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Sink the Bismarck!: The Greatest Chase in Military History
In 1941, Hitler's deadly Bismarck, the fastest battleship afloat, broke out into the Atlantic. Its mission: to cut the lifeline of British shipping and win the war with one mighty blow. How the Royal Navy tried to meet this threat and its desperate attempt to bring the giant Bismarck to bay is the story C. S. Forester tells with mounting excitement and suspense.
208 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1959
308 people are currently reading
956 people want to read
About the author
C.S. Forester
238 books998 followersCecil Scott Forester was the pen name of Cecil Louis Troughton Smith, an English novelist who rose to fame with tales of adventure and military crusades. His most notable works were the 11-book Horatio Hornblower series, about naval warfare during the Napoleonic era, and The African Queen (1935; filmed in 1951 by John Huston). His novels A Ship of the Line and Flying Colours were jointly awarded the 1938 James Tait Black Memorial Prize for fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews
January 22, 2026
A thrilling re-telling of a decisive turning point in WW II
CS Forester, as he proved with his Horatio Hornblower series, is no slouch when it comes to providing literary suspense on the high seas. In THE LAST NINE DAYS OF THE BISMARCK, he's turned that talent to a true-life history of the British hunt for the German battleship, Bismarck, during World War II.
Just as the catastrophic US defeat at Pearl Harbour in 1941 seemed to result from a concatenation of small events, so too was the British sinking of the Bismarck a series of tiny twists and turns that, to give destiny its due, in many cases seemed to result more from good luck than good management - the serendipitous discovery of the Bismarck's location by a Swordfish torpedo bomber when the weather was so dismal and the skies so overcast that, by all good sense, the bombers should probably not have even been in the air; a chance shot that jammed the Bismarck's rudder and forced her to steam away from the coast of France when she was probably less than an hour away from Luftwaffe air protection; and, finally, Britain's preternatural good luck in being able to stay in battle against the Bismarck when they were literally within minutes of running out of fuel.
The history is all well known, of course, and the ending will come as no surprise to anyone. But the joy and excitement is in Forester's ability to tell the story and relate the history with all the bated breath and suspense of the very best thrillers. If you enjoy history, then you'll certainly enjoy this brief re-telling of one of the decisive turning points of the WW II.
Highly recommended.
Paul Weiss
CS Forester, as he proved with his Horatio Hornblower series, is no slouch when it comes to providing literary suspense on the high seas. In THE LAST NINE DAYS OF THE BISMARCK, he's turned that talent to a true-life history of the British hunt for the German battleship, Bismarck, during World War II.
Just as the catastrophic US defeat at Pearl Harbour in 1941 seemed to result from a concatenation of small events, so too was the British sinking of the Bismarck a series of tiny twists and turns that, to give destiny its due, in many cases seemed to result more from good luck than good management - the serendipitous discovery of the Bismarck's location by a Swordfish torpedo bomber when the weather was so dismal and the skies so overcast that, by all good sense, the bombers should probably not have even been in the air; a chance shot that jammed the Bismarck's rudder and forced her to steam away from the coast of France when she was probably less than an hour away from Luftwaffe air protection; and, finally, Britain's preternatural good luck in being able to stay in battle against the Bismarck when they were literally within minutes of running out of fuel.
The history is all well known, of course, and the ending will come as no surprise to anyone. But the joy and excitement is in Forester's ability to tell the story and relate the history with all the bated breath and suspense of the very best thrillers. If you enjoy history, then you'll certainly enjoy this brief re-telling of one of the decisive turning points of the WW II.
Highly recommended.
Paul Weiss
July 12, 2019
A short, fictionalized version of the epic battle between the Royal Navy and the Bismarck. Told mostly in dialogue between the major combatants on the ships, you can still feel the arrogance on the German side and the determination on the British side. It's a story of brave men doing their duty, and a piece of luck that determined who would win.
January 2, 2022
This is a brief and very gripping semi-fictionalised account of the six-day hunt for the Bismarck and its ultimate sinking in 1942.
C.S. Forester was a masterly storyteller and he makes this short (100-page) account extremely readable and, for me, wholly involving. The physical and strategic challenges and the immensely high stakes are very well portrayed, as is the nail-bitingly tight timescale to find and engage the Bismarck, all helpfully illustrated with charts showing the various ships’ positions.
Forester imagines a few characters who epitomise the people involved; the naval ratings, those at British naval HQ, the people affected by the Bismarck’s disastrous destruction of H.M.S. Hood and so on. He also puts words into the mouths of real people, like Admiral Lutjens and Captain Lindemann aboard the Bismarck. He does both very well, although there are moments when characters explain things to each other a little clunkily and which might have been better done by the narrator. Nonetheless, this is a terrific read, I think, and a clear, stark account of one of the decisive events of the Second World War. Warmly recommended.
C.S. Forester was a masterly storyteller and he makes this short (100-page) account extremely readable and, for me, wholly involving. The physical and strategic challenges and the immensely high stakes are very well portrayed, as is the nail-bitingly tight timescale to find and engage the Bismarck, all helpfully illustrated with charts showing the various ships’ positions.
