For xmas I got "Die Großen Kreuzer Kaisering Augusta bis Blücher" by Gerhard Koop and Klaus-Peter Schmolke.
Summary:
The book sums up the technical data and life of each large cruiser (german term for armored cruiser) from the first unit labeled as such to the last pre-dread design (the designation lived on for Von der Tann etc. as the label battlecruiser was never officially used in the German Navy). The book ends with a summary why the ACs in general and the German designs in particular lacked the fighting power to play any role during WW1.
Opinion:
I was through the book in a few days as only a handful of ships/classes are covered. One gets some insight into the technical development and the problems german designers and later the crews encountered. Sadly no detailed information is provided. The book only provids basic data and some drawings plus - probably most interesting - a decent number of good photos. In fact the technical information available in Erich Gröners "Die Deutschen Kriegsschiffe" is very similar and little new is added. So only the photos and some reports about the ships shake down cruises, maiden voyages, actions and losses (like the sinking of YORCK on a german mine field, the battles of Coronel and Falkland and finally Doggerbank) they were involved included new information. At least for me.
Recommendation:
I´d recommend this book to everybody who hasn´t anything about german ACs yet and needs some good photos. The book also is a decent read for everybody interested to learn about the machinery problems the Germans had during the period covered by the book. The information is scarce but at least there is some. If you only need a line drawing and some fundamental technical data I´d think Gröner is the book to look for.
HoOmAn