FROM IRONCLADS TO DREADNOUGHTS: The Development of the German Battleship, 1864-1918

Following unification in 1871, the development of the Imperial German Navy mirrored the rise of Germany as a technical power. Still, such a rise needed more than just technical ability - it required considerable political will and economic resources. The early chapters cover the initial purchase of ships from abroad, the switch to German shipyards, and the hesitant attempts of Emperor Wilhelm II to develop the navy. The later chapters present the fundamental changes after Alfred von Tirpitz became naval minister in 1897. They focus on the history of the various classes of ships, from their inception to the wide variety of design influences, through their history in service and individual fates. The text is accompanied by an abundant selection of illustrations, photographs, maps and tables sourced from the vast Federal Archives at Freiburg and several private archives.