Forester imagines a few characters who epitomise the people involved; the naval ratings, those at British naval HQ, the people affected by the Bismarck’s disastrous destruction of H.M.S. Hood and so on. He also puts words into the mouths of real people, like Admiral Lutjens and Captain Lindemann aboard the Bismarck. He does both very well, although there are moments when characters explain things to each other a little clunkily and which might have been better done by the narrator. Nonetheless, this is a terrific read, I think, and a clear, stark account of one of the decisive events of the Second World War. Warmly recommended.
January 12, 2024
A brief synopsis of the Brits against the Nazis' mighty battleship, the Bismarck. Less than 200 pages, C. S. Forester brings the actions from the bridges and navigational plotting rooms aboard British vessels and the German command of Bismarck together in this high stakes WWII sea tale. Unfortunately, not a tale. It happened.
"A lot of men will die today." So they did.
"A lot of men will die today." So they did.
July 2, 2012
I've "blown" through this in a couple of hours. Nothing wrong with it, except it was over too soon.
The opening paragraph is a bit over the top in its patriotic fervor, but I have to admit the subject renders itself to such a treatment. When thousands of lives are lost at sea in a matter of minutes, and when 26 ships are sunk out of a convoy of 31, it makes the reader wonder what kind of courage and dedication it takes to set sail in the face of such odds.
This is a story of the most desperate chances, of the loftiest patriotism and of the highest professional skills, of a gamble for the dominion of the world in which human lives were the stakes on the green gaming table of the ocean.
It would sound cheesy if it were not for the fact that the events described here are real. The book is 90 % documentary and 10 % fiction. Forester has a minimalist approach, doing away with most of the technical details about the battleships involved and renouncing any attempts at characterization or human interest stories. Most of the British admirals are only mentioned by title , not by name. Nothing is said about the ship commanders background or personality traits. Everything is reduced to the minimum necessary to follow the action, and this makes for a very gripping, high octane ride. Because this is one of the last battles between the giants of the sea, the Gotterdammerung of capital ships with foot thick armor that could pound each other to bits from beyond the horizon, mastodonts that would be soon made obsolete by aircraft carriers.
For all its short number of pages and underdeveloped actors, the author managed one thing very well, and that is the majesty and the perils of the Atlantic ocean:
Wind force 8, westerly. High sea running, low cloud, visibility poor. reads one despatch from the ships chasing the Bismarck. Behind these simple words Forester evokes the biting cold,the sleepless nights, the mountainous waves and the ever present danger.
Only three stars for Sink the Bismarck, and Douglas Reeman is still my favorite author for sea battle novels from WWII, but I hope I will manage to read more from Forester, probably the Hornblower books or the African Queen.
The opening paragraph is a bit over the top in its patriotic fervor, but I have to admit the subject renders itself to such a treatment. When thousands of lives are lost at sea in a matter of minutes, and when 26 ships are sunk out of a convoy of 31, it makes the reader wonder what kind of courage and dedication it takes to set sail in the face of such odds.
This is a story of the most desperate chances, of the loftiest patriotism and of the highest professional skills, of a gamble for the dominion of the world in which human lives were the stakes on the green gaming table of the ocean.
It would sound cheesy if it were not for the fact that the events described here are real. The book is 90 % documentary and 10 % fiction. Forester has a minimalist approach, doing away with most of the technical details about the battleships involved and renouncing any attempts at characterization or human interest stories. Most of the British admirals are only mentioned by title , not by name. Nothing is said about the ship commanders background or personality traits. Everything is reduced to the minimum necessary to follow the action, and this makes for a very gripping, high octane ride. Because this is one of the last battles between the giants of the sea, the Gotterdammerung of capital ships with foot thick armor that could pound each other to bits from beyond the horizon, mastodonts that would be soon made obsolete by aircraft carriers.
For all its short number of pages and underdeveloped actors, the author managed one thing very well, and that is the majesty and the perils of the Atlantic ocean:
Wind force 8, westerly. High sea running, low cloud, visibility poor. reads one despatch from the ships chasing the Bismarck. Behind these simple words Forester evokes the biting cold,the sleepless nights, the mountainous waves and the ever present danger.
Only three stars for Sink the Bismarck, and Douglas Reeman is still my favorite author for sea battle novels from WWII, but I hope I will manage to read more from Forester, probably the Hornblower books or the African Queen.
January 14, 2022
Over the past 20 years or so, I've enjoyed so many of English author C.S. Forester's works; his Horatio Hornblower series, his works of fiction, like The African Queen, his early mysteries and others, 15+ books. Hunting the Bismarck is a work of non-fiction (in a dramatized fashion) an is a perfect little book.
The title tells all. The Bismark, a German battleship, the pride of the fleet, leaves harbor and heads for the Atlantic to harass British convoys trying to keep Britain alive during WWII. British spies see it leave, the Admiralty is advised and the British fleet and Air Arm are activated to try and find and track and ultimately destroy the Bismark.
