Hitler, The Bismarck And The Battle Of Crete.

I believe Hitler used the Bismarck as a decoy to draw British warships out of the Mediterranean so he could invade Crete.

 

But the Bismarck was sunk a week after the battle of Crete had already begun?

 

The Bismarck set sail on May 19th.

 

It was sunk on the 27th May 1941 and battle of Crete began on 20th May 1941.

 

The British did pull warships out at that time.

 

HMS Hood was sunk May 24th.

 

As I recall the allies had by then cracked the enigma code and knew the Germans were going to invade Crete.

The problem for the Kriegsmarine was that they didn't have enough ships, even if those they did have were very impressive. Both Bismark and Scharnhorst were sunk by small fleets of British ships. Both faced their fate alone. Something that should never have happened.

 

They were at disadvantage any way. Germany's geographical situation did not lend it self very well for a open ocean navy. To Hitler they were sacrificial pawns.