May 1941 · The North Atlantic
Bismarck1941
Germany sent Bismarck into the Atlantic to threaten Britain’s shipping. The operation became a pursuit that cost both navies far more than a ship.
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1940
Bismarck off Blankenese, as dated by the archive. This view predates the May 1941 operation.
Bundesarchiv, Bild 193-04-1-26 / CC-BY-SA 3.0; Commons restoration by Hohum · Source · CC BY-SA 3.0 de · Resized and compressed web copy
Commons supplies a restored version; its history records brightening and cleanup.
Hood is lost in the Denmark Strait.
A torpedo attack disables Bismarck’s steering.
The final action and the rescue of survivors.
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Begin with the background and follow the events through to their consequences, or choose a chapter below. Ships, aircraft and source documents are connected throughout.
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After Hood disappeared, the battle became a struggle to stay together in the water.
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