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Battle for the Baltic Islands 1917: Triumph of the Imperial German Navy Hardcover – March 9, 2009

by Gary Staff (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 34 ratings
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In late 1917, the Russians, despite the revolution, were still willing to continue the war against Germany. This is an account of Operation Albion, the highly successful sea borne operation launched by the Germans to change their minds. The Baltic Islands were pivotal for the defense of the Finnish Gulf and St. Petersburg, so their capture was essential for any campaign towards the Russian capital. Only after the fall of the islands did Russia begin peace negotiations (freeing nearly half a million German soldiers for the Kaiser's last gamble on the Western Front). This then was a campaign of great significance for the war on both Eastern and Western fronts.

A large part of the High Sea Fleet took part in the invasion of the Baltic islands, including the most modern dreadnought battleships. The Russians mounted a resolute defense despite being heavily outgunned and over a ten day period there were many naval clashes around the islands as well as the campaign ashore, all of which are described in detail with the use of both Russian and German first hand accounts.

This book shatters the myth that the Imperial German Navy spent the last two years of the war cowering in port.
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    192 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Pen and Sword Maritime
  4. Publication date
    March 9, 2009
  5. Dimensions
    6.25 x 0.75 x 9.25 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1844157873
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1844157877
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"A very detailed operational account of the highly successful German amphibious landings in October of 1917 on the Russian islands of Osel and Dago, off what is now Lithuania…. Important reading for anyone interested in amphibious and joint operations."
The NYMAS Review Winter 2009

“German dreadnoughts battled a pair of Russian pre-dreadnoughts and
sank one. The actions, part of the successful Operation Albion with the German army, also enabled Finland to separate from Russia. The author used firsthand German and Russian accounts
to enhance the narrative.”
PowerShips

“This history of the German combined arms attack on the Baltic Islands should be a blueprint for other military history books. The book itself is less than 200 pages, but it is filled with maps (14) and has sixteen pages of photos (40 photos). The maps are some of the best I have seen in military books that were not an atlas. The author tells the story of the campaign from the smallest mine sweeper to the various battleships involved.”
A Wargamers Needful Things

About the Author

Gary Staff is a former airline pilot but he has been fascinated with naval history, and specifically with the Imperial German Navy (Kaiserlischmarine) for decades. He has visited archives in Britain, Germany and elsewhere to study, and often translate for the first time, official documents relating to this subject. His previous books for Pen & Sword are The Battle for the Baltic Islands 1917; Battle on the Seven Seas and German Battlecruisers of World War One. He lives in Australia.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pen and Sword Maritime (March 9, 2009)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 192 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1844157873
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1844157877
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.15 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.25 x 0.75 x 9.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 34 ratings

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Gary Staff

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
34 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Te Bada
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting
Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2019
Verified Purchase
A good description but the maps are too small to read on the ebook version.
One person found this helpful
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Kevin H.
4.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting book on a not so known WW I naval/land engagement.
Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2024
Verified Purchase
Nearly all WW I naval history accounts only cover the most well-known battles between the British and Germans, but I kept seeing very obscure and minor references to naval actions between Germany and Russia. This book is about one of those actions in the Baltic Sea involving no less than 10 German Dreadnoughts of the High Seas Fleet and 2 Russian battleships in 1917.