The story moves between the Captain of the Bismark and its crew, to the Admiralty as they track the progress of their ships, various crew members of British ships, even news reports from America and other countries. It's all very factual but Forester tweaks the story to make it a dramatic, fast paced, action packed war tale. I knew the basic story but there were little tidbits that I never even realized; the battleship Prince of Wales was so new that it still had civilian labor crews on board trying to correct flaws, the battleship Rodney was on its way to a refit in America under the lend lease program and had 500 injured passengers on board, going to Canada, as well as an American Navy Lt, escorting the ship. You get various actions told from the perspective of the British and then the Germans.
It's a very factual account of a major battle of WWII and such a significant event. Fascinating acts of heroism told in a matter - of - fact manner that draws you in quickly and makes you want to read until the end. Excellent story. (5 stars)
The title tells all. The Bismark, a German battleship, the pride of the fleet, leaves harbor and heads for the Atlantic to harass British convoys trying to keep Britain alive during WWII. British spies see it leave, the Admiralty is advised and the British fleet and Air Arm are activated to try and find and track and ultimately destroy the Bismark.
The story moves between the Captain of the Bismark and its crew, to the Admiralty as they track the progress of their ships, various crew members of British ships, even news reports from America and other countries. It's all very factual but Forester tweaks the story to make it a dramatic, fast paced, action packed war tale. I knew the basic story but there were little tidbits that I never even realized; the battleship Prince of Wales was so new that it still had civilian labor crews on board trying to correct flaws, the battleship Rodney was on its way to a refit in America under the lend lease program and had 500 injured passengers on board, going to Canada, as well as an American Navy Lt, escorting the ship. You get various actions told from the perspective of the British and then the Germans.
It's a very factual account of a major battle of WWII and such a significant event. Fascinating acts of heroism told in a matter - of - fact manner that draws you in quickly and makes you want to read until the end. Excellent story. (5 stars)
June 11, 2022
"Βυθίσατε το Βίσμαρκ!", εκδόσεις ΒΙΠΕΡ.
Δεύτερο βιβλίο του Σ. Σ. Φόρεστερ που διαβάζω, μετά το απολαυστικό και κλασικό "Η βασίλισσα της Αφρικής" που διάβασα το 2020, μπορώ να πω ότι ήταν και αυτό απολαυστικό, άκρως καλογραμμένο και έως έναν βαθμό αγωνιώδες (αν και με την κατάληξη να είναι, φυσικά, γνωστή εδώ και δεκαετίες), με τον Φόρεστερ να γράφει μια αληθινή ιστορία με μυθιστορηματικό τρόπο. Μέσα σε σχετικά λίγες σελίδες, ο συγγραφέας κατάφερε να καλύψει ένα τόσο σημαντικό ιστορικό γεγονός, μεταφέροντας στους αναγνώστες την αγωνία, το δράμα, την ένταση μιας εξαιρετικά τρομερής ναυμαχίας. Τέτοιου είδους βιβλία, δηλαδή ιστορικά με μυθιστορηματικά όμως στοιχεία, πραγματικά μου αρέσουν πολύ (αν και μάλλον δεν έχω διαβάσει όσα θα ήθελα), και το συγκεκριμένο μου φάνηκε αρκούντως καλογραμμένο, ενδιαφέρον και ατμοσφαιρικό. Διάβασα τη μετάφραση των εκδόσεων ΒΙΠΕΡ που μου φάνηκε μια χαρά για τα χρόνια της, σίγουρα το βιπεράκι αυτό το προτείνω για μια ενδιαφέρουσα και ευχάριστη ανάγνωση.
Δεύτερο βιβλίο του Σ. Σ. Φόρεστερ που διαβάζω, μετά το απολαυστικό και κλασικό "Η βασίλισσα της Αφρικής" που διάβασα το 2020, μπορώ να πω ότι ήταν και αυτό απολαυστικό, άκρως καλογραμμένο και έως έναν βαθμό αγωνιώδες (αν και με την κατάληξη να είναι, φυσικά, γνωστή εδώ και δεκαετίες), με τον Φόρεστερ να γράφει μια αληθινή ιστορία με μυθιστορηματικό τρόπο. Μέσα σε σχετικά λίγες σελίδες, ο συγγραφέας κατάφερε να καλύψει ένα τόσο σημαντικό ιστορικό γεγονός, μεταφέροντας στους αναγνώστες την αγωνία, το δράμα, την ένταση μιας εξαιρετικά τρομερής ναυμαχίας. Τέτοιου είδους βιβλία, δηλαδή ιστορικά με μυθιστορηματικά όμως στοιχεία, πραγματικά μου αρέσουν πολύ (αν και μάλλον δεν έχω διαβάσει όσα θα ήθελα), και το συγκεκριμένο μου φάνηκε αρκούντως καλογραμμένο, ενδιαφέρον και ατμοσφαιρικό. Διάβασα τη μετάφραση των εκδόσεων ΒΙΠΕΡ που μου φάνηκε μια χαρά για τα χρόνια της, σίγουρα το βιπεράκι αυτό το προτείνω για μια ενδιαφέρουσα και ευχάριστη ανάγνωση.
