Berliner Zinnfiguren/Books & Media/Books/Naval/France products

Jordan, John/Caresse, Philippe: French Battleships of World War One 32,95 €

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 09:40:13 +0200

At the outbreak of war in August 1914, France had only two dreadnoughts in active service, with two more undergoing trials. The core of the French Navy's elite fleet (Armée Navale) consisted of the eleven battleships of the Patrie and Danton classes, both intermediate designs with two main gun calibers. Among the older ships were the remnants of the infamous "Flotte d'échantillons" (Model Fleet), the 1890 program, and its successors designed in the 1890s. This book traces the development of French battleships from 1890 to 1922 and also covers the extensive modifications made to the remaining ships during the interwar period. Its structure follows that of previous volumes in this successful series: Part I by John Jordan focuses on the design, followed by historical chapters by Philippe Caresse covering the period from 1900 to 1945. The book is richly illustrated throughout with line drawings and labeled diagrams, as well as photographs from Caresse's extensive collection, many of which have never been published before. This is the most comprehensive account of these ships ever published in English or French and will undoubtedly remain a standard work for many years to come.

Jordan, John/Moulin, Jean: French Cruisers 1922-1956 32,95 €

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 07:10:07 +0200

The French created some of the most distinctive and innovative cruiser designs of the interwar period. Over the last twenty years, a wealth of new information about these ships has come to light in France, but this book is the first to make it accessible to an English-speaking audience. Part 1 explains the design philosophy of each class of ship built after 1922 and describes the characteristics of each type. This is supplemented by detailed data tables, a comprehensive collection of specially prepared plans based on official documents, and carefully selected photographs. Among the ships covered are the "De Grasse," whose keel was laid in August 1939 and which was completed after the war as an anti-aircraft cruiser, and the heavy cruisers of the Saint-Louis class that followed, about which little has been published. Part 2 is dedicated to the history of these ships, illuminating not only their eventful careers but also the organization of the French Navy in peacetime, the complex politics of this turbulent period, and its impact on the navy. Like its highly successful predecessor, "French Battleships", this book subtly combines technical and historical analyses, making it a standard work.

Corman, Francois-Olivier/Moulin, Jean: Les Frégates de défense aériennes Forbin & Chevalier Paul 49,95 €

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 09:35:18 +0200

The air defence frigates (Frégates de défense aériennes, FDA) Forbin and Chevalier Paul were developed at the end of the Cold War to counter the threat posed by anti-ship missiles and ensure control of airspace. For twenty years, they have been the most powerful combat ships in the French Navy. Developed as part of a Franco-Italian programme, the success of which is particularly noteworthy, these ships are designed for intensive combat use and combine high-performance systems with remarkable technical redundancy. Their crews, who are distinguished by their outstanding technical expertise and professionalism, embody the fighting spirit required for demanding air and sea operations. Since entering service in 2010, the FDAs have been deployed in all major areas of operation, from the Libyan coast to the Red Sea, the Arabian Gulf and the Syrian Canal. They have established themselves as the reference escort for strategic naval units, in particular for the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, which they protect at close range. Thanks to their versatility, they have also excelled in reconnaissance, airspace surveillance and area defence missions. Nevertheless, their history remains little known. This book aims to fill that gap and pay tribute to all the sailors who have served and continue to serve aboard these exceptional frigates.

Lormier, Dominique: Les vérités cachées de l'épuration 25,95 €

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:30:23 +0200

After liberation, France celebrates its victory over the German occupiers. Between 1944 and 1953, trials are held, verdicts are handed down, hair is shorn and executions are carried out. However, behind this apparent justice lies a far more complex and sometimes disturbing reality. This book refutes the golden legend of an exemplary purge. Through thorough research, Dominique Lormier reveals how those primarily responsible for collaborating with the Germans in business, prefectures, the judiciary and the police often got away with it. Meanwhile, innocent people, sincere resistance fighters or ordinary women accused of having ties to the enemy were subjected to the worst kinds of violence. The brutal purge, which resembled a settling of scores, spread terror in the cities and the countryside. From the Brasillach affair to the quiet careers of compromised senior officials such as René Bousquet, Maurice Sabatier and Maurice Papon, to the paradoxes of Sartre or Duras, this work paints a nuanced and sometimes outrageous picture of a decisive and tragic moment in French history. It asks the question: who really paid for collaboration? Who was protected? And why? A fascinating and unsparing insight into one of the great taboos of France's collective memory.

