Originally Posted by
blackhawknj
Hitler said he was a "coward" at sea, and his going to war in 1939 wrecked the Kriegsmarine's Z Plan which by 1944 would by 1944 would have given them a much more powerful and modern navy.
Luetjens made several serious mistakes- didn't top off his fuel tanks, of course no air cover-cf. Mussolini's comment that Italy need no aircraft carriers because the whole country was an unsinkable aircraft carrier.
One interesting little note. The actor Esmond Knight who played Captain Leach of the Prince of Wales-was on the bridge during the battle.
This May 24 is the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Denmark Strait.