OPERATION GARDENING

OPERATION GARDENING
BY Frank Weber.

The topic of mine laying at sea during the second world war, has received little attention in the  decades following 1945. 
Thankfully in 2025 this is now the second book to be published this year helping to not only expand our knowledge further, but reveal the importance of the mine laying operations during the second world war. 
Through extensive research Danish historian, Frank Weber, focuses on Bomber Command's strategy in Danish waters and the Baltic Sea, revealing how even today, the menace of these mines eighty years later are still proving to be a modern day problem for shipping. 

The narrative begins with an interesting military history of the waters around Denmark and how the country had previously defended itself. Despite Denmark's neutrality in the first world war, almost 10,000 Danish, British and German mines had been laid.

Before the 'gardening' missions of the second world war are explained, readers will learn more about the different types of mines used and how an unsuspecting ship or submarine would cause a detonation in the water. All aided by some useful illustrations. 
The focus of the book then concentrates on the Bomber Command's raids to the area and the German's response and attempts to sweep for mines by sea and air.
 The German Navy considered the problem of these minefields to be so important that they requested that the Luftwaffe should carry out raids on Bomber Command's airfields. This request fell on deaf ears.

Evidence of the scale of the problem can be found throughout the book with some fascinating tables and charts. One particular map covered in dots particularly drew my attention. Each of these dots represents a mined ship, clearly proving what an incredibly successful means of warfare these mines were against enemy shipping. 
Remarkably only one Danish warship was sank in the region throughout the entire war.

Official wartime figures state that more than double the number of enemy ships were sunk by mines against direct air attacks. Yet as mentioned earlier, so few books have ever really covered this subject fully. Thankfully this highly readable and extremely well researched book highlights the importance and success of 'gardening' operations throughout the war.
Highly recommended. 


The hardback book is available now and published by Helion and Company. I thank them for this review copy. 

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