Jordan, John/Moulin, Jean: French Aircraft Carriers 56,95 €

Wed, 20 May 2026 07:00:12 +0200

The French aircraft carrier fleet dates back to the Foudre, a highly original ship that was originally designed to transport torpedo boats but was later converted into a seaplane carrier. During the First World War, this was supplemented by a number of merchant ships requisitioned to support the aircraft, and the former sloop Bapaume became the first French ship to launch wheeled aircraft while underway. The Washington Treaty of 1922 prevented the completion of traditional capital ships, so France, like other major naval powers, decided to convert an unfinished battleship, the Béarn, into an experimental carrier. Between 1929 and 1936, there were fifteen paper designs, all of which are covered in this book, but the only aircraft carrier added to the French Navy in the interwar period was the highly unusual Commandant Teste, whose tactical rationale and service history are examined in detail. France's first purpose-built aircraft carriers, Joffre and Painlevé, were commissioned shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War, but due to the 1940 armistice, neither was ever completed. Some design work continued during the war, culminating in the PA28 Clemenceau project in 1948, but the ship proved too expensive and was cancelled in 1949. Instead, France acquired four used ships from the United Kingdom and the United States, which, as the Dixmude, Arromanches, Lafayette and Bois Belleau, played a significant role in the post-war conflicts in French Indochina. After delays in budgeting and planning, the French Navy finally received its first modern, domestically built aircraft carriers with the Clemenceau (1961) and the Foch (1963). These important ships had long and successful careers, and their development and operational history form a major focus of this book. The final chapters cover developments up to the nuclear-powered Charles de Gaulle, and an epilogue deals with the French Navy's plans for future naval aviation, making this book a complete history from the beginnings to the present day.

Moulin, Jean: Les Sous-marins de 1re Classe 74,95 €

Tue, 12 May 2026 07:00:12 +0200

This work is dedicated to the 40 first-class submarines built for the French Navy between 1922 and 1939. They are divided into two types: the 1,100-ton submarines or Requin from the 1922 and 1923 programmes, and the Redoutable and Pascal from the 1924 to 1930 programmes. The second-class submarines and minelayers are covered in another work in the same series. The 1,500-ton submarines are better known than the 1,100-ton submarines, which are often forgotten. The departure of the Casabianca, the Glorieux and even a 1,100-tonne submarine, the Marsouin, from Toulon on 27 November 1942 is considered a significant event in the history of French submarines. The 1,500-tonne submarines were the most active ships in the navy during the Second World War. The missions of several of these boats are relatively well known, with the Casabianca at the forefront, whose two former commanders have reported on the most spectacular missions. Eleven ships were lost during the war, nine of them due to the actions of former and later allies. The five survivors were deployed in operations in the Mediterranean from December 1942 (the Casabianca) onwards or served in training schools. Much of the historical reporting, particularly for the period from June 1940 to December 1942, is limited to a presentation of the facts, with commentary and interpretation virtually excluded in a work that gives priority to technical aspects.

Canuel, Hugues/Tooby, Adam (Illustr.): French Navy 1939–42 18,95 €

Sat, 23 May 2026 07:40:09 +0200

At the outbreak of the Second World War, the French Navy was the most powerful naval force in continental Europe, united in its goal of defending the nation and its colonial empire. It was the result of France's unique naval doctrine and armament development in the 1920s and 1930s as a continental power with global interests. The fall of France destroyed this unity when the fleet was divided between loyalty to Vichy and Free France. In this book, Hugues Canuel presents an insightful, focused operational study of the official French Navy in the Second World War, from its actions alongside its British allies in 1939-40 to the fiery end of the Vichy fleet in the port of Toulon in 1942. Based on extensive French, British and American archival material and the author's years of research, it examines the French warships and their capabilities, the tasks for which the fleet was structured, and the battles it experienced - including operations off Norway and the fight against German raiders in the Atlantic, operations in Indochina, and the battle with the Allies in Operation Torch. With numerous rare photos, spectacular battle scenes, 3D diagrams of engagements and fleet formations, and a map of French maritime areas, this book is an indispensable guide to one of the least known major navies of the Second World War.

