'The Naval Flank of the Western Front'

[yperman]

Good morning,

 

I have just finished Mark D Karou's above book. It gives a fascinating view of the German side of naval warfare and sea defences in the Dover Strait. His research seems to agree with Admiral  Bacon on the potential (but in the event wasted) threat from German destroyers and with Keyes that the 'barrier of light' introduced with deep mines made the English Channel impassable for submarines by 1918 - though he also points out that Bacon was justified in his concern for the safety of the light ships (as demonstrated by the German destroyer raid in February 1918).

 

One of the most interesting areas, for me at any rate, is his account of the 'in-fighting' over resources and control  between the German navy and army and even between the light forces based in Flanders and the High Seas Fleet.

 

He also makes quite a strong case for Passchendaele - if you accept his analysis then the Admiralty were fully behind Haig's planned breakout of the salient.

 

I strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in this area.

 

Yperman