July 9, 2020
Fun read
There was detail and a flavor for what was happening. It was the sequence of events and what happened that was told here and told well
There was detail and a flavor for what was happening. It was the sequence of events and what happened that was told here and told well
January 2, 2022
This is a brief and very gripping semi-fictionalised account of the six-day hunt for the Bismarck and its ultimate sinking in 1942.
C.S. Forester was a masterly storyteller and he makes this short (100-page) account extremely readable and, for me, wholly involving. The physical and strategic challenges and the immensely high stakes are very well portrayed, as is the nail-bitingly tight timescale to find and engage the Bismarck, all helpfully illustrated with charts showing the various ships’ positions.
Forester imagines a few characters who epitomise the people involved; the naval ratings, those at British naval HQ, the people affected by the Bismarck’s disastrous destruction of H.M.S. Hood and so on. He also puts words into the mouths of real people, like Admiral Lutjens and Captain Lindemann aboard the Bismarck. He does both very well, although there are moments when characters explain things to each other a little clunkily and which might have been better done by the narrator. Nonetheless, this is a terrific read, I think, and a clear, stark account of one of the decisive events of the Second World War. Warmly recommended.
C.S. Forester was a masterly storyteller and he makes this short (100-page) account extremely readable and, for me, wholly involving. The physical and strategic challenges and the immensely high stakes are very well portrayed, as is the nail-bitingly tight timescale to find and engage the Bismarck, all helpfully illustrated with charts showing the various ships’ positions.
Forester imagines a few characters who epitomise the people involved; the naval ratings, those at British naval HQ, the people affected by the Bismarck’s disastrous destruction of H.M.S. Hood and so on. He also puts words into the mouths of real people, like Admiral Lutjens and Captain Lindemann aboard the Bismarck. He does both very well, although there are moments when characters explain things to each other a little clunkily and which might have been better done by the narrator. Nonetheless, this is a terrific read, I think, and a clear, stark account of one of the decisive events of the Second World War. Warmly recommended.
February 24, 2026
Very much came into this one with no history bone in my body. Knew next to nothing about the world wars. I stumbled upon this little book in a small local museum (the FAST museum) vintage book sale whereby some man told me ‘take as many as you want - we have more than we can put out!’
Among a catalog of books about planes and aircrafts, I spot this little gem - Hunting the Bismarck. The name felt familiar - and that’s because my grandad was aboard HMS Rodney as the time the Bismarck sank.
Bought this to give to my dad, who lost his father all too early. Thought I’d give it a little read though first - how could I resist? And WOW what an incredible narrative!
This tiny book is FULL of tension and suspense, it’s full of the horrors of victory and loss. I’m hugely impressed by this book and can’t wait for my dad to read it for himself!!!!
Even the ending was incredible. I can’t believe all that was packed into only 118 pages.
Among a catalog of books about planes and aircrafts, I spot this little gem - Hunting the Bismarck. The name felt familiar - and that’s because my grandad was aboard HMS Rodney as the time the Bismarck sank.
Bought this to give to my dad, who lost his father all too early. Thought I’d give it a little read though first - how could I resist? And WOW what an incredible narrative!
This tiny book is FULL of tension and suspense, it’s full of the horrors of victory and loss. I’m hugely impressed by this book and can’t wait for my dad to read it for himself!!!!
Even the ending was incredible. I can’t believe all that was packed into only 118 pages.
January 27, 2022
C.S. Forester is better known for his Horatio Hornblower novels but this World War II novella is well worth a read. Sticking to the events around the hunt for the German battleship Bismarck, Forester tells a gripping story, interpolating invented dialogue - we obviously have no record of what was actually said on the command deck of the Bismarck - with a masterful narrative account of the events.
The main flaw is one that Forester could not have remedied when writing the book: we now know that British intelligence had cracked the German Enigma code but when Forester wrote his book this was still top secret. I would like to read an account of the hunt for the Bismarck that includes this so we can learn how much difference this knowledge made.
The main flaw is one that Forester could not have remedied when writing the book: we now know that British intelligence had cracked the German Enigma code but when Forester wrote his book this was still top secret. I would like to read an account of the hunt for the Bismarck that includes this so we can learn how much difference this knowledge made.
June 8, 2021
Um pequeno livro de um género que gosto, muito bem escrito.
Literatura dinâmica. Por várias vezes quase me sentia presente no local da acção.
Fantástico livro de um grande autor.
Leitura recomendada.
Literatura dinâmica. Por várias vezes quase me sentia presente no local da acção.
Fantástico livro de um grande autor.
Leitura recomendada.
Read
January 7, 2026A brief and thrilling fictionalized (but historically accurate) account of exactly what the title describes, told from both sides of the conflict. It was a great way to learn about the events of this famous conflict, and gave me a new respect for WWII naval history.
January 24, 2026
Unflinching in its portrayal of antisemitism as a motivating force for the Nazi military, and forcefully written. Combat is violent and impactful, and the moments between clashes are tense, as everyone involved tries to determine where the enemy is, and what their intentions are.
April 9, 2020
Not near as exciting as “The Good Shepherd.” Action was okay. More of a primer than anything. Good for preteens and early teens to get them interested in World War Two.
Three stars.
Three stars.