Bélisle, Ismael: La Voile & le Canon 39,95 €

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:25:24 +0200

The aim of this richly illustrated work is to take the reader on a detailed journey through the fascinating world of the sailing navy, which enjoyed its heyday between 1745 and 1815, from the War of Independence to the French Revolution and the end of the Napoleonic Wars. This book paints a vivid, accurate and detailed picture of the manoeuvrability of the ships, their armament, navigation equipment and the daily life of sailors and officers, from admirals to surgeons, cooks to gunners. The supply and administrative organisation of ports and arsenals are described as vividly and graphically as the great naval battles of the century. The world of the great sailing navy is truly fascinating, especially in its heyday between the mid-18th century and the first decades of the 19th century. One cannot help but admire the perfection of its impressive ships, its elegant frigates and corvettes, but also the power of these gigantic fleets of the first great modern navies. This unique world has inspired numerous filmmakers and spawned a multitude of best-selling historical novels whose heroes remain etched in the memory of many. The book begins with an overview of the political and economic environment of the international rivalries that led to a century of great naval battles between the Royal Navy and the French Navy. Ismael Bélisle does historical research in this book, but he does not hide the fact that reading the exciting adventures of Jack Aubrey and Captain Hornblower, which have accompanied him since his youth, inspired him to write this book. This new, expanded edition of La Voile et le canon is a useful reference work for any library.

Clayton, Anthony: Three Republics, one Navy 36,95 €

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:25:27 +0200

In the 1870s, French warships were still equipped with sails to supplement their early steam engines. In the 1970s, the navy's ships included aircraft carriers with supersonic jets and submarines with intercontinental missiles powered by nuclear reactors. Within these hundred years, the navy played an important role in the conquest of colonies in Asia and Africa, until 1900 when it played a leading role in a maritime Cold War against Great Britain, 19041920 in the preparation, especially in the Mediterranean, and participation in a Paris agenda in the First World War, a spectacular modernisation that remained unfinished in the interwar period, the division, tragic self-destruction and rebirth in the Second World War, important roles in the two major decolonisation campaigns in Indochina and Algeria, and finally the maintenance of its status as a world power with power projection capabilities in the late 20th century, which required a navy with capabilities in both the nuclear age and traditional amphibious operations. The enormous costs led to cutbacks and a new relationship with Great Britain in the naval sphere at the end of the 20th century. These successive radical changes were linked to political disputes, unrest and, in the years 1940 to 1942, violent divisions. Political leaders from 19th-century imperialism to the Fifth Republic sought a leading role for France or, if that was not possible, sufficient naval power to effectively influence allies and world affairs. Domestic economic difficulties led more than once to ill-advised cheap fleet policies and construction programmes. The great division in French society after 1789 was occasionally reflected among the crews on board ships, in shipyards and shipbuilding yards, and in 19191920 in open mutinies at sea. In this work, the author has attempted to weave these very different strands into a history of a navy whose priorities have always been more in the defence of the country's borders, with the navy being underestimated and its justified pride in its achievements hardly recognised.

Largo: Commando Marine 32,95 €

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 07:05:14 +0200

Largo est un soldat des forces spéciales de la marine. Sa spécialité : le tir de précision. Largo est également un photographe talentueux qui exerce son métier exceptionnel avec passion. De la création de cette unité à la formation de ses soldats d'élite, en passant par la mise en pratique de leur entraînement sur le terrain, Largo nous présente ici l'unité dans son ensemble, les commandements d'hier et d'aujourd'hui, ainsi que leur quotidien unique. Il nous plonge au cur de son métier, où chaque jour est un défi, et nous invite à réfléchir au sens de cet engagement. Plus qu'un simple reportage, ce livre est un hommage à ceux qui se sont distingués par leur dévouement pour leur pays.

