15.3.8

The War at Sea

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The War at Sea

The European powers had prepared their navies for years before the war. Maritime warfare (warfare at sea) was incredibly important in WW1.

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Maritime warfare

  • Britain had always had a very strong navy because of its 'two-power standard' (having a stronger navy than the next two powers combined).
  • Britain may have had a stronger and larger navy, but Germany had new technology, such as u-boats (submarines).
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Importance of the navy

  • Both sides were aware that if they lost their navy, the whole war could be lost.
  • Because of this there were few serious naval battles between the sides in WW1.
  • Britain was able to intercept the German naval code and decode its messages.
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Supply chains

  • The main objective of maritime (sea) warfare was to stop supplies from reaching the enemy.
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How did the German navy threaten Britain?

  • The German navy threatened Britain in the following ways:
    • By attacking supply ships carrying raw materials.
    • By attacking ships Britain was sending to its allies.
    • By stopping communication between Britain and its empire.
Illustrative background for How did the British navy threaten Germany? Illustrative background for How did the British navy threaten Germany?  ?? "content

How did the British navy threaten Germany?

  • The British navy threatened Germany in the following ways:
    • By blockading their ports and stopping supplies from reaching the German home front.
    • By stopping communication between Germany and its empire.

Jump to other topics

1The Medieval World: 450-1450 AD

1.1Anglo-Saxon England

1.2The Contest for the English Throne

1.3Conquering the Holy Land, 10-96-1396 AD

1.4King John

1.5The Magna Carta & Parliament

1.6The Black Death

2Worldviews

3The Empire of Mali

4The Renaissance & Reformations, 1500-1598 AD

5The British Empire, 1583-1960 AD

6The Peasants' Revolt

7Religion in the Middle Ages

8Slavery, 1619-1833 AD

9The English Civil War, 1642-1660

10The Industrial Revolution, 1750-1840

11US Independence, 1775-1783

12The French Revolution, 1789-1815

13The British Empire, 1857–1930

14Suffrage

15World War 1, 1914-1918

16The Inter-War Years, 1919-1939

17World War 2, 1939-1945

18The Cold War, 1947-1962

19Civil Rights in the USA, 1954-1975

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