February 25, 2008
Notes: David S. Kidder, Noah D. Oppenheim: The Intellectual Devotional p.260
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Updated February 25, 2008
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We all recognize that historical statement. We many not be able to place it right away.
I knew it was about a naval battle in the early parts of Word War II. But I pondered, who was Bismark?
Otto von Bismark (1815-1898) was a politician born in Prussia who unified many separate states that resulted after the fall of the Holy Roman Empire. He used threats of force and diplomacy to quell opposition to unification. In 1870 he provoked war with France to show how unification would benefit the unorganized smaller states within Germany. After Prussia’s victory the next year, a unified German Empire resulted.
In order to enforce unity, with Kaiser Whilhelm I’s blessing, Bismark began a common currency for the new united nation of Germany. He enacted a single set of laws for Germany as well.
After Wilhelm I’s death, Wilhelm II took the throne. He forced Bismark out. Afterwards, Germany’s foreign policy declined and resulted in Germany’s entrance into World War I. The end of the German Empire was assured.
In 1941, the German ship Bismark was a 41,000 ton ship which went against the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922, calling for a maximum of 35,000 ton ships to be built. Fully laden, the Bismark and her sister ship the Tirpitz, would each displace more the 50,000 tons each.
The Bismark embarked on her first mission on May 14, 1941. The objectives were plentiful: to destroy Allied shipping, to compensate for their lack of submarines in the North Atlantic, and the force to British ships from the Mediterranean, thereby benefiting a planned invasion of Crete and allowing Romel to cross into Libya.
On May 23rd, the Bismark was detected by British ships HMS Suffolk and HMS Norfolk. They Royal Navy were making patrols around the Denmark Strait. They exchanged heavy firing. The British ships, seeing that they were overmatched, decided to pull out and lay low to await reinforcements.
The next morning, two more Royal Navy ships approached, one of which was the HMS Hood.
At a distance of 11 miles, the Bismark opened fire on the Hood. It didn’t take long before the Hood received a direct hit, which resulted in an explosion. The Hood broke into two parts, then sank in a manner of minutes. It was later thought the her magazines were hit by a 15” shell from the Bismark. Over Over 1,400 British men went down with the Hood. Only three survived.
The Bismark received several hits. The ship had several mechanical problems, and many of the guns were useless after this encounter. The Bismark turned to head for home, leaving a long oil slick.
The Royal Navy, including the Norfolk, Suffolk and Prince of Wales, followed the wounded Bismark. At some point, the Bismark was temporarily lost by the Royal Navy. However, due to a lengthy radio transmission from the Bismark to their headquarters on May 26th, the Bismark was again found.
Finally, a torpedo was launched by a Royal Airforce plane that destroyed the Bismark’s steering capabilities. The Bismark was now a sitting duck.
On the morning of the 27th, with the daylight displaying the location of the helpless Bismark, the British pounded her for 45 minutes. The Bismark’s guns were quiet. After a few more torpedo strikes, the Bismark finally went down.
Two British ships attempted to rescue the survivors. They were able to rescue approximately 110 people before U-boat alarms signaled. The British fleet abruptly vacated the position. Nearly 2,100 German sailors died with the ship.
Due to many German-Americans in North Dakota, the capital city of Bismark came to be.
