War at Sea Study Notes

In 1914, Britain declared the North Sea a war zone, allowing them to board and seize ships. This blockade crippled Germany's ability to receive supplies.

The British Navy had a larger fleet, including 29 dreadnoughts (large battleships), compared to Germany's 17 dreadnoughts. This numerical advantage gave Britain control of the seas.

Germany's ships were known for superior design, including stronger armor and more accurate guns. This gave them an edge in combat.

A German cruiser, 'Magdeburg', was sunk by Russia, leading to the loss of Germany's naval codebook. This allowed Britain to decipher German messages, giving them vital intelligence.

A large warship designed for ship-to-ship combat. They were expensive to build and were the main power of navies in the early 20th century.

A warship, bigger than a destroyer, capable of engaging in both ship-to-ship combat and protecting merchant ships from attacks.

A small, fast warship designed to protect merchant vessels and fight submarines.

The main battleships of a navy, designed for direct combat with other battleships. They were the most powerful ships in the early 20th century.

A naval engagement where the British Navy scored a tactical victory against the German Navy in the North Sea. The British used fast destroyers to lure German cruisers into a trap, where they were met by the British battle cruisers, resulting in significant German losses.

The German navy's attempt to break through British patrols and raid the northeast coast of Britain during World War I. The raids aimed to lay mines, damage British morale and force the British fleet to spread out.

The British Royal Navy's strategy of avoiding large-scale naval battles despite having a superior fleet, as they feared losing valuable warships.

The German Kaiser's order to withdraw the German navy from active operations after the Battle of Heligoland Bight.

The Royal Navy's victory during the Battle of Heligoland Bight was seen as a significant success. The victory raised British morale and showed British naval dominance.

The German Navy's use of naval raids as a strategy to damage British morale, disrupt shipping, and force the British fleet into a spