German Naval Strategy, 1856-1888: Forerunners to Tirpitz (Cass Series: Naval Policy and History)

This book is a comparative study of the evolution of the German navy in the second half of the nineteenth century. It examines the development of strategy, especially commerce-raiding, in comparison to what other navies were doing in this era of rapid technological change. It is not an insular history, merely listing ship rosters or specific events; it is a history of the German navy in relation to its potential foes. It is also a look at a new military institution involved in an inter-service rivalry for funds, technology and manpower with the prestigious and well-established army. BOOK COVER......Page 1 HALF-TITLE......Page 2 TITLE......Page 5 COPYRIGHT......Page 6 CONTENTS......Page 7 SERIES EDITOR’S PREFACE......Page 9 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS......Page 11 INTRODUCTION......Page 12 Note......Page 15 Part I CHANGE IN A CHANGING WORLD......Page 16 1 THE ROOTS OF PLUNDER......Page 17 Profit motive: the development of privateering......Page 18 War vs profit: belligerents’ rights and neutrals’ rights......Page 21 The Declaration of Paris and the end of privateering......Page 23 From seizure to destruction: the new style of commerce warfare......Page 27 Conclusion......Page 29 Notes......Page 30 2 MEANS AND METHODS......Page 33 Technology and navies: new ships, new weapons......Page 34 The burden of empire: J.C.R.Colomb and imperial defence......Page 38 Prophet of the new guerre de course: Richild Grivel......Page 42 Conclusion......Page 45 Notes......Page 46 Part II EARLY DAYS, EARLY DREAMS......Page 50 3 PRECURSOR TO EMPIRE......Page 51 Prussia and the sea to 1856: the land power takes to the water......Page 52 The beginnings of Prussian naval power: expansion of overseas trade and obligations......Page 56 Conclusion......Page 60 Notes......Page 61 4 THE WARS OF UNIFICATION AND GERMAN SEA POWER, 1864–71......Page 64 The Danish and Austrian wars, 1864–66......Page 65 The North German navy and the problems of world commerce protection, 1867–70......Page 68 The Franco-Prussian War I: Knorr and the view from abroad......Page 74 The Franco-Prussian War II: Tirpitz and the view from the Jade......Page 79 Conclusion......Page 81 Notes......Page 82 Part III THE ARMY AT THE HELM......Page 87 5 ALBRECHT VON STOSCH AND THE NEGLECTED NAVY, 1871–72......Page 88 1871: The unhappy peace......Page 89 Albrecht von Stosch, the ‘General-Admiral’......Page 93 1872: Adalbert’s last foray and Stosch’s first......Page 96 Stosch reorganizes the navy......Page 101 Conclusion......Page 103 Notes......Page 104 6 DIVERSE FORTUNES......Page 108 The 1873 Flottengründungsplam: a new start......Page 109 Too many cooks: the navy and foreign affairs......Page 116 Erosion and disaster......Page 120 Thinking about war: tactics and operations planning......Page 125 The end of the Stosch era......Page 130 Conclusion......Page 133 Notes......Page 135 7 TWO SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT......Page 141 Defence of trade, attack on trade: British theories of commerce defence and the evolution of the Jeune Ecole in France......Page 143 Caprivi takes office, and Jachmann’s memorandum......Page 147 The cruiser admirals have their say: the Admiralty Council of 1884......Page 149 Caprivi’s naval goals clarified: the memorandum to the Reichstag, March 1884......Page 157 Conclusion......Page 158 Notes......Page 160 8 CAPRIVI OFF COURSE......Page 165 Naval sideshow or vital task? The navy and the new colonial policy......Page 167 Ships for overseas service in peace and war: the Flying Squadron revived......Page 171 The minnows and the whales: construction policy under Caprivi......Page 173 Thoughts of war on the large scale: operations planning against France and Russia......Page 180 Thoughts of war on the small scale: the development of battle tactics......Page 182 Skulduggery and intrigue: Caprivi’s relations with Prince Wilhelm......Page 186 Conclusion......Page 188 Notes......Page 190 CONCLUSION......Page 197 Notes......Page 202 APPENDIX I Terminology of warship types......Page 203 APPENDIX II Use of overseas ports by the Prussian and German navies, 1851–88......Page 205 APPENDIX III German cruiser classes, 1860–90......Page 207 Published materials......Page 210 Secondary sources......Page 212 INDEX......Page 220 This book is a comparative study of the evolution of the German navy in the second half of the nineteenth century. It examines the development of strategy, especially commerce-raiding, in comparison with other navies in this era