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Geir H. Haarr
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The Gathering Storm: The Naval War in Northern Europe September 1939 - April 1940 Kindle Edition

by Geirr H Haarr (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 41 ratings
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“A top-of-the-line examination of operations in north European waters during the first eight months of [WWII] . . . by far the best work on that subject.”—Stone & Stone
 
The term “the phony war” is often applied to the first months of the Second World War, a term suggesting inaction or passivity. That may have been the perception of the war on land, but at sea it was very different. This new book is a superb survey of the fierce naval struggles, from 1939 up to the invasion of Norway in April 1940.
 
The author begins the book with the sinking of the German fleet at Scapa Flow in 1919 and then covers the rebuilding of the Kriegsmarine and parallel developments in the Royal Navy and summarizes relevant advances in European navies. The main part of the book then describes the actions at sea starting with the fall of Poland. There is a complex, intertwined narrative that follows. The sinking of Courageous, the German mining of the British East Coast, the Northern Patrol, the sinking of Rawalpindi, small ship operations in the North Sea and German Bight, the Altmark incident are all covered. Further afield the author deals with the German surface raiders and looks at the early stages of the submarine war in the Atlantic.
 
As with his previous books, Geirr Haarr has researched extensively in German, British, and other archives, and the work is intended to paint a balanced and detailed picture of this significant period of the war when the opposing naval forces were adapting to a form of naval warfare quite different to that experienced in WWI.
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  1. Print length
    1091 pages
  2. Language
    English
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  4. Publisher
    Seaforth Publishing
  5. Publication date
    September 24, 2013
  6. File size
    145707 KB
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Geirr H. Haarr lives in Stavanger, Norway and travels extensively in his capacity as an industrial executive, working in environmental project development. Combining his academic training, research skills and a passion for naval history, he has delved into some of the more exciting aspects of the naval history of WWII in Europe.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00ME3JO76
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Seaforth Publishing (September 24, 2013)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 24, 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 145707 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 1091 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 41 ratings

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Geir H. Haarr

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Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
41 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

James Copeland
5.0 out of 5 stars Through book
Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2021
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Thick book, worth reading
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James V. Maclean
5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding!
Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2014
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One of the best histories written in regards to naval warfare during the first year of WWII. If you are unfamiliar with the work of Geirr Haarr you should read his two volume account of the Norwegian Campaign, one of the best accounts written on this forgotten theater. I am hoping Haarr continues this series and covers each year of the war. Keep in mind The Gathering Storm only covers the war in Northern Europe. So if you are searching for an account of the Battle of the River Plate, you will need to look elsewhere. The book is well worth the investment!
7 people found this helpful
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mj swarts
5.0 out of 5 stars A great book full of new information
Reviewed in the United States on November 30, 2013
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fantastic book, it carried me completely away. No phoney war at sea in 1939-1940 (as mr Haarr rightly states). Whats more, he s a very good writer. Lots of information I didnt ever heard of. Great research, here no rewriting of older books. Im glad I can start with his two other books about the (sea) fighting around Norway. If you are interested in the war at sea buy and read it!
I hope to hear much more from Mr. Haarr in the future.
btw look at the fabulous cover illustration by Anthony Cowland
14 people found this helpful
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fletchmed
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic coverage of an often neglected area.
Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2013
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I have always had a great interest in the naval war in Europe in World War II. However, most books are usually just another rendition about the U-boat war or the Bismarck. This book is an extensively detailed yet highly readable account of the first year of the war. The research is great. It gives a great explanation of the planning before the war and how the subsequent battles unfolded. I know of no other book that covers this era of naval war, let alone covers it this well.
17 people found this helpful
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John Boyer
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Narrative !
Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2013
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Just an excellent book. Well written and graphically illustrated by a professional. The extensive detail highlights the little known battles of the first year of World War II. It is an historian's treasure. The research is great. I personally know of no other books that cover this part of World War II. To Mr. Haar...Thanks for writing it.
6 people found this helpful
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javier
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2018
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A new book from a specialist in the North Sea and Norway campaign of the first years of WWII.
One person found this helpful
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Bayard B.
5.0 out of 5 stars First rate. I definitely recommend for people interested in the Naval operational aspects of the early part of WW II in Europe.
Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2015
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Great book on the subject. The level of detail is astounding. The book describes British and German naval operations. Nothing on technological development or performance of ships, which was OK with me--I have plenty of other books on that subject..
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

birchden
5.0 out of 5 stars An important work
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 12, 2015
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More than 75 years after the events detailed in this work, there may be some people who will question whether there is much new to say (or even worth saying) about naval operations during the so-called phoney war. Mr Haarr's latest book, however, more than proves such critics wrong.

Beginning with some excellent scene setting chapters, the book then takes us through to the verge of the invasion of Norway in April 1940, focussing on various aspects of the naval war in turn. One of the particular strengths of this book is that it sets the events in their strategic and operational context, but at the same time provides some nice anecdotal touches that give the reader some idea of what it was actually like to be involved in the actions described.

The chapter dealing with the Altmark is a good example of the strength of Mr Haarr's work. Looking beyond the dated and propagandistic "the Navy's here" view of the incident, he provides the reader with a cool and balanced account of the boarding itself and the events that led up to it, as well as pointing out some of the legal issues involved. At the same time, he also puts some flesh on the principal characters involved, like the austere Captain Dau and his antagonist, Captain Vian.

