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June 18, 2025 11 mins

In May 1941, the Royal Navy launched one of the most relentless and emotional naval pursuits in history. Their target? The Bismarck, the pride of the Nazi fleet and the battleship that had just sunk HMS Hood, killing over 1,400 British sailors in mere minutes.

This episode dives deep into the epic chase that followed: a saga of vengeance, codebreaking, aerial strikes, and raw naval power. From the icy Denmark Strait to the stormy waters of the Atlantic, we follow the Bismarck’s final voyage and the resolve of a nation determined to send her to the bottom.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • Why the sinking of HMS Hood sent Britain into national mourning

  • How Churchill’s iconic command—“Sink the Bismarck!”—rallied a navy

  • The daring Swordfish biplane strike that crippled the Bismarck’s rudder

  • The brutal final battle and the debate over scuttling vs. shellfire

  • How Robert Ballard’s 1989 discovery shed light on the ship’s last moments

  • Why this story still captures imaginations through film, song, and myth

 

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SPONSORED BY THE PODCAST REPUBLIC: https://www.podcastrepublic.net/ 

 

LEARN MORE AT: www.historyshortspodcast.com

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SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.patreon.com/c/HistoryShortsPodcast

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