Tirpitz Quotes

“The men had to wear masks to breathe. Gerlach did not realize that most of the men around him had already fled, as they had understood what was soon was to happen. Only when the photo of his fiancée fell to the floor and the glass was broken did he look around and see that only one other man remained in the room,”
― Michael Tamelander, Tirpitz: The Life and Death of Germany's Last Super Battleship

“The operation—which was called “Planet”—was cancelled. On 15 May, another attempt called “Brawn” was cancelled due to bad weather, after the Barracudas had already started from the carriers. Certainly, the harsh northern weather was turning out to be the Tirpitz’s first line of defense. Barely ten days after the second attempt to repeat Tungsten, a third attempt called Operation Tiger Claw was cancelled”
― Michael Tamelander, Tirpitz: The Life and Death of Germany's Last Super Battleship

“Her crew must have been dismayed when it was informed of the Scharnhorst’s fate. The two battleships had been moored near each other for almost two months, and the crews had gotten to know each other. They had trained together, played soccer tournaments together, and associated together in other ways. Now, only half of them remained.”
― Michael Tamelander, Tirpitz: The Life and Death of Germany's Last Super Battleship

“Hintze knew what it all meant. At 18.25 he sent a message to Berlin and Hitler: “We will fight to the last shell.”643”
― Michael Tamelander, Tirpitz: The Life and Death of Germany's Last Super Battleship

“Considering the affection most commanders develop for their ship, it is laudable that Meyer did not vent any wrath on the prisoners. Rather, he ensured that they did not suffer the fate that befell the unfortunate Evans after Operation Title. “They will not tell us anything,” he said on the same day as these men had seriously damaged his ship. “Further interrogations are pointless. Give them food and then allow them to sleep. They have deserved it.”
― Michael Tamelander, Tirpitz: The Life and Death of Germany's Last Super Battleship

“Meyer’s decision to use the chains to move the bow sideways saved the battleship from much of the impact. Due to the maneuver, the three mines placed below the forward turrets detonated about sixty meters from the ship. Only the mine jettisoned below the aft turrets by Place exploded where it was intended.583”
― Michael Tamelander, Tirpitz: The Life and Death of Germany's Last Super Battleship

“The officer who was about to question Lorimer was neither an experienced interrogator nor fluent in English. Evidently, he found Lorimer’s age important, thus he began the interrogation with the words: “You were born?”579 Lorimer confirmed that he had indeed been born,”
― Michael Tamelander, Tirpitz: The Life and Death of Germany's Last Super Battleship

“The slow German reaction on this momentous day was partly the consequence of numerous false alarms.”
― Michael Tamelander, Tirpitz: The Life and Death of Germany's Last Super Battleship

“Hitler was very dissatisfied. He began with a 90-minute monologue, wherein he poured out criticism on the role played by the German Navy since 1860. In particular, he focused on its morale and willingness to fight, which he described in disparaging terms. This undoubtedly grieved Raeder.451”
― Michael Tamelander, Tirpitz: The Life and Death of Germany's Last Super Battleship

“Nevertheless, the ship he had chosen as a target was unlucky. Whether the German crew released the torpedo in panic or cold-blooded calculation will probably never be known. It left its mountings and entered a hatch on the American Wacosta without ever touching the water, exploding inside the ship.”
― Michael Tamelander, Tirpitz: The Life and Death of Germany's Last Super Battleship

“The admiral immediately came up with a solution. “What you need is a reindeer to pull the carriage,” he suggested with a grin. When the Trident was about to depart, a sack from the admiral was handed over as a surprise gift to Sladen. He presumed that it contained some extra food, took it into the submarine and weighed anchor. When at sea, the sack was opened and the astonished seamen found a tightly-lashed reindeer calf.”
― Michael Tamelander, Tirpitz: The Life and Death of Germany's Last Super Battleship

