Scene, The Great Depression, post World War I, or 'The Great War,' as it was known then. As bad as the 1920s and 30s were in countries like the USA and Britain, in no-longer-Imperial Germany, things were much grimmer. Whelming spectres of reparations payments to the Allies, dissolution of the armed forces and massive unemployment made any good job something eagerly sought, even treasured by working age German men.

Serendipitously and perhaps ironically, 'twas exactly this situation which enabled the diminutive German Navy (Deutsches Kriegsmarine) to attract thousands of the best physical, moral and intellectual specimens of young men in The Fatherland's population of fifty million, to crew its few naval units. From a personnel point of view, there may never have been a more elite national navy than the pre- and early-WWII Deutsche Kriegsmarine. Interestingly, the Kriegsmarine stayed largely clear of Nazi influences. Hitler was fond of saying, "I have a national socialist air force, a reactionary army and a Christian navy."

In German Seaman 1939-45, Osprey Staff author Gordon Williamson does open the subject well, presenting interesting bits on recruitment, training, discipline and pay. Then the book's quality of content seemed to take a content-quality dive like a depth-charged U-Boot. Too many photos of (already over-photographed) German naval units are included and too few closeups of Matrosen (sailors). Much text space is used addressing ship types (which already have their own Osprey books, largely, by Williamson) and high-level operational history. Reprints of two German WW II magazine covers and a recruiting poster are interesting historical bits.

Illustrator John White uses the usual 8-page centre spread on subjects as varied as an Auxiliary Cruiser (Hilfskreuzer) viewed at a distance, details of heavy Flak guns (shipboard twin 10.5 cm [4.1 inch] and their control tower [director]), a 10.5 cm ammo ready-locker, an S-Boot firing a torpedo and Marder / Neger miniature submarines. While these subjects are interesting, what the illustrator does not show are the wide variety of common-use German naval uniforms.

Only a "New Recruit" and his articles of kit are given a full, detailed page. This is a pity, as John White is a highly competent artist whose talent could have been much better used by addressing the book's title subject, rather than several pages of German nautical tangents.

Oh, for portrait style illustrations of Gunther Lutjens in full dress, Hans Langsdorff as he commanded Admiral Graf Spee, full lengths portrayals of of a minesweeper boatswain in foul weather gear, a Gunner in anti-flash kit, an Ar 196 pilot with flotation vest, a chief cook and assistant with a soup kettle.... 

Missing from the book are detail depictions of the myriad ratings', petty officers' and officers' uniforms. Also absent are illustrations of rank distinctions and divisional / specialty badges of  the Deutsches Kriegsmarine.

The fascinating subject matter of the Kriegsmarine Matrosen could have been much better served than by this volume, given the 64 pages available. In this reviewer's opinion German Seaman 1939-45 is one of the publisher's rare, unsatisfying efforts. This same publisher's books on the USN and Royal Navy address those services' WWII naval uniforms MUCH more satisfactorily.

A disappointment. Only marginally recommended for students of WWII navies, largely because the subject has not been well addressed other places, either. Justifying the retail price of $16.95 for this book is barely, barely possible. If one wants an upside to this book, here it is: There remains a superabundance of material available for a possible kick-butt "German Seaman 1939-45, VOLUME 2."

For the modeler, one may purchase a 1/35 DML / Dragon set of four (4) German Naval Figures, albeit in shore gear, equipped with small arms to repel the raiders, at Dieppe. Other than these, few German Navy figures are to be found (excepting rather prolifc, all in all, U-Boot types). You guessed it; the figure manufacturers are too busy sculpting and producing  more Waffen SS Panzergrenadiers.

Review copy courtesy of the reviewer's chequeboook, purchased at Prosek's Greenhouse and Military Model Shop, Winfield, Illinois, USA

Reviewed by James Hood

For Scott Van Aken's Modeling Madness review of James Hood's novel,
 Adventure--Into The Neverland, go to:  http://users3.ev1.net/~bjmonkeyandcj/James_Hood.htm

March 2005

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