July 14, 2023
A close run thing, “The Last Nine Days of the Bismarck” is a fast-paced imagining of the experiences of the German Bismarck crew and their British pursuers, who just—just—managed to catch and sink the Bismarck before she reached safety
March 2, 2025
Nice short read, not 100% historically accurate but a fun read.
October 12, 2023
3,5. Tendo em conta o estilo, que não acompanho, na verdade gostei bastante desta narrativa cheia de ação.
November 1, 2012
Before I read this book I had already seen a movie on the sinking of the Bismarck. I think the book is great as a means to describe what happened between Germany and the British and what happened on board each ship. On the other hand the movie did a much greater job of mapping everything out and showing the great size difference that the measurements in the book couldn't describe. I would recomand this book to anyone interested in war stories as it deals a lot with strategy but includes a miracle as well.
February 23, 2011
Great historical book. The hunt for the Bismarck is the topic of many books, movies and song. One knows how it ends, but the speeches, political stances of the military, the interest in the hunt at that time and other occurances that are not discribed in most history books make it a very interesting read. It is an easy read and worth the time.
August 16, 2015
From IMDb:
The World War II story of the British Navy's effort to defeat Nazi Germany's most powerful warship.
A fabulous movie based on this book: Sink the Bismarck! (1960)
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The World War II story of the British Navy's effort to defeat Nazi Germany's most powerful warship.
A fabulous movie based on this book: Sink the Bismarck! (1960)
[image error]
August 8, 2020
A great narrative of a great naval battle
I’m retired coast guard and i love how he captures the ordinary of sea life in the telling of the story. this is short but had me gripped from the beginning. A minor plot point, but his description of taking fuel soundings brought me back to doing the same in the North Atlantic. Those nuance things suck me in to his story
I’m retired coast guard and i love how he captures the ordinary of sea life in the telling of the story. this is short but had me gripped from the beginning. A minor plot point, but his description of taking fuel soundings brought me back to doing the same in the North Atlantic. Those nuance things suck me in to his story
September 12, 2020
Gripping
It shows a grim but gripping picture of Hell but, at the same time the reality of bravery in mankind. No knights in armour just grim endurance and commitment to their duty. The real essence of history with no embellishment, unlike the film. Too, the real strength in any war, the plain seaman, airman, engineer rather than the Generals and Admirals. 'Twas ever thus!
It shows a grim but gripping picture of Hell but, at the same time the reality of bravery in mankind. No knights in armour just grim endurance and commitment to their duty. The real essence of history with no embellishment, unlike the film. Too, the real strength in any war, the plain seaman, airman, engineer rather than the Generals and Admirals. 'Twas ever thus!
March 16, 2023
Warning: This review has spoilers for the story. You have been warned.
The book that I'm reviewing is titled The Last Nine Days of the Bismarck by C.S. Forester, “the incomparable storyteller of the sea”. It is about Britain's desperate gamble to sink Bismarck Hitlers proudest, deadliest battleship. The story is third person and it alternates between the crew of the Bismarck and the British Admiralty. We start out with the Bismarck making final preparations (loading shells etc) they say goodbye and slip out into the Atlantic with the Prinz Eugen. British planes spotted the Bismarck heading out and contacted the British Admiralty informing them of Germany's new battleship. The British immediately ordered bombers to attack the ship but they lost the ship due to the storm. British ship Suffolk spotted and tailed the Bismarck throughout the book. British ships HMS Hood and Prince of Wales engaged the Bismarck and Prinz Eugen but the Bismarck sank the Hood and heavily damaged the Prince of Wales. The sinking of the Hood stunned the world. Prinz Eugen head’s back to Germany. Swordfish bombers slowed the Bismarck allowing for multiple ships to move in and sink the Bismarck. The Bismarck was heavily damaged by battleships and hit by two torpedoes fired from Dorsetshire. The Bismarck flipped over and sank.
The British main goal was to sink the Bismarck and we saw them get more and more desperate over the course of the book especially towards the end when they discovered that the Bismarck was heading towards a French port and German air cover. That would make it impossible for the Bismarck to be sunk. The Bismarcks crew's goal was never stated but i think it was to wreak havoc in the Atlantic paving the way for British surrender and return to port in France to do repairs and stuff. The crew starts to get worn out due to being at sea and not being able to comfortably sleep so the goal is to get back to Germany safely so they can rest and recover. There isn’t a theme that I could find but I think that its words are powerful and shouldn’t be taken for granted. I think this is the case because there are multiple instances where a speech brought up morale in both the British admiralty and the Bismarck crew, especially the crew. When the crew was tired and morale was low, Admiral Lutjens made a speech saying “Tomorrow night you will sleep in peace. You will sleep undisturbed. That I promise you. Until then, fight on for the honor of the German Navy, for the greater German State, and for our Fuhrer. Heil Hitler!” That probably motivated the crew to put up with the conditions for one more night and to keep on fighting for the German Reich.
