A nazi party member? Of course not. A nazi in his mind. Maybe, we do not have a psichologycal test of him that states whether he was a convinced nazi or not. Marshal Walther von Reichenau was a convinced nazi and party member. Marshal Ernst Busch was a convinced nazi, but not a party member. Marshal Erwin Rommel did not like the nazi party but he DID like the Führer all his endeavours and achievements. So did Lütjens. Not national-socialists themselves but indeed some admirors of the main nazi man...
It's a pity that Hitler had betrayed so many people who had faith on him...
Yes, not necessarily big commanders had great ego. I agree with you about Bradley and can tell you that marshals Von Runstedt and Paulus were not egotistical either.
And now, I do not agree. Lütjens maybe did not have recent combat experience, but he did not need it. He was simply brilliant. He cheated the British over and over again when he escaped the RAF reconaissence flights, the RN light cruiser chase, when he turned 180º and then another 180º to allow the
Prinz Eugen to sneak into the Atlantic, etc., etc. And if Lútjens decided to leave the
Prince of Wales alone was because his orders specifically said that is was not
Bismarck's tasks to fight the British Navy, but to attack the convoys. Maybe the
Prince of Wales would have been sunk but the
Bismarck and the
Prinz Euegen would have been damaged and after that, chased and sunk. The Royal Navy could afford losing the
Hood and the
Prince of Wales and other ships as well. The Kriegsmarine could not afford to lose one ship. What Lütjens did was following Grand Admiral Raeder's strict orders and acting cautiosly and wisely. Another propaganda victory was not worth it, a whole supplies convoy sunk was a major blow to the British war effort.
And vice admiral Holland, even if he had recent combat experience made the enormous mistake of getting into battle in a frontal way, so it's stern turrets could not be used...
Lütjens never did such a thing. He was not that obsessed with the power of his mighty ship as portayed in the film. He knew his weaknesses.
Quote:
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A Captain of a ship is THE commander of the ship.
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No. the HIGHEST RANKING officer is the commander of the ship. I try to imagine admiral Horatio Nelson not commanding the
Victory because it was not his ship...
Again, we do not have Lútjen's psychological analisis to know whether he felt shafted or wanted to impress his superiors... that is not a real fact to doubt about his command capabilities... Nor that I am saying either that Lindemann was not a very capable officer.