Dreadnought: Introduction (Part 2) - The Germans

The German Challenge

The German Empire composed of many small city-states

Wilhelm II became Kaiser of the German Empire in 1888, which at that time, the empire was a new industrial empire in Europe. Wilhelm II had the determination of Germany becoming a world's superpower. To be able to do that, Germany must create a large navy... too rival the British. Wilhelm's inspiration came from his English ancestry, his grandmother, Queen Victoria. He knew the importance of sea power and how it would help spread German influence throughout Europe. 

Already in 1880s, the German Empire acquired colonies 5 times larger than the Mainland. However, this was done with the help of the British navy and Empire. In fact, the Germans relied on the British most of the time. Its merchant fleet (2nd largest in the world) depended on British harbor and protection throughout the globe. German ships were based off British designs. British and German officers looked at each other as brothers. Germany and Britain were looking for a partnership, or perhaps an alliance to rule the world... Unfortunately, that didn't happen.

German Ironclads (metal ships that were very popular and powerful at the time)

On the other hand, the Germans cannot depend on Britain forever. The Germans thought that they must protect its merchant fleet with its own dependable navy. The German greed for a strong navy led them down a path of 'evil'. They longed for a navy powerful enough to invade Great Britain, strip Britain of her colonies and sweep the British merchant fleet off the face of the earth. The competition for the most powerful navy commenced...