I would recommend this book to you if you’re a fan of WW2 stories/naval warfare. You probably know what's going to happen to the Bismarck either from reading the title or you have prior knowledge about the Bismarck but I still found myself wondering “What is going to happen, will the Bismarck meet her end or will she win the battle and escape” That's something Forester did a great job of doing. It was simple and easy to read, it managed to make us feel the intensity and emotion in the room at the time. It was realistic, some of the characters probably weren’t real but most of them probably were because “In preparation for this assignment, Mr. Forester spent weeks with the records of the Admiralty, and interviewed scores of persons who had a hand in dispatching the Bismark.” Overall I really enjoyed “The Last Nine Days of the Bismarck”. My favorite part was the Bismarck's battle with the Hood and how the excitement in the Admiralty room just dropped the moment they heard “Hood blown up” they realized that sinking the Bismarck was gonna be a difficult and desperate challenge. News of the HMS Hood's sinking spread all over the world immediately and a mom in America found out and realized her son Nobby (Crew member of HMS Hood) perished in the sinking. I like how the author didn’t make the characters lifeless/robots he gave them emotion, the officers, the crew, the captain of the Bismarck they all had emotion and feelings. They showed the arrogance of the German officers and the determination of the British. I didn’t like how short it was, it was only 138 pages and it didn't have chapters. One thing I wish the author did was dedicate chapters in each perspective Ex: one chapter for the Germans and one chapter for the Brits. In conclusion “The Last Nine Days of the Bismarck” is a really good book and you should read it if you like learning about WW2 and Naval Warfare.
The book that I'm reviewing is titled The Last Nine Days of the Bismarck by C.S. Forester, “the incomparable storyteller of the sea”. It is about Britain's desperate gamble to sink Bismarck Hitlers proudest, deadliest battleship. The story is third person and it alternates between the crew of the Bismarck and the British Admiralty. We start out with the Bismarck making final preparations (loading shells etc) they say goodbye and slip out into the Atlantic with the Prinz Eugen. British planes spotted the Bismarck heading out and contacted the British Admiralty informing them of Germany's new battleship. The British immediately ordered bombers to attack the ship but they lost the ship due to the storm. British ship Suffolk spotted and tailed the Bismarck throughout the book. British ships HMS Hood and Prince of Wales engaged the Bismarck and Prinz Eugen but the Bismarck sank the Hood and heavily damaged the Prince of Wales. The sinking of the Hood stunned the world. Prinz Eugen head’s back to Germany. Swordfish bombers slowed the Bismarck allowing for multiple ships to move in and sink the Bismarck. The Bismarck was heavily damaged by battleships and hit by two torpedoes fired from Dorsetshire. The Bismarck flipped over and sank.
The British main goal was to sink the Bismarck and we saw them get more and more desperate over the course of the book especially towards the end when they discovered that the Bismarck was heading towards a French port and German air cover. That would make it impossible for the Bismarck to be sunk. The Bismarcks crew's goal was never stated but i think it was to wreak havoc in the Atlantic paving the way for British surrender and return to port in France to do repairs and stuff. The crew starts to get worn out due to being at sea and not being able to comfortably sleep so the goal is to get back to Germany safely so they can rest and recover. There isn’t a theme that I could find but I think that its words are powerful and shouldn’t be taken for granted. I think this is the case because there are multiple instances where a speech brought up morale in both the British admiralty and the Bismarck crew, especially the crew. When the crew was tired and morale was low, Admiral Lutjens made a speech saying “Tomorrow night you will sleep in peace. You will sleep undisturbed. That I promise you. Until then, fight on for the honor of the German Navy, for the greater German State, and for our Fuhrer. Heil Hitler!” That probably motivated the crew to put up with the conditions for one more night and to keep on fighting for the German Reich.
I would recommend this book to you if you’re a fan of WW2 stories/naval warfare. You probably know what's going to happen to the Bismarck either from reading the title or you have prior knowledge about the Bismarck but I still found myself wondering “What is going to happen, will the Bismarck meet her end or will she win the battle and escape” That's something Forester did a great job of doing. It was simple and easy to read, it managed to make us feel the intensity and emotion in the room at the time. It was realistic, some of the characters probably weren’t real but most of them probably were because “In preparation for this assignment, Mr. Forester spent weeks with the records of the Admiralty, and interviewed scores of persons who had a hand in dispatching the Bismark.” Overall I really enjoyed “The Last Nine Days of the Bismarck”. My favorite part was the Bismarck's battle with the Hood and how the excitement in the Admiralty room just dropped the moment they heard “Hood blown up” they realized that sinking the Bismarck was gonna be a difficult and desperate challenge. News of the HMS Hood's sinking spread all over the world immediately and a mom in America found out and realized her son Nobby (Crew member of HMS Hood) perished in the sinking. I like how the author didn’t make the characters lifeless/robots he gave them emotion, the officers, the crew, the captain of the Bismarck they all had emotion and feelings. They showed the arrogance of the German officers and the determination of the British. I didn’t like how short it was, it was only 138 pages and it didn't have chapters. One thing I wish the author did was dedicate chapters in each perspective Ex: one chapter for the Germans and one chapter for the Brits. In conclusion “The Last Nine Days of the Bismarck” is a really good book and you should read it if you like learning about WW2 and Naval Warfare.
