Difference between revisions of "Imperial German Navy"

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On 30 March of that year, operational command was given to the new office of ''Oberkommando der Marine'' (High Command of the Navy), which equated to a Commanding General in the Army.  The ''Oberkommando'' was responsible for the deployment of ship, tactics and strategy.  The ''Reichs-Marine-Amt'', or R.M.A., ([[Imperial Navy Office]]) which was created at the same time, was responsible for the administration of the Navy.  The State Secretary who headed it nominally served under the Imperial Chancellor.  His office was responsible for all matters concerning the construction and maintenance of the Navy's ships.<ref>Herwig.  ''"Luxury" Fleet''.  pp. 21-22.</ref>
 
On 30 March of that year, operational command was given to the new office of ''Oberkommando der Marine'' (High Command of the Navy), which equated to a Commanding General in the Army.  The ''Oberkommando'' was responsible for the deployment of ship, tactics and strategy.  The ''Reichs-Marine-Amt'', or R.M.A., ([[Imperial Navy Office]]) which was created at the same time, was responsible for the administration of the Navy.  The State Secretary who headed it nominally served under the Imperial Chancellor.  His office was responsible for all matters concerning the construction and maintenance of the Navy's ships.<ref>Herwig.  ''"Luxury" Fleet''.  pp. 21-22.</ref>
  
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From 1897, the State Secretary of the R.M.A., ''Kontreadmiral'' [[Alfred von Tirpitz|Alfred Tirpitz]], lobbied the Emperor for the abolition of the ''Oberkommando der Marine''.<ref>Epkenhans.  p. 60.</ref>  By ''Allerhöchste Ordre'' of 14 March, 1899, the powers of the ''Oberkommando'' were split between the [[Imperial Navy Office]] and the newly-created ''Admiralstab'' ([[Admiral Staff]]).<ref>Neudech; Schöder.  p. 37.</ref>  This advisory body, under a ''Chef'', was similar to the Prussian General Staff, but had little of the power.  It was concerned with matters of tactics and strategy.<ref>Herwig.  ''"Luxury" Fleet''.  p. 22.</ref>
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The State Secretary of the R.M.A. from 1897, ''Kontreadmiral'' [[Alfred von Tirpitz|Alfred Tirpitz]], lobbied the Emperor for the abolition of the ''Oberkommando der Marine'', telling him, "Your Majesty can now be your own Admiral."<ref>Herwig.  ''The German Naval Officer Corps''.  p. 27.</ref>  By ''Allerhöchste Ordre'' of 14 March, 1899, the powers of the ''Oberkommando'' were split between the [[Imperial Navy Office]] and the newly-created ''Admiralstab'' ([[Admiral Staff]]).<ref>Neudech; Schöder.  p. 37.</ref>  This advisory body, under a ''Chef'', was similar to the Prussian General Staff, but had little of the power.  It was concerned with matters of tactics and strategy.  In wartime it would be responsible for the conduct all naval operations, with the Emperor's approval.<ref>Herwig.  ''"Luxury" Fleet''.  p. 22.</ref>  The abolition of the ''Oberkommando'' and the strength of Tirpitz's position meant that he could change the Chiefs of the Admiral Staff "almost at will" in Herwig's words.<ref>Herwig.  ''The German Naval Officer Corps''.  p. 27.</ref>
  
 
==First World War==
 
==First World War==

Revision as of 16:23, 27 March 2011

The Kaiserlich Deutschen Marine (English: Imperial German Navy) was the Navy of Imperial Germany from 1871 to 1918.

Creation

The imperial nature of the Navy was enshrined in Article 53 of the Constitution of the German Empire:

The navy of the Empire is a unit under the command of the Emperor. The organisation and structure of the same is within the jurisdiction of the Emperor, who appoints the officers and officials of the Navy, and receives a direct oath of allegiance, an oath also to be sworn by the other ranks.

The Port of Kiel and the Jadehafen [Wilhelmshaven] are Reich naval ports.

Of establishing and maintaining the fleet and related institutions necessary expenses will be paid from the Reich treasury. The whole maritime population of the empire, including the engine crew and boat craftsman, is exempt from the service in the land army, however, for the service in the Imperial Navy committed.

The distribution of the replacement demand will take place in accordance with the existing maritime population, and thereafter provided by each state rate is presented for the land forces in accounting.

Administration

Von Bismarck centralised the command of the Navy in an imperial Ministry of Marine, which in 1872 became the Imperial Admiralty,[1] a change instituted by the first Chief of the Admiralty, Albrecht von Stosch. From 1872 to 1888 the Chiefs of the Admiralty were Army officers.[2] The centralised command structure survived until the ascension of Wilhelm II to the imperial throne in 1888.

On 28 March, 1889 the Emperor instituted the Marine-Kabinett (Navy Cabinet), paralleling the Military Cabinet for the Army. This office, headed by a Chef (Chief), was responsible for, among other things, the transmission of imperial orders concerning naval affairs within home waters to the responsible authorities, promotions and appointments, decorations for foreign naval visitors, duty assignments, and the Emperor's naval correspondence. There were only two Chiefs of the Navy Cabinet between 1889 and 1918.[3]

On 30 March of that year, operational command was given to the new office of Oberkommando der Marine (High Command of the Navy), which equated to a Commanding General in the Army. The Oberkommando was responsible for the deployment of ship, tactics and strategy. The Reichs-Marine-Amt, or R.M.A., (Imperial Navy Office) which was created at the same time, was responsible for the administration of the Navy. The State Secretary who headed it nominally served under the Imperial Chancellor. His office was responsible for all matters concerning the construction and maintenance of the Navy's ships.[4]

The State Secretary of the R.M.A. from 1897, Kontreadmiral Alfred Tirpitz, lobbied the Emperor for the abolition of the Oberkommando der Marine, telling him, "Your Majesty can now be your own Admiral."[5] By Allerhöchste Ordre of 14 March, 1899, the powers of the Oberkommando were split between the Imperial Navy Office and the newly-created Admiralstab (Admiral Staff).[6] This advisory body, under a Chef, was similar to the Prussian General Staff, but had little of the power. It was concerned with matters of tactics and strategy. In wartime it would be responsible for the conduct all naval operations, with the Emperor's approval.[7] The abolition of the Oberkommando and the strength of Tirpitz's position meant that he could change the Chiefs of the Admiral Staff "almost at will" in Herwig's words.[8]

First World War

During the course of the war up to the Armistice, the Germans built 6 light cruisers, 174 torpedo boats, 115 fleet submarines, 136 U.B. submarines, 95 U.C. submarines, and 196 minesweepers. It lost two battleships, one battle cruiser, six armoured cruisers, eighteen light cruisers, seventeen gunboats, 110 torpedo boats, and 229 submarines.[9]

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Herwig. The German Naval Officer Corps. p. 24.
  2. ↑ Herwig. "Luxury" Fleet. p. 13.
  3. ↑ This section is taken largely verbatim from Herwig. "Luxury" Fleet. p. 21.
  4. ↑ Herwig. "Luxury" Fleet. pp. 21-22.
  5. ↑ Herwig. The German Naval Officer Corps. p. 27.
  6. ↑ Neudech; Schöder. p. 37.
  7. ↑ Herwig. "Luxury" Fleet. p. 22.
  8. ↑ Herwig. The German Naval Officer Corps. p. 27.
  9. ↑ Herwig. Luxury Fleet. p. 222.

Bibliography

External Source

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