Bernier, Rémi: Histoire du 1er RPIMa 25,95 €

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:25:24 +0200

A lively and well-documented tribute to the 1st RPIMa, the elite regiment of the French special forces, tracing its history, missions, traditions and the everyday life of its soldiers. In a very well-documented work, Rémi Bernier delves into the history of the 1st RPIMa, the prestigious parachute regiment of the Marine Infantry, the flagship of the special forces. As a former member of the 1st RPIMa, the author paints a comprehensive picture of this regiment famous for its military exploits, recounting the history of this elite unit, its influences, its founding, its traditions, but also the everyday life of its soldiers and its missions and operations. In this book, which is a real treasure trove for all lovers of military history and special forces thanks to numerous accounts from former soldiers, Lieutenant Colonel (ret.) Rémi Bernier tells everything up to the most recent history of the 1st RPIMa.

Landais, Henri: Les Avisos Coloniaux. Volume 1 79,95 €

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:25:24 +0200

These ships (eight of which were commissioned), designed for service in the colonies, had a long and often eventful career in the French Navy, ranging from 1931 (the oldest) to the late 1950s (the last). Henri Landais devoted more than twenty years of research to them, presenting his work in two very detailed volumes that represent a unique body of work. The first volume covers the avisos Bougainville, Dumont d'Urville, Savorgnan de Brazza and D'Entrecasteaux.

Houy-Bezaux, Patrick/Ducros, Jacques: Les avisos escorteurs type Commandant Rivière 1958-1996 79,95 €

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:25:24 +0200

The escorts of the French Union were very well designed and innovative in their time in terms of new weapon technology, propulsion and habitability (air conditioning, bannettes, etc.). They were excellent ships for their naval and military qualities. Unfortunately, these ships suffered from their distance from the motherland and their thirty or more years on all the world's oceans. In eight years of painstaking work, the two authors have produced a technical, lively and human account of the escort ships of the French Navy.

Guillerm, Luc-Christophe: La Marine Nationale, un univers de contraste 72,95 €

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:25:27 +0200

In the navy, the lives of the crews are characterised by amazing contrasts that do not exist in any other profession: modernity and traditions, obedience and command, storms and calm, day and night, solidarity and loneliness, or the vastness of the seas and the confinement of a life in closed spaces - we encounter all of this during operations and life at sea. And what about the incredible contrast between an assignment on board the schooner Belle-Poule or on board the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, between the silence of the winds raging in the sails and the breathtaking catapult launch of a naval Rafale echoing in the bowels of the beast... These contrasts seem to contradict each other, is not the night the opposite of the day? Are the concepts of modernity and tradition not antonyms? Is solidarity not a value that is far removed from loneliness? And yet the whole thing works. What if these contradictions were not opposites, but complementarities? This book illustrates the concept of contrasts in the French Navy with over 250 photographs taken by the author on numerous occasions from 1990 to 2024.

Moulin, Jean: Les Sous-marins de 2e Classe et les mouilleurs de mines de la Marine Nationale 1922-1945 74,95 €

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:25:24 +0200

This book is mainly devoted to the 34 2nd class submarines and the six minesweepers (Saphir type) that emerged from the shipbuilding programmes from 1922 to 1936. The period after 1945 for the Aurore type 2nd class submarines, the first of which had just been completed in June 1940, is only mentioned. The contemporary 1st class submarines (Requin and Redoutable) are dealt with in a separate book. The first twelve, which were to form the Sirene class, were also referred to as the 600-tonner, the next sixteen as the 630-tonner and the last six as the Admiralty type. The history and description of the 2nd class submarines built between the two world wars has not been the subject of much study. These boats did not particularly distinguish themselves during the Second World War, with the exception of the units that the FNFL struggled to rearm in Britain. The others formed part of the French State Navy's submarine force and many were disarmed before the end of 1940. The few that survived the painful events of November 1942 were practically only used for training purposes after a few missions in the Mediterranean. The same applies to the six mine-destroying submarines, with the exception of the Rubis, which has become a symbol of the FNFL. The historical part is merely intended to reflect the events and leave out interpretations that have no place in a predominantly technical work.

Roux, Francois: La Marine Francaise de 1792 à nos Jours 33,95 €

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:20:30 +0200

Beautiful panorama of the French navy, created by the French watercolourist and draughtsman François Geoffroi Roux. One is amazed by the quality of these drawings. This exceptional collection of images of ships, sometimes in a storm, bears witness to the artist's immense talent. This work, complemented by a text by Admiral Paris, is a reference work for anyone interested in the French navy and ships in general. François Geoffroi Roux (1811-1882) was an artist and marine painter. He was appointed official painter to the navy in 1875 and was the last of the painters of "ship portraits" from the Roux family.

