After 1890, German colonial policy took on a new dimension under Kaiser Wilhelm. Between 1871
and 1900, Britain had added 4.25 million square miles and 66 million people to her empire, France
had added 3.5 million square miles and 26 million people to hers and Russia added half a million
square miles and 6.5 million people in Asia! Meanwhile, Japan was becoming a new naval
strength.Viewing all of this, the Kaiser felt that a strong navy was key to survival.
and 1900, Britain had added 4.25 million square miles and 66 million people to her empire, France
had added 3.5 million square miles and 26 million people to hers and Russia added half a million
square miles and 6.5 million people in Asia! Meanwhile, Japan was becoming a new naval
strength.Viewing all of this, the Kaiser felt that a strong navy was key to survival.
A combination of naval interests and commercial pressure
encouraged the development of a new canal linking the North Sea
to the Baltic Sea to avoid sailing around Denmark. The Kiel
Canal, known until 1948 as the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Kanal, is 61 miles
long and is the world's busiest artificial waterway. In June 1887,
construction began. It took the 9,000 workers 8 years to build the
waterway, and at a colossal expense. To meet military needs and
increasing traffic, the canal width was increased from 1907-1914.
encouraged the development of a new canal linking the North Sea
to the Baltic Sea to avoid sailing around Denmark. The Kiel
Canal, known until 1948 as the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Kanal, is 61 miles
long and is the world's busiest artificial waterway. In June 1887,
construction began. It took the 9,000 workers 8 years to build the
waterway, and at a colossal expense. To meet military needs and
increasing traffic, the canal width was increased from 1907-1914.
The formation of the British Navy League of 1894 was followed in 1898 by the corresponding
German Navy League (Flottenverein). The organization of the Navy League extended to
approximately 3,400 local committees over the whole German Reich. In 1898, it had 78,762
members and by 1908 grew to 1,036,320. Using Britain as an ideal and a template, and with the
commencement of German naval construction in 1894 and the founding of the German Navy
League, the German Empire began to assert itself as a sea power.
German Navy League (Flottenverein). The organization of the Navy League extended to
approximately 3,400 local committees over the whole German Reich. In 1898, it had 78,762
members and by 1908 grew to 1,036,320. Using Britain as an ideal and a template, and with the
commencement of German naval construction in 1894 and the founding of the German Navy
League, the German Empire began to assert itself as a sea power.
Alfred von Tirpitz, who was the driving force behind the German naval efforts, entered the navy at
16, working his way through officer school and then up through the ranks. He was tough, brilliant
and ambitious. Introducing the First Fleet Act in 1898, Tirpitz announced the re-organization and
expansion of the Navy. This was followed by the Second Fleet Act in 1900, to construct a fleet
capable of matching the British Royal Navy, with a 17-year deadline for the construction of a fleet of
2 flagships, 36 battleships, 11 large and 34 small cruisers.
16, working his way through officer school and then up through the ranks. He was tough, brilliant
and ambitious. Introducing the First Fleet Act in 1898, Tirpitz announced the re-organization and
expansion of the Navy. This was followed by the Second Fleet Act in 1900, to construct a fleet
capable of matching the British Royal Navy, with a 17-year deadline for the construction of a fleet of
2 flagships, 36 battleships, 11 large and 34 small cruisers.
At the onset, Germany's efficient new naval endeavors were viewed by the
British, French and Russians more with financial worry than national defense
concern. While Britain, with her own expansionist, colonialist and nationalist
zeal (and whose homicidal conduct in the Boer War of 1899 should have in
any case disqualified her from passing judgement on Germany's desire for a
place in the sun) would soon have people believe that Germany "wanted to
take over the world" by forming a strong navy. The German building of fleets
provided the excuse for Great Britain's reconciliation with France and Russia
and led to the formation of the anti-German coalition, the Triple Entente.
British, French and Russians more with financial worry than national defense
concern. While Britain, with her own expansionist, colonialist and nationalist
zeal (and whose homicidal conduct in the Boer War of 1899 should have in
any case disqualified her from passing judgement on Germany's desire for a
place in the sun) would soon have people believe that Germany "wanted to
take over the world" by forming a strong navy. The German building of fleets
provided the excuse for Great Britain's reconciliation with France and Russia
and led to the formation of the anti-German coalition, the Triple Entente.
As the media in Germany and England began to harangue each other, tensions increased over
Germany's naval build up. In 1905, when the British introduced the Dreadnought battleship class,
Germany was prompted to increase the size of her battleships as well. Despite opposition within
Germany, even from Von Bulow, the Chancellor from 1900-1909, naval expansion continued with
construction costs increasing proportionally. Support provided by the Navy League, founded partly to
influence the passage of pet naval bills, combined with large industrial concerns made this possible.
Germany's naval build up. In 1905, when the British introduced the Dreadnought battleship class,
Germany was prompted to increase the size of her battleships as well. Despite opposition within
Germany, even from Von Bulow, the Chancellor from 1900-1909, naval expansion continued with
construction costs increasing proportionally. Support provided by the Navy League, founded partly to
influence the passage of pet naval bills, combined with large industrial concerns made this possible.
