The first naval battle of World War II unfolded not in Europe, but off the coasts of Argentina and Uruguay in the South Atlantic Ocean. With Germany lacking major warships at the war’s outset, the ...

WWII German helmet decals aren’t just paint—they’re pieces of history. In this video, we explore the different types, meanings, and placement of decals used on German helmets, including Wehrmacht, SS, ...

An illustration of a magnifying glass. An illustration of a magnifying glass.

Looking around the world, at friendly and rival regimes alike, Hitler’s Nazi government recognized there existed a yawning gap between their growing Kriegsmarine and the navies of Britain ...

Founded in 1938, the OKW superseded the Reich Ministry of War, overseeing the army (Heer), navy (Kriegsmarine), and air force (Luftwaffe). These soldiers are part of the Azov Assault Brigade ...

While U-Boats were a cause of concern for Allied forces crossing the waters of the Atlantic, by far the most famous ship in the Kriegsmarine was the Battleship Bismarck. So famous was it ...

Today we’re exploring a particularly interesting and little considered aspect of the naval history of the Second World War, the relationship between Hitler and the Kriegsmarine. Hitler was the ...

An illustration of a magnifying glass. An illustration of a magnifying glass.

Supported by French, Norwegian and Polish allies, the British fleet wrought terrible damage on its German counterpart, the Kriegsmarine, in the icy waters of Scandinavia. So sizeable was that damage, ...

During the planned mission, which was codenamed “Operation Wikinger,” Luftwaffe pilots would escort Kriegsmarine vessels to the area. The naval sortie began on February 19, 1940. The six destroyers ...

The two ships were the largest and most powerful warships Germany had ever built and represented the pride of the Kriegsmarine. They were also the German surface fleet's biggest threat to Allied ...