The German Navy in the Nazi Era

The final verdict on the identification of the German navy of WWII with the policies of the NSDAP has been clouded by the major requirements of the Cold War and the need for personal comfort by the survivors of that service. There was a photo caption from Life magazine in the prewar period that has always stuck with me, "We have the Imperial Army, the Republican Navy, and the Nazi Air force."
When the war was over, the survivors of that navy tried, as far as possible, to make that caption seem real. They tried to emphasize the differences between the Navy and the Nazis, and distance themselves from the racism, and dismiss the unrestricted submarine warfare as something that could be defined as "just following orders, sir." But some show more awkward facts intruded: As early in the war as 1936 the Nazi salute an salutation could be used by serving personnel, and the head of the German Navy was chosen to succeed Hitler after his suicide. Hitler defined Doenitz as the most loyal member of his high command.
Charles S. Thomas published his book in 1990, and it carefully traces the connection of the Navy to the NSDAP. The footnoting is copious, and the argument, that the German Navy was no less engaged with Nazism than the Air Force, is demonstrated to my satisfaction. It is not concerned with operations at sea, but follows the training and the political actions of the Navy during the Nazi years. A solid historical work covering a difficult period for Germans, with a realistic point of view, I'd buy it if I could afford it. show less