The Naval Race That Started WWI
211K views · Feb 8, 2026 · Education
Comments · 374
@KingsandGenerals · 7 months ago · pinned
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@kagtkalem7115 · 7 months ago
Most expensive way to lose a war is to have the second best navy.
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@ronjohnson6916 · 7 months ago
Sunk cost fallacy plus a complete failure to understand the opposing mindset leads to yet more spending. Taking Germany into a race that they simply could not afford. That England really could afford her side either didn't matter. They could bear the costs longer -- and always would.<br><br>It's a fascinating period and this is a really good overview.
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@thomasmurray3920 · 7 months ago
I wrote a 45 paper describing a mathematical model for the Anglo-German Naval Arms Race in college. Fun times. 😎
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@kidpagronprimsank05 · 7 months ago
Basically, now you see why post-war Washington Naval conference (+London naval conference) happened
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@Ashadow700 · 7 months ago
General rule of thumb when it comes to geopolitics: Don't make yourself look like an existential threat. <br>If you do, don't be surprised when people treat you as such and spend seemingly endless resources to counter you.
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@Sysnas_1 · 7 months ago
kings and general Any chance of a detailed Iran–Iraq War series someday? One of the most important yet undercovered modern wars it would be amazing if u could do a video or series of videos about it
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@MichaelSmith-ij2ut · 7 months ago
As a serious challenge to the Royal Navy myself, the German Navy really inspires me
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@thehumblepookie · 7 months ago (edited)
Germany wants to build navy<br><br><br>After British offered an alliance bassicly..which the Kaiser wanted then changed his mind last second (source Guns of August)<br><br><br><br><b>bismark spinning in his grave so fast it dug miles of trenches</b><br><br>Who warned to stick to being a land power
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@parthiaball · 7 months ago
Victoria 2 haunts us with a yellow Germany, haha.<br>(Great video as always!)
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@ArmchairFilmCritic · 7 months ago
Interesting video, great job. <br> <br>The old slogan we want 8 and we won't wait (which to be fair you included in your video). Poor Lloyd George wanted to focus on insurance and the beginnings of the welfare state while Germany was building up her fleet which realistically the Government couldn't ignore due to pressure from opposition and combined with public opinion wanting to maintain naval supremacy. <br> <br>Wilhelm was an erratic man and his foreign policy blundering like interference in the Boer war, Morocco, his Telegraph interview as examples led to Germany being surrounded. <br> <br>Fisher greatly increased the efficiency of the navy budget and effectiveness of the fleet scrapping or putting into reserve 154 ships, saying 'There is only so much money available to the Navy if you put into chairs that can't fight, you take it away from ships and men who can' <br> <br>Fisher, due to the Anglo-Japanese allowance of 1902 which freed up British ships to come back to home waters, his assumption the Americans wouldn't be a threat and arrangements with the French focusing on the Mediterranean allowed the Brits to focus on the North Sea and the Channel. <br> <br>There was the Canadian Naval bill 1913 for building three battleships similar to the Queen Elizabeth class, it was unfortunate that it didn't get off the ground. <br> <br>Ultimately the British due to the above, their building programme outmatching the Germans in terms of battleship building, and the expense of the naval race enabled the Brits to maintain supremacy. <br> <br>The Germans also had to fund their large army as well, bearing in mind the British peace time army was small, the BEF was I think about 100,000 men initially although this would increase when the territorial divisions were mobilized and in time Kitchener's divisions. This was very small when compared to those powers on the continent who had long land borders to defend against their rivals. For the Brits the navy was the senior service due to being an island nation. <br> <br>Churchill was heavily involved in pushing the development and adoption of the 15 inch naval gun in the Royal Navy, ordering there use for the Queen Elizabeth class battleship without trials. <br> <br>The German u-boats showed their effectiveness early in the war with the Aboukir, Hogue and Cressey, a foretaste for unrestricted U boat warfare. <br> <br>After Jutland, the use of submarines was the Germans last resort to defeat the Brits that way that they couldn't do in a fleet action. The action on the 19th August 1916, neither fleet met, the two British cruisers were sunk by U boats and the German battleship Westphalia was damaged by a British submarine. <br> <br>I am glad you mentioned the Battle of Jutland was a British strategic victory, in your Jutland video had a lengthy discussion with someone who refused to acknowledge it. The grand fleet from their bases at Scapa Flow and Rosyth and the Channel sealed off the North Sea in a 'distant' blockade instead of patrolling off the German coast. The Brits did use submarines for patrolling, countering U boats, supporting the surface fleet and laying mines. British submarines were also active in the Baltic.
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@damonmahan7433 · 6 months ago (edited)
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtITLmVIOs0&t=226">3:46</a> Thank you for the familial shoutout! Many don’t believe me when I mention my famous ancestor, unfortunate it influenced the Germans tho lol
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