The book also reminds us of the darker side of this naval conflict, as when the German minesweeper M1 cruelly rammed several Danish fishing craft on night in February 1940 on the speculative basis that their crews might have been gathering intelligence for the British. The officer responsible did not even get a reprimand.

Mr Haarr rounds things off with a interesting analysis of the naval war up until April 1940, which will no doubt provide a starting point for some lively debate and discussion. I won't spoil things by saying any more here - see what you think.

Along the way are some useful maps, that provide just the right amount of detail to support the text and a variety of interesting photos, many of which will be unfamiliar even to the keener amateur naval historian. As one would expect in a serious work of this type, there are some useful appendices, the main one giving rather a depressing list of merchant vessel losses; in addition there is a good index and an equally useful bibliography.

This is a certainly a book to buy rather borrow than thanks to its general interest, readability and reference value. It's also a book that is almost certain to contain some new information of interest for the majority of readers. And yet...and yet there are one or two minor quibbles.

One the one hand, there are various minor errors, for example implying that Germany's K-class cruisers were purely-diesel ships and describing the action between Renown and Gneisenu / Scharnhorst as the first Anglo-German battlecruiser action since Dogger Bank. Additionally, to say that Ark Royal's flight deck was unarmoured "for some reason" is hardly very satisfcatory in a work of this nature.

On the other hand, the occasional use of German words like Zerstörer and Kapitän in what is after all an English language book seems somewhat inconsistent and does not really add any meaning to the story.

Much to his credit, Mr Haarr invites comments and corrections, so perhaps these issues can be addressed in a future revised edition - which richly deserves to be published as this book is far too good to be a one-shot effort.
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C. J. Riches
5.0 out of 5 stars Another Excellent Work
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 24, 2014
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Having thoroughly enjoyed the previous works by Geirr Haarr I had no hesitation in purchasing this and have not been disappointed. There is ample detail in the work, covering all aspects of the war at sea in the first few months of the war - surface engagements, the early attempts to make effective use of airpower, submarines, mines, raiders etc. It is lucidly presented and concentrates on operational/tactical aspects without wandering off into political or grand strategy. There are a healthy supply of very clear maps, and a good selection of photographs. What is very pleasing in these days of "rush to publish" is that the layout has been well-thought out with the photos and maps appropriately positioned with the text.

The chapters progress chronologically apart from ones devoted to a particular topic (eg air power), but this doesn't make the overall thread loses track of the broader picture. Quotes bring the actions to life, and there is also analysis about whether particular decisions were the right choices. I have no concerns about the quality of the research that has gone into the book, and even where I thought I had spotted an error, on re-reading it was I who was wrong.

There are a series of appendices, some of which are convenient to include but obtainable elsewhere (ships sunk, ships in a particular force) but also including a list of German ships intercepted by the Royal Navy (which I'd never really given much thought to).

For those with an interest in naval matters in the war, it provides a very readable volume with in-depth handling of a dynamic period.
11 people found this helpful
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Henk Beentje
5.0 out of 5 stars This is how military history should be - lucid, detailed, well-written
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 1, 2014
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September 1939 to April 1940 was the 'phony war' on land, but certainly not on the sea - and this deals with the war in the waters between Britain, Germany and Scandinavia, and the northern Atlantic. There was plenty of action here from day one: U-boats sinkings ships from the Athenia to HMS Royal Oak; commerce raiders such as the Deutschland (later the Lutzow), mine warfare, the Northern Patrol, the Altmark, and the preparations for the invasion of Norway. Actually, this invasion could have been by Great Britain and France, just as well: troops had already been embarked! Haarr describes all this in detail, with many photographs of both ships and actions, and with a good supply of maps as well. It ends with the actual invasion, described by this same author in his earlier books (The German invasion of Norway; the battle for Norway).

My opinion: this is how military history should be. Detailed and based on plenty of research, but still with a solid overview; covering politics and war, ships and personalities, but remaining lucid and very well-written. Very well illustrated (with many photos from the authors' own collection) and with plenty of clear maps - for me, this is as good as it gets. I will buy anything from this author, from now on, sight unseen!
11 people found this helpful
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Michael K.
5.0 out of 5 stars Gives a very good understanding of the naval events during the 'Phoney War'.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 25, 2019
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Having enjoyed the author's two books on the German assault on Norway, I looked forward to this one, subtitled 'The Naval War in Northern Europe September 1939 - April 1940'. As expected, it takes the reader from the invasion of Poland up to the opening moves of the invasion of Norway and dovetails nicely with his works on Norway. The author covers all naval aspects of the period, including u-boat, mine and aerial warfare, notable sinkings (e.g. Athenia, Courageous, Royal Oak and Rawalpindi) and the boarding of the Altmark.
It is the same, large size format as the other two books and equally as well researched and written. The narrative is well supported with photographs and maps. I recommend it.
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R. Stewart
5.0 out of 5 stars This is an excellent book, so well written
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 21, 2017
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This is an excellent book ,so well written , great detail which is not hard to read and digest. (The author has a good writing style ).
For me the invasion of Norway is something which I had an awareness of rather than an in depth knowledge, this book is really overdue for me and I do regret missing its publication for some time.
The book may now be rather expensive and hard to find but if you can find one for an affordable price it is very well worth buying.
The author has three books on the invasion , this is the first one.
Excellent.
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