Amazon.com description: Product Description: German warships: At the end of the first World War Germany was left with a very large and powerful Navy, but under the terms of the Armistice this was speedily disbanded. Rebuilding on a small scale began in 1921 and the Anglo-German Naval Treaty of 1934 allowed a limited tonnage to be constructed. By May 1938 Hitler had ordered a full scale rebuilding programme which he envisaged would put the Kriegsmarine ahead of the Royal navy by 1944/45. But the Royal navy programme was stepped up and hostilities began in 1939. Continuing the comprehensive series of reference books dealing with the great Navies that took part in the Second World War this book contains details of "fighting ships" of the German Navy. In addition details are included of those ships taken over from other countries and which served as an integral part of the German Navy.