Although there is well-informed discussion about the strengths and weaknesses of the ships involved, the book steers clear of nerdy discussions about armour penetration, angle of shot, and speculation about the exact causes of the final destruction of HMS Hood and KM Bismarck, which will never be 100% clear, in favour of a broader view of the events.
The writing does sometimes suffer a little from TV-documentary hyperbole and lazy language - "Nazi" is routinely used as a synonym for "German" and the word "epic" is misused repeatedly - but generally the author leaves the veterans to speak for themselves, which they do movingly and humanely.
Generally, a very good read - and the TV documentary is worth seeing too.
The maps are helpful though (in my paperback edition) they were in tiny print which was difficult especially for the older reader.
Although there is well-informed discussion about the strengths and weaknesses of the ships involved, the book steers clear of nerdy discussions about armour penetration, angle of shot, and speculation about the exact causes of the final destruction of HMS Hood and KM Bismarck, which will never be 100% clear, in favour of a broader view of the events.
The writing does sometimes suffer a little from TV-documentary hyperbole and lazy language - "Nazi" is routinely used as a synonym for "German" and the word "epic" is misused repeatedly - but generally the author leaves the veterans to speak for themselves, which they do movingly and humanely.
Generally, a very good read - and the TV documentary is worth seeing too.
The maps are helpful though (in my paperback edition) they were in tiny print which was difficult especially for the older reader.
January 28, 2024
The story of sinking the Bismarck sounds like a remarkable one and there are complicated layers of revenge, morality, sacrifice, and regret that could punctuate a story like this (and are even alluded to in the narrative). This is a blow by blow account of the battle pursing, engaging, and sinking the Bismarck. It is written like a Dateline NBC special, and skirts around many of those deeper questions/themes (with a few exceptions). It’s a story that should be remembered and told, both of which this book does.
April 19, 2025
Very good, concise recounting of the Bismarck’s final days. I appreciate that the story focuses strictly on the hunt for the Bismarck after its engagement with the Hood and as such, the story begins at the moment of the Hood’s sinking. Ballantyne’s style of what I’ll call “people-focused” writing and vast utilization of quotes by those that were there keeps the book from becoming a more bland, academic analysis of the events
September 3, 2023
Amazing and unique telling of an important moment in World War history. I love the way Iain switches from ship to ship, perspective to perspective as the tension builds and then finally culminating in what is a harrowing and vivid description of the battle. Certainly changed my perspective on the sinking. Amazing read.
March 23, 2024
Excellent account of the sinking of the Bismarck , with survivor transcripts . My mothers cousin was a stoker on the Hood when it was sunk by the Bismarck so I was particularly interested in learning more about the sinking of the Hood and the Bismarck. I now feel more knowledgable of the events after reading this book.
June 9, 2024
Detailed book following an influential turning point in history. It serves a purpose of education which is so important to many. For me however, I went into it thinking it was a novel. As I discovered it was more step-by-step based I found it rather slow to get through. Despite that, it was informative and taught me things I was, and likely will have been for much longer, unaware of.
February 7, 2025
Well researched.
Having read extensively about the Hood, I wanted to know about Bismarck’s final battle. Because of this book I now know far more than I did before. The time format of the book was very effective.
What was disappointing was the small mention the Prince of Wales got. The damage she caused started the end of Bismarck.
Having read extensively about the Hood, I wanted to know about Bismarck’s final battle. Because of this book I now know far more than I did before. The time format of the book was very effective.
What was disappointing was the small mention the Prince of Wales got. The damage she caused started the end of Bismarck.
May 30, 2020
Enjoyable read
Enjoyed this book polishing it off in 36 hours. Tell the story of the end of the Bismarck. Many will know the story but this one takes the angle of telling it chronically
Enjoyed this book polishing it off in 36 hours. Tell the story of the end of the Bismarck. Many will know the story but this one takes the angle of telling it chronically
March 10, 2019
Good history of the account of the hunt for the Bismarck following the sinking of the Hood.