November 10, 2022
In September of 1939, German forces rapidly overran Poland. In April of 1940, German forces assaulted Norway and Denmark, easily defeating them. In May of 1940, German forces attacked and defeated the forces of Holland, Belgium and France, as well as the British Expeditionary Force. That campaign essentially ended with the mass evacuation of Dunkirk.
German forces then began their air attacks against England and for some time, it appeared that the German air force would prevail. In April of 1941, German forces invaded Yugoslavia and Greece, adding to their victories and Allied defeats. After all of this, the most powerful battleship in the world, the Bismarck, sailed out from Germany in the middle of May in 1941.
The first engagement of British forces with the Bismarck was a disaster for the British, their battleship the Hood was completely destroyed and only three of her crew survived. However, as happens so many times in war, the British air force was able to get off a lucky shot. Even though the Bismarck took a torpedo his in the side early and was able to shrug it off, a torpedo hit the rudder and torpedo mechanism, slowing it down and preventing it from making a run back to port. Crippled with no hope for air cover, the Bismarck was a sitting duck for the British forces that converged for the kill. It was the first real victory of British forces against the Germans in the war.
This book is a semi-fictional rendition of the last days of the Bismarck, the actual events are real, the supposed conversations between German commanders is fictional. The author does an excellent job in making it clear how great the tension was during the hunt and how relieved the British leaders and public were when the Bismarck went down. There are also some hints regarding how foolish the German leaders were. If the Bismarck had stayed within their air cover, it would have been almost impossible for the British to have sunk her. The sinking of the Bismarck was also the first clear evidence that the days of the battleship fighting alone were over.
German forces then began their air attacks against England and for some time, it appeared that the German air force would prevail. In April of 1941, German forces invaded Yugoslavia and Greece, adding to their victories and Allied defeats. After all of this, the most powerful battleship in the world, the Bismarck, sailed out from Germany in the middle of May in 1941.
The first engagement of British forces with the Bismarck was a disaster for the British, their battleship the Hood was completely destroyed and only three of her crew survived. However, as happens so many times in war, the British air force was able to get off a lucky shot. Even though the Bismarck took a torpedo his in the side early and was able to shrug it off, a torpedo hit the rudder and torpedo mechanism, slowing it down and preventing it from making a run back to port. Crippled with no hope for air cover, the Bismarck was a sitting duck for the British forces that converged for the kill. It was the first real victory of British forces against the Germans in the war.
This book is a semi-fictional rendition of the last days of the Bismarck, the actual events are real, the supposed conversations between German commanders is fictional. The author does an excellent job in making it clear how great the tension was during the hunt and how relieved the British leaders and public were when the Bismarck went down. There are also some hints regarding how foolish the German leaders were. If the Bismarck had stayed within their air cover, it would have been almost impossible for the British to have sunk her. The sinking of the Bismarck was also the first clear evidence that the days of the battleship fighting alone were over.
May 25, 2025
I need this book to be made into a movie. Not a documentary (already done, already seen it), but a movie, and I need it to have Kenneth Brannaugh, and it need it done now, please!
This was one of the best books I read this year. Here's the thing. Anyone who's interested in military history, such as myself, already knows what happens. The Bismark is the latest fear-producing machine to come out of Germany, and it just happens to be the biggest warship in history (up to that point). It destroys the HMS Hood, the pride of the British Royal Navy, and severely damages the HMS Prince of Wales, which, if the Royal Navy had a throne, the PoW was the heir. With these two ships down and out for the count, the Bismark, and Germany, appear unstoppable. But we WW2 history nerds all know how the story ends: The Bismark is once again attacked by the British, and this time its steering takes damage, leading to its downfall in a blaze of gunfire on all sides from other ships in the Royal Navy who are now both royally pissed off, and in desperate need of a win.
As I said, anyone who studies military history knows these aren't spoilers. And now take the above paragraph, and write it as if you were imagining these events splayed across a large film screen. The pain felt by mothers at home when their sons are lost at sea, Winston Churchill speaking as only he can, and regular references to provided maps so you know exactly where all the players are in the Atlantic theater. And it was all done in 118 pages.
This is why I need this book to be made into a film with Kenneth Braunnaugh ASAP. Because you have action, adventure, and find yourself saying "come on, Boys, come on" as the story rolls on.
This was one of the best books I read this year. Here's the thing. Anyone who's interested in military history, such as myself, already knows what happens. The Bismark is the latest fear-producing machine to come out of Germany, and it just happens to be the biggest warship in history (up to that point). It destroys the HMS Hood, the pride of the British Royal Navy, and severely damages the HMS Prince of Wales, which, if the Royal Navy had a throne, the PoW was the heir. With these two ships down and out for the count, the Bismark, and Germany, appear unstoppable. But we WW2 history nerds all know how the story ends: The Bismark is once again attacked by the British, and this time its steering takes damage, leading to its downfall in a blaze of gunfire on all sides from other ships in the Royal Navy who are now both royally pissed off, and in desperate need of a win.
