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How Germany Lost World War I

Germany started the First World War (1914-18) with the belief its armed forces could win a quick and decisive victory over France and then Russia. The reality turned out to be much more complicated as more countries became involved in a global war that lasted five years. Undoubtedly, the Allies fought with courage and resolution to defeat Germany, but it is also true that Germany was often its own worst enemy. In the end, justice was served, and the aggressor nations lost a global conflict that caused around 16 million deaths and an even greater number of wounded.

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SMS Deutschland was the lead ship of the Deutschland-class pre-dreadnought battleships (along with her sisters Schlesien, Schleswig-Holstein, Pommern, and Hannover) of the Imperial German Navy. She was laid down at Germaniawerft in Kiel in 1903, launched in November 1904, and commissioned in August 1906. The class was the last series of German pre-dreadnoughts, comprising Deutschland, Hannover, Pommern, Schlesien, and Schleswig-Holstein.

When completed, Deutschland was already overshadowed by HMS Dreadnought, launched the same year. Nonetheless, she and her sisters formed the backbone of the High Seas Fleet’s II Battle Squadron during the early years of the First World War.

Deutschland displaced just under 14,000 tons at full load and was armed with four 28 cm (11 in) SK L/40 main guns in two twin turrets fore and aft. Her secondary battery consisted of fourteen 17 cm (6.7 in) guns, supported by lighter 8.8 cm weapons for defence against torpedo craft, and six submerged torpedo tubes. Protection was considerable for a ship of her generation, with a 225 mm (8.9 in) belt and 280 mm (11 in) armour on the main turrets. She could make a maximum speed of around 18 knots, powered by three triple-expansion engines fed by twelve coal-fired boilers.

During peacetime before 1914, Deutschland served as flagship of the fleet until replaced by the dreadnought Nassau. She participated in the usual programme of training cruises, fleet manoeuvres, and diplomatic visits, strengthening Germany’s naval prestige.

At the outbreak of the First World War, Deutschland and her sisters were mobilised as II Battle Squadron. Although obsolete compared to dreadnoughts, they were still used for patrols in the North Sea and Baltic. In the Battle of Jutland (31 May–1 June 1916), Deutschland and the rest of II Squadron were assigned to the rear of the German line. Owing to their slow speed and vulnerability, they were kept out of the main action and saw little fighting. Late on the first day of the battle, Deutschland and the other pre-dreadnoughts briefly engaged several British battlecruisers before retreating. Their presence, however, tied down German resources, as they were a liability in any fleet action against the faster British Grand Fleet.

After Jutland, Deutschland and the other pre-dreadnoughts of II Squadron were withdrawn from front-line service. Deutschland became a guard ship and was later disarmed and used depot ship as the navy concentrated on its more modern dreadnoughts and battlecruisers.

U-Boat: Germany's Submarines of WWI & WWII

The U-boat, short for Unterseeboot (undersea boat), was the name for submarines used by the German Navy during the First World War (1914-18) and Second World War (1939-45). In the two Battles of the Atlantic, U-boats sank thousands of ships, but defensive strategies such as dropping depth charges, providing air cover, and, above all, the convoy system, ensured Britain was supplied with the resources it needed to continue both wars until victory was achieved on land.

U-Boats in WWI

When WWI began in 1914, the German Imperial Navy had only 20 operational submarines or Unterseeboots (undersea boats), as they were known, a name soon shortened to U-boat. Together, Britain and France had around 200 submarines. German production went into overdrive to catch up. The German navy constructed several classes of submarines to meet different requirements, such as coastal patrols, laying mines, and long-distance vessels. By 1917, Germany had 140 U-boats. While the British Admiralty focused on smaller submarines for the defence of ports, Germany opted for a vessel that could attack enemy shipping anywhere at sea. U-boats became particularly important following the Battle of Jutland in May 1916 (a strategic victory for the Royal Navy, but one with high losses), after which the giant German battleships were largely confined to port. U-boats, on the other hand, were free to roam hidden beneath the waves and attack at will any enemy target they came across in the North Sea, Atlantic Ocean, and the coastal waters of the British Isles.