July 13, 2019
Well researched
Good read if interested in facts about the war
Enjoyed reading it and would recommend it if
Interested in history
Good read if interested in facts about the war
Enjoyed reading it and would recommend it if
Interested in history
October 21, 2020
A good account of the last days of the Bismarck, not long and easy to follow.
November 19, 2020
I liked it a lot since it's based on world war II. And Bismarck is my favorite battleship of all time also i liked the end when the Dorsetshire sinks in the Pacific ocean
Read
December 4, 2020Good realistic history! Learned things I heard reported before
May 25, 2021
Excellent reading
Enhanced update of saga of Bismarck demise. Excellent, fast paced, well worth reading for anyone with an interest in WW2 naval history.
Enhanced update of saga of Bismarck demise. Excellent, fast paced, well worth reading for anyone with an interest in WW2 naval history.
April 27, 2022
Disjointed
I thought it was a book on the Bismarck, but instead it was a very disjointed account of hunting and sinking of the Bismarck.
I thought it was a book on the Bismarck, but instead it was a very disjointed account of hunting and sinking of the Bismarck.
April 30, 2024
Wonderful synopsis of the hunt for and battle with the KM Bismarck.
September 26, 2024
NEVER GET TIRED OF THE STORY OF THIS GREAT SHIP AND THIS BOOK WAS NO EXCEPTION, ABSORBING AND A FASCINATING READ WHICH I READ QUICKLY OVER A FEW DAYS. A 5 STAR GOLD BOOK.
September 22, 2025
*Bismarck by Sabaton intensifies*
March 1, 2017
The Bismarck had to be sunk. It posed a huge threat to Allied shipping. And it had just sunk Britain’s Hood.
In a reenactment of David and Goliath, a tiny, flimsy Swordfish biplane torpedoed the 50,000-ton battleship. The torpedo jammed the mammoth ship’s rudder, rendering steering impossible. The German ship can only wait for the British ships to circle round and tear it to shreds.
Late on the night before the deadly encounter, Captain Lindemann tells his crew they may take whatever they want from the ship’s stores, everything from cheese and chocolate to Swiss watches and fountain pens. He knows they’re doomed. May as well have a bit of cheer.
During the night, U-73 finds the crippled ship and watches the British destroyers shadowing the Bismarck dart in and away to fire on the ship. They don’t expect to sink it, but can prevent the men from getting any rest. Where was U-73 when the British capital ships tore their compatriots apart and left hundreds in the sea?
The question arises: Did so many have to die? Several among the British wanted the slaughter to cease. A chaplain said to a captain, “You are firing shells at a ship that can’t reply.” The captain replied, “You go and mind your own business and get off my bridge.”
Out of 2,365 crewmembers, 116 survived, although one died of wounds while aboard the destroyer. This was war.
This short book is a fascinating, quick read. I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review.
March 1, 2017
This book was easy to follow, I liked the way it was set out and it didn't take very long to read. My main purpose for picking this book was a personal challenge. I was at school in the UK in the early 90s and we were taught hardly anything on the subject of WWI and WWII and the history lessons focussed mainly on castles, knights and the medieval period so as an adult I wanted to learn more about what actually went on and to improve my overall knowledge. I do feel I know a bit more about the Royal Navy and Hitler's Kriegsmarine in the period after reading this book - 4 stars from me.
August 17, 2019
Revenge or Strategy
Bismarck: 24 Hours to Doom is well crafted, simplistic and to the points of view experienced by those who were there. Those interviewed should be complimented for their honesty in relating the horror and anguish they experienced. The author manages to translate the interviews and his historical understanding of this epic WWII sea battle into language that captures the moment vividly sand accurately.
Bismarck: 24 Hours to Doom is well crafted, simplistic and to the points of view experienced by those who were there. Those interviewed should be complimented for their honesty in relating the horror and anguish they experienced. The author manages to translate the interviews and his historical understanding of this epic WWII sea battle into language that captures the moment vividly sand accurately.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews