Captain Giessler, who is now assistant to the director of the Auschuss für Funkortung (the German association concerned with radio navigation) was navigating officer of the Scharnhorst when that ship with the Gneisenau and Prinz Eugen broke through the English Channel in February 1942. It is thought that this account of the operation will interest many navigators, even though it is not entirely navigational in content.

Towards the end of 1941 the repairs to the battle-cruisers Schamhorst and Gneisenau, lying at Brest, and to the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen were already so far advanced, in spite of continual very heavy air attacks, that a decision had to be made as to the further use of these forces.