I removed 1-star due to the map illustrations not being all that well labeled with locations discussed in the text. An important aspect of this action was the battle for Moon Sound, but this location is never actually labeled on any of the maps.
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Chris the Train guy
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2015
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A good book on a very little remembered subject. The only complaint is it is too short.
One person found this helpful
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CSCincy
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2014
Verified Purchase
Well written account of a little-known, yet, at the time, potentially critical action in WWI.
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db2121
2.0 out of 5 stars Not well written
Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2010
Verified Purchase
Although I really appreciate the hard research work that went into this work on an overlooked campaign (and it really looks exhaustive) the author just isn't a good storyteller. Although this is a good work for naval historians, it does not seem to an easy read for the history aficiando. It does make you appreciate those authors of history who can really tell a story.
7 people found this helpful
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Gabriel Claudio Amigot
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2016
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Excellent
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Mim
5.0 out of 5 stars Well researched
Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2010
Battle for the Baltic Islands is an excellent book for anyone interested in the history of the Imperial Navies of Germany and Russia. It is very well written, and author Staff is an excellent story teller. His inclusion of many quotes from the time gives a real feel of the era, and brings the history alive. The book is meticulously researched with the author taking the time to investigate both sides of the story, and obviously both German archives and written work, and Russian reports and written work have been used to produce a balanced view. The author was also fortunate enough to know one of the participants personally, the late Vizeadmiral a.D. Friedrich Ruge.
This book is a must for any serious student of the naval history of the First World War. It sheds light on a largely forgotten operation that had far reaching effects, felt even today. There are many new photographs and the maps are excellent. I don't hesitate in recommending this book to all, a very well written story.
9 people found this helpful
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Timothy A. Seeley
3.0 out of 5 stars Technical, but enjoyable.
Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2021
Verified Purchase
This technical specialist work needed a full list of characters and geographic locations that the reader could observe and refer to. It also needed a separate maps index of color maps as well as it is laid out it is near impossible for reader to follow the action and track the progress of the forces involved. As a result the reading pace was far quicker than desired not allowing for detailed study. Overall, I give it three stars due to it's severe referencing and pacing issues.
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E. W. Sharman
5.0 out of 5 stars A little known battle in the first world war.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 13, 2023
Verified Purchase
A book which covers the actions of the imperial German navy and army towards the end of the war. The Baltic arena is little covered in most books on the WW1 and it should be more covered because of its affects even today. The writer shows how effective the German high command could be and even as the Russian empire was imploding some of its forces could still fight well under poor leadership.
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pompom
5.0 out of 5 stars À lire
Reviewed in France on January 2, 2020
Verified Purchase
Très bon livre dur un thème peu connu.Un must pour les "shiplovers".
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Maxim Kämmerer
5.0 out of 5 stars Ausgezeichnete Darstellung der Geschehnisse in der Ostsee im Oktober 1917
Reviewed in Germany on October 25, 2016
Verified Purchase
Das Werk hebt sich in seiner Genauigkeit wohltuend von moderneren deutschen Darstellungen ab, die jetzt nach hundert Jahren wieder wie Pilze aus dem Boden schießen, darunter insbesondere dem unsäglichen Machwerk von Witt und Jentzsch. Gary Staff hat sich der beträchtlichen Mühe unterzogen, die verfügbaren Berichte tatsächlich zu sichten und auszuwerten und so dem Leser ein authentischen Bericht über die Geschehnisse in der Ostsee im Oktober 1917 geliefert. Viele dieser Einzelheiten finden sich selbstverständlich auch in dem noch umfangreicheren Seekrieg in der Ostsee 1914-18, aber das deutsche Admiralstabswerk ist seit siebzig Jahren nicht mehr verfügbar, weil das Bundesarchiv der Marine als Inhaber der Rechte kein Interesse daran zeigt, es im Druck zu halten, und statt dessen offenbar Darstellungen finanziert, die so gut sind, dass darin sogar munter von einer Teilnahme des Flottenflaggschiffs Baden an der Operation Albion fabuliert wird, die es tatsächlich nie gegeben hat. Von solchen Fiktionen kann hier keine Rede sein. Gary Staffs Buch gibt detailliert und sachgetreu wieder, was sich tatsächlich abgespielt hat und kreiert so ein lebendiges Bild der Geschichte, das auch heute noch zu fesseln weiß. Der Autor beschränkt sich bewusst auf die beschriebene Operation Albion und überlässt es wohl mit Absicht dem Leser, daraus Schlüsse über die Zusammenhänge zum Beispiel mit der wenig später ausbrechenden Oktoberrevolution zu ziehen, worüber Historiker natürlich trefflich streiten können, und es gibt auch kleinere Holprigkeiten bei der Übersetzung deutscher Fachbegriffe ins Englische, aber an der hohen Qualität und Akribie der Darstellung kann nicht der geringste Zweifel bestehen.
7 people found this helpful
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David McIntyre
4.0 out of 5 stars Not easily read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 10, 2011
Verified Purchase
This book is not easily read,written in official history style you must commit the maps to memory in order to follow the text,this is made livelier by accounts from Russian as well as German participants,it is fair to both sides,although not much is said about the people who lived on the islands,it would be fascinating to know what they made of it all.The description of the land fighting is not the best i have ever read.Two Russian pre-dreadnoughts against a number of German dreadnoughts,not a good outlook for one side,mines and shallow water allowing a Russia already in political chaos, descending into civil war to put up a good fight. The loss of the Slava is well described and for me the highlight of the book,after being scuttled demolition charges were placed in the after magazine, this blew of the turret roof,as can be seen on the photograph of the wreck but is not pointed out in the caption,this is one of a good selection of photographs.A very detailed book but like most of the books about the great war in the Baltic including those about the Royal Navy,for the dedicated.
11 people found this helpful
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