“When the corvette Poppy passed along the American ship Bellingham, the commander of the warship asked if the merchant ship wanted to be escorted. He received the reply: “Go to hell!”
― Michael Tamelander, Tirpitz: The Life and Death of Germany's Last Super Battleship

“Perhaps the British had feared an even worse outcome when QP13 sailed west. If so, the loss of 5 out of 35 merchant ships might be regarded as some sort of success, but the fact that all the losses had been caused by their own mistakes was scoffing.”
― Michael Tamelander, Tirpitz: The Life and Death of Germany's Last Super Battleship

“30 April, Lieutenant Max-Martin Teichert maneuvered his U-456 into firing position and released a salvo against the British cruiser Edinburgh, which was hit by two torpedoes. Her cargo included four and a half tons of gold, payment for the British aid to the Soviet Union.”
― Michael Tamelander, Tirpitz: The Life and Death of Germany's Last Super Battleship

“If a German reconnaissance aircraft were observed, the Hurricane would be launched to shoot down the enemy, but the plane could not be landed after the attack. The only option available to the pilot was to parachute from the aircraft and hope that some of the escort ships would pick him up.”
― Michael Tamelander, Tirpitz: The Life and Death of Germany's Last Super Battleship

“The Empire Howard, carrying a cargo of ammunition, was hit by two torpedoes from U-403, commanded by Lieutenant Heinz-Ehlert Clausen. When the ammunition it carried on board exploded, the freighter was cut in half. Out of her crew of 55, about 40 men jumped into the water, where they hoped to be saved. Unfortunately, one of the escort ships rolled depth charges at the same moment, and when the shock wave from the detonations reached the men floating in their life vests their bones were broken and inner organs crushed. Some men were lucky enough to only suffer unconsciousness, while others were killed instantly. Nine of the 18 bodies rescued were already dead when they were hauled on board.204 The”
― Michael Tamelander, Tirpitz: The Life and Death of Germany's Last Super Battleship

“Murmansk. At last, the British cruiser reached Murmansk, where an inspection of the damage suggested that she had been hit by a British torpedo whose steering gear had probably malfunctioned in the severe cold.”
― Michael Tamelander, Tirpitz: The Life and Death of Germany's Last Super Battleship

“attack was launched in the evening, and at 23.04 the air-raid warning sounded on the Tirpitz. The Flak defenses opened fire as the British airmen strived hard to hit the target, but the results were indeed meagre. Only the remains of a flare actually hit the battleship”
― Michael Tamelander, Tirpitz: The Life and Death of Germany's Last Super Battleship

“In December 1941, six Italian divers had sneaked through the defenses of the port of Alexandria and seriously damaged the British battleships Valiant and Queen Elizabeth.”
― Michael Tamelander, Tirpitz: The Life and Death of Germany's Last Super Battleship

“Hitler regarded losses of major naval vessels as a severe blow to his prestige.”
― Michael Tamelander, Tirpitz: The Life and Death of Germany's Last Super Battleship

“Admiral Ciliax returned to the bridge. He was impressed by Topp’s maneuvers, and was probably slightly ashamed of his impulse ten minutes earlier. Loudly, he praised the captain before all present at the bridge. “You maneuvered meritoriously, Topp,” he said. “Lucky ship!”67”
― Michael Tamelander, Tirpitz: The Life and Death of Germany's Last Super Battleship

“Topp ordered a sharp turn to port, but at this stage Vice Admiral Ciliax almost made a grave mistake. “No!” he shouted. “Steer hard-a-starboard.” The helmsman—who was well aware that Topp, not Ciliax, should give such orders—hesitated and stared at Topp. “I command this ship, Admiral—not you!” Topp”
― Michael Tamelander, Tirpitz: The Life and Death of Germany's Last Super Battleship

“It was almost a quarter to ten on the beautiful Sunday of 12 November 1944—the morning that witnessed the destruction of the battleship Tirpitz. Tirpitz during sea trials in the Baltic Sea, summer 1941.”
― Michael Tamelander, Tirpitz: The Life and Death of Germany's Last Super Battleship