Georg von Hase

Very intersting book. Written by Georg von Hase. Commander von Hase was the First Gunnery Officer of the German Battle-Cruiser 'Derfflinger'. This ship fought at the Battle of Jutland in 1916. The author had also been appointed aide-de-camp to British Vice-Admiral Warrender during the British Fleet's one week visit to Kiel in 1914, just prior to the start of WWI. The subject of his book therefore is his experience with the British Fleet at Kiel and his experience fighting the British Fleet at Jutland.

Even though an Imperial German Naval Officer, von Hase clearly tried to present an impartial view of both experiences. He gives the British credit in many areas during the narrative, as of course he does for the Imperial German Navy. His work was particularly interesting to me in the way he explained the workings of a German Battle Cruiser. von Hase covers these aspects in the mechanics of the ship's gunnery procedures as well as the tactics of a battle-crusier in action.

An easy read, without too much detail in which to get lost. I recommend it. I have read several books on the Battle of Jutland (Battle of Skagerrak to the Germans). This is one of the more interesting because it deals with the activity on one specific ship in the action. The 'Derfflinger' was in the thick of the fight between the opposing battle-cruisers.… (altro)