The Naval War in the Baltic 1939-1945 - Poul Grooss

This review has been submitted to the Canadian Naval Review.

Title: The Naval War in the Baltic 1939-1945

Author: Poul Grooss

ISBN: 978-1-5267-0000-1

Publisher: Seaforth Publishing

Year: 2017

Hardcover

Pages: 400

Photos/Maps: 136/17

When one thinks of the naval elements of World War Two, the two regions that come immediately to mind are the Atlantic and Pacific theatres; and for good reason as they were the scenes of titanic clashes never before experienced in the annals of naval history. However, for the Eastern and Northern Fronts, it was the Baltic that held the attention of the Scandinavian, Soviet and German combatants. It was here that the lifeblood of German iron ore, nickel and other key resources flowed from neutral Sweden, where the Germans trained their u-boat crews, safe from Allied bombers and surface combatants, undertook weapons trials from Peenemunde and where they were able to support and influence allies such as the Baltic States and Finland in their war efforts. For the Soviets, it was the environment to counter German efforts and spread their influence free from the direct influence of the West, the struggle for Leningrad and a theatre that represented an ongoing threat to their northern flank.

Relatively speaking, little is known/remembered in the West about the struggle that unfolded in the expanse of the Baltic; however, Grooss has encapsulated the regional war in a way that clarifies and condenses the conflict into a manageable and easily comprehensible format. This work is the result of a many decades long research project formalized into book form. Originally printed in his native Dutch, the translation into English comes across, at times, as a little wooden. This does not take away however, from the superb level of research and detail that is imparted. Replete with hundreds of rare photographs spread throughout the book and superb regional maps, the work is a pleasure to read.

What is fascinating about the region was the close proximity (relatively speaking) of countries with very different political interests. Grooss does an excellent job of relating the high wire diplomatic acts carried out by Sweden, Finland and Denmark as the war progressed towards its final curtain. The role of Sweden during the war is of particular interest as it acted very much (from a political perspective) as a northern Switzerland; a base for diplomacy and espionage.

An added bonus to his work are the ‘explanatory text-boxes’ that he adds throughout the book to provide greater understanding for a particular subject (such as mines and how they work, or torpedoes and torpedo firing methodologies as examples). Without breaking up the narrative, he is able to explain some of these complex systems, thereby adding depth and breadth to the discussion.

Seafold has produced a book of very high quality; certainly worthy of the comprehensive and detailed account of one of World War Two’s lesser known but significant theatres of the war. Dedicated historians and casual dabblers alike will find elements of this book to their taste. Grooss may add his name to a growing list of regional authors who have done justice to the memory of those who came before.