As I said, anyone who studies military history knows these aren't spoilers. And now take the above paragraph, and write it as if you were imagining these events splayed across a large film screen. The pain felt by mothers at home when their sons are lost at sea, Winston Churchill speaking as only he can, and regular references to provided maps so you know exactly where all the players are in the Atlantic theater. And it was all done in 118 pages.
This is why I need this book to be made into a film with Kenneth Braunnaugh ASAP. Because you have action, adventure, and find yourself saying "come on, Boys, come on" as the story rolls on.
March 5, 2026
3.25 arrendondado
O Bismarck foi um encouraçado alemão, o maior e o mais poderoso navio da Kriegsmarine ("Marinha de Guerra"). A sua blindagem tinha 32 cm de espessura no casco, 5 cm no convés, 8 a 11 cm no convés de serviço interior e 12 polegadas em torno dos motores, caldeiras e depósitos de armamentos, para além de 22 compartimentos à prova d'água. Contudo, apesar de todo o seu armamento e blindagem, participou apenas numa única operação de grande porte na qual, após afundar o cruzador britânico Hood, foi destruído por uma grande força inglesa no Atlântico Norte em 27 de maio de 1941.
Fonte: worldhistory.org
O Bismarck foi um encouraçado alemão, o maior e o mais poderoso navio da Kriegsmarine ("Marinha de Guerra"). A sua blindagem tinha 32 cm de espessura no casco, 5 cm no convés, 8 a 11 cm no convés de serviço interior e 12 polegadas em torno dos motores, caldeiras e depósitos de armamentos, para além de 22 compartimentos à prova d'água. Contudo, apesar de todo o seu armamento e blindagem, participou apenas numa única operação de grande porte na qual, após afundar o cruzador britânico Hood, foi destruído por uma grande força inglesa no Atlântico Norte em 27 de maio de 1941.
“Em cem línguas diferentes, cabeçalhos de jornais proclamavam a milhões de leitores que o Bismarck fora afundado. Mulheres frívolas ouviram estas palavras sem lhes prestarem atenção; camponeses analfabetos ouviram-nas sem as compreender, apesar de o destino de todos eles se ter alterado nesse momento. Os especuladores da bolsa reanalisaram os seus planos. Primeiros-ministros e chefes de Estado tomaram tristemente nota destas palavras. Almirantes de dezenas de navios prepararam-se para escrever relatórios aconselhando os seus governos a tirar conclusões técnicas e políticas do acontecimento. E houve mulheres, mães e filhos que ouviram também estas palavras, tal como a mãe de Nobby ouvira falar no afundamento do Hood.”
Fonte: worldhistory.org
January 14, 2018
It's surprisingly short and bland story from Forrester, who is usually fantastic (The Good Shepherd is one of my favourite books). Understandably a bit jingoistic, but also a bit silly in its interpretation of some of the real historic characters, along with some generic fictional characters, in order to try to humanise the story. It would've been much better with the fictionalised characters if they were fleshed out much more than they ended up being.
Reads as part historical fiction/part documentary, but doesn't excel at either. Many non-fiction accounts of this battle are much better than what Forrester provided here.
Almost comes across as if he was writing with the intention of being made into a movie from the start.
Reads as part historical fiction/part documentary, but doesn't excel at either. Many non-fiction accounts of this battle are much better than what Forrester provided here.
Almost comes across as if he was writing with the intention of being made into a movie from the start.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2018
First off...understand that this is historical fiction, in spite of the books claim to be “the true story...”. The author offers a disclaimer that he created the conversations and some of the characters described in here. The author states, “This is as it may have happened.” He takes so much license in this regard that it can’t be considered non-fiction or history. It simply can’t.
It’s a fun book for your inner twelve year old...as was the 1960 movie based on it. That movie took extra license, having an extra British ship destroyed by Bismarck, and having it shot down three planes. The book didn’t go that far, thankfully.
So...there are likely better accounts, but for a 60 year old book, this wasn’t bad.
It’s a fun book for your inner twelve year old...as was the 1960 movie based on it. That movie took extra license, having an extra British ship destroyed by Bismarck, and having it shot down three planes. The book didn’t go that far, thankfully.
So...there are likely better accounts, but for a 60 year old book, this wasn’t bad.
April 21, 2021
C. S. Forrester’s “The Last Nine Days of the Bismarck” is a stunning novel, brief in length but rich in plot. Forrester’s deep understanding of naval literature allows for riveting scenes abreast and in battle, and his characters being second to the story itself does not detract from the excellence of their dialogue and writing. Taking views from both sides of the pursuit, “The Last Nine Days” makes you emphatically root for both the Kriegsmarine and Royal Navy, and the final scenes of battle are some of the most vehement and descriptive in any marine chronicle. The themes of tragedy and the futility of war are emphasized subtly throughout the novel, with Forrester humanizing both entities and displaying their heroism and resolve at every turn. Though the constant transition between belligerents can make certain sections of the book somewhat confusing, requiring more scrutiny to understand the events occurring, the switch between perspectives make the final blows upon the Bismarck all the more significant during the denouement of the story. Overall this book is nothing short of an epic, and though she has her flaws, the unique qualities of Forrester's writing make the scramble to sink the Bismarck incredibly exciting and worth reading.
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