This series covers the capital ships of the German Navy of World War II, this volume examines the design, development and operational use of the battleships used by the Kriegsmarine. The Schlesien and Schleswig-Holstein were used mostly as training ships until the end of the war when they took part in bombardment of Soviet troop movements in East Prussia. Bismarck's short but glorious career and Tirpitz's lonely vigil in Norway's distant fjords until sunk by RAF bombers using the massive Tallboy bombs are also covered.