Marine, Histoire & Traditions 20,97 €

Wed, 13 May 2026 07:03:00 +0200

Special edition 2023 of the series "Les Cahiers de la Compagnie d'Elite". In four centuries, the French Navy has not only sailed and explored all the seas and oceans of the world, but has also completely conquered the three dimensions of its own environment thanks to the unprecedented development of the means of surface fleets, submarines and, finally, naval aviation aircraft. The development of the surface navy in terms of power projection led to the development of ships, troops, weapons and even tactics for naval combat or for landing and conquest operations conducted under distant horizons and requiring the securing of bases and sea routes.

Dumas, Robert/Magueur, Bertrand: Les Escorteurs Rapides 69,95 €

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 07:00:14 +0200

18 French escort ships, named after the inhabitants of a French province or town, carry out numerous missions over a period of more than 30 years in a time marked mainly by the Cold War. In a troubled world, the fast escorts, together with the squadron escorts, helped to represent France's maritime interests in the world. These 18 ships exist only in the memory of those who manned them.

They were quite unstable in crosswinds, but their overall seaworthiness was considered very good, considering their low displacement. The steam-powered propulsion was also appreciated for its simplicity and robustness. The ships were equipped with good sensors and were quite heavily armed relative to their size and sailed well. Everything would have been perfect if bad weather had not been the main concern of the crew on board: the light, slender ships danced like a jig in heavy swells, and in the doldrums things were going high ... In heavy seas, life on board became hard, every little job a torture ... So many memories remain, which this book aims to awaken! After an introduction to the technical details of each class or series, the career of each ship is traced. The history of the French Navy from the 1950s to the 1980s is illustrated with previously unpublished documents and reports.

Bastoul, Frédßeric: Les Yeux sur le Pont d'Envol 42,95 €

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:20:28 +0200

6 June 1987, a young sailor who has just obtained a patent for rocket artillery service boards the aircraft carrier "Clémenceau", which is making a stopover in Brest. 10 June 2021: The author, still a sailor at heart, finds himself as a photographer on board the aircraft carrier "Charles de Gaulle" and embarks for a few days for a tour of the Mediterranean. In the 34 years between these two dates, he has remained tirelessly true to his passion for naval aviation.

The author immerses the reader in this very closed microcosm, especially through photographs taken in the alarm room during the "debriefings" conducted by the landing officers, as well as through the authentic vocabulary of the flight deck. An emotional excursion at sea, captured in spectacular images.

Bovis, Alain: La technologie des sous-marins. Submarine Technology 24,00 €

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 06:20:21 +0200

This lavishly illustrated book of 17 chapters provides a comprehensive overview of the modern submarine and looks to the future of this feared weapon. It answers questions about the state of the art in the design and construction of today's submarines - vessels that can remain submerged almost indefinitely and are virtually undetectable.

Worldwide, very few countries, including France, have real expertise to design and build such strategic tools completely autonomously. In these complex areas, naval architecture has fundamentally evolved in all disciplines (materials, hydrodynamics, hydroacoustics, energy, automation, etc.) and processes (scientific calculations, modelling, algorithms, production engineering, robotics, etc.). The aim of this book is to highlight the important changes and current trends highlighted by one of the best French specialists in the field. The author, Alain Bovis, presents a unique overview in the French-language technical literature and a remarkable reference work for all those who wish to understand the challenges and perspectives opened up by this very confidential and secretive area of high technology. As naval strategy experts often say, the credibility of a navy depends heavily on the potential of its underwater forces. The author therefore repeatedly stresses the crucial importance of crews, without whom these platforms would of course remain only an engineer's dream. Alain Bovis, polytechnicien and graduate engineer of ENSTA, has had a long career with the DGA and DCNS (now Naval Group). He held various positions in research, engineering and industrial management. Today he is President of the Naval Academy and Chairman of the "Association Technique Maritime et Aéronautique". Updated new edition of the previous work published in 2016 - new iconography for more than half of the illustrations. Text French-English.