The earliest U-boats, the UB class, were limited to coastal operations, but developments improved their operational capacity as the war wore on. The typical WWI U-boat had a range capable of reaching the Western Atlantic Ocean, a top speed of 17 knots, and displaced around 700 tons. U-boats carried six torpedoes. Two torpedoes could be fired from the bow and two from the stern. The submarine also had a gun which could be fired when on the surface; this had a minimum calibre of 4.1 inches (10.4 mm). A diesel engine was used when on the surface, and twin electric engines when submerged. The crew on board numbered up to 39 persons. Conditions on board were extremely cramped and uncomfortable, and made worse by the constant stench of diesel fuel, which even permeated the taste of the submariner's food.

The German Navy built a larger class of U-boats, which was unarmed but capable of carrying cargo. The Deutschland was the first of this type, put in service in 1916. Some of these cargo submarines were subsequently converted into armed vessels known as U-cruisers, although the first were not operational until 1918. The U-cruisers had an impressive range of 12,000 nautical miles, and they could well have turned the tide of the war if they had been produced earlier and in larger numbers.

The UC-class submarines were used as minelayers from 1915. With a slow speed of six knots and a limited range of 750 nautical miles, these vessels were designed to stay near coastlines and lay mines, 12 per trip. The mines were released from near-vertical tubes that had been flooded. An upgrade to the class in 1916 increased the range tenfold and the mine load to 18. The UC II class was also armed with a 3.4-inch (8.8 cm) gun. The UE-class submarine was a larger, ocean-going version of the UC-class. The UE-boats, in service from 1915, could voyage 8,000 nautical miles and carry 34 mines. A class upgrade in 1918 meant the newer UE-boats could carry 42 mines in their tubes and another 30 in deck containers.

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SMS Pommern was the second ship of the Deutschland-class pre-dreadnought battleships (along with her sisters Deutschland, Schleswig-Holstein, Schlesien, and Hannover) of the Imperial German Navy. Built at the AG Vulcan shipyard in Stettin, she was laid down in 1903, launched in December 1905, and commissioned in August 1907. As with her sister ships Deutschland, Hannover, Schlesien, and Schleswig-Holstein, Pommern was already obsolete when completed, as HMS Dreadnought had entered service in 1906 and rendered earlier battleship designs outclassed.

Pommern displaced just over 13,000 tons and was armed with a main battery of four 28 cm (11 in) SK L/40 guns in two twin turrets, one forward and one aft. Her secondary armament included fourteen 17 cm (6.7 in) SK L/40 guns and twenty-two 8.8 cm SK L/35 quick-firing guns, together with six 45 cm torpedo tubes. She had a top speed of 18 knots, powered by three triple-expansion steam engines with coal-fired boilers. Armour protection was typical of German pre-dreadnoughts, with a belt of up to 225 mm and heavily protected turrets and conning tower.

During her peacetime career, Pommern served with the I Battle Squadron and later with the II Squadron after newer dreadnoughts entered service. Like her sisters, she took part in training manoeuvres, gunnery practice, and goodwill cruises before the First World War.

When war broke out in 1914, Pommern was mobilised with the II Battle Squadron of the High Seas Fleet. These older battleships carried out patrols and fleet sorties in the North Sea, but by 1916 they were increasingly vulnerable to modern dreadnoughts, battlecruisers, submarines, and mines. Nonetheless, they were still deployed in the fleet to provide numbers and absorb enemy attention.

Pommern’s fate came at the Battle of Jutland, fought from 31 May to 1 June 1916. As part of Vice Admiral Scheer’s main fleet, she was stationed at the rear of the German line with the other pre-dreadnoughts. On the night of 31 May–1 June, Pommern became engaged with British destroyers and torpedo boats during chaotic night actions. Shortly after midnight on 1 June, she was struck by a torpedo fired from the destroyer HMS Onslaught. The hit detonated one of her ammunition magazines, and Pommern exploded with the loss of all hands, numbering more than 800 officers and men. She was the only German battleship sunk during the battle.