Germany's mercantile class, composed mainly of economically progressive liberals, represented for
the most part the left wing of the Reichstag. In opposition to this party, the old Prussian aristocracy
stood on the right. The Catholic Center party was center, with members who tended to be either
neutral or conservative. Marxist organizations both within and beyond Germany that were instigating
fierce resistance to "Prussianism" grew rapidly in the late 1800s. Communists advocated a wave of
strikes intended to paralyse the economy and gain workers’solidarity by 1907. By 1912, the left had
managed to win a third of all votes cast. As in the rest of Europe, Germany's rising working class
became more militant, with union-led strike movements and class tension arising. This resulted in a
legitimate fear of a break down in society, a weakening of government and general anarchy. As a
reaction, groups like the Pan-German League and the German Navy League tried to curb the
influence of the left wing. Nationalistic groups were nothing unusual anywhere at the time, and
certainly Germany was no exception.
the most part the left wing of the Reichstag. In opposition to this party, the old Prussian aristocracy
stood on the right. The Catholic Center party was center, with members who tended to be either
neutral or conservative. Marxist organizations both within and beyond Germany that were instigating
fierce resistance to "Prussianism" grew rapidly in the late 1800s. Communists advocated a wave of
strikes intended to paralyse the economy and gain workers’solidarity by 1907. By 1912, the left had
managed to win a third of all votes cast. As in the rest of Europe, Germany's rising working class
became more militant, with union-led strike movements and class tension arising. This resulted in a
legitimate fear of a break down in society, a weakening of government and general anarchy. As a
reaction, groups like the Pan-German League and the German Navy League tried to curb the
influence of the left wing. Nationalistic groups were nothing unusual anywhere at the time, and
certainly Germany was no exception.
Germans in the days of Bismarck had never been keen on the idea of colonies. However, watching
Britain and France gaining riches and power from their colonies soon inspired a "keeping up with the
Joneses" attitude among some, and perceptions rapidly changed in the wake of the global economic
crisis that had persisted since 1873. By the end of the 1870s, attitudes toward overseas possessions
changed under Bismarck's reluctant nod of approval. Thence came German colonies in the South
Seas and on the coast of West Africa established by trading companies, and new colonial dominions
in other regions which were acquired by adventurers. The German Colonial League, or Deutscher
Kolonialverein and the Society for German Colonization, or Gesellschaft für deutsche Kolonisation
were founded for various, mostly innocuous reasons, including a hope to stem the tide of German
emigration to the USA which was resulting in, as we might say today, a brain-drain. They hoped that
if the emigrants went to new German colonies instead, their language and culture would stay alive
and the countries could mutually benefit from each other financially and otherwise. Bismarck's new
colonial policy was not all that popular, especially in the German Free Thought party, the Center, and
the Social Democrats, all of whom doubted the legality of the territorial acquisitions and their
economic benefit.
Britain and France gaining riches and power from their colonies soon inspired a "keeping up with the
Joneses" attitude among some, and perceptions rapidly changed in the wake of the global economic
crisis that had persisted since 1873. By the end of the 1870s, attitudes toward overseas possessions
changed under Bismarck's reluctant nod of approval. Thence came German colonies in the South
Seas and on the coast of West Africa established by trading companies, and new colonial dominions
in other regions which were acquired by adventurers. The German Colonial League, or Deutscher
Kolonialverein and the Society for German Colonization, or Gesellschaft für deutsche Kolonisation
were founded for various, mostly innocuous reasons, including a hope to stem the tide of German
emigration to the USA which was resulting in, as we might say today, a brain-drain. They hoped that
if the emigrants went to new German colonies instead, their language and culture would stay alive
and the countries could mutually benefit from each other financially and otherwise. Bismarck's new
colonial policy was not all that popular, especially in the German Free Thought party, the Center, and
the Social Democrats, all of whom doubted the legality of the territorial acquisitions and their
economic benefit.
The Navy League was influential in other causes, however.
Between 1890 and 1913, Germany's population swelled by 40%.
Meanwhile, Germany had become the premier producer of steel in
Europe and large shifts in the population from the countryside to
the cities created not only a new consumer class but a large and
growing working class.
Between 1890 and 1913, Germany's population swelled by 40%.
Meanwhile, Germany had become the premier producer of steel in
Europe and large shifts in the population from the countryside to
the cities created not only a new consumer class but a large and
growing working class.
| Hysteria Part 3. Hidden Motives: Naval Jealousy |
The Kaiserliche Marine or Imperial German Navy existed between 1871 and 1919. At the Battle of Coronel, it
inflicted the first major naval defeat on the British Royal Navy in over 100 years, and it destroyed more ships
than it lost in the Battle of Jutland. It was the first navy who successfully operated submarines, and it also
operated Zeppelins. It never lost a ship to a catastrophic magazine explosion from an above-water attack.
inflicted the first major naval defeat on the British Royal Navy in over 100 years, and it destroyed more ships
than it lost in the Battle of Jutland. It was the first navy who successfully operated submarines, and it also
operated Zeppelins. It never lost a ship to a catastrophic magazine explosion from an above-water attack.
