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 book 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 individualizes the sailors
and military personnel involved in the sinking from both sides. The
writing is accompanied by multiple maps and two hundred stunning,
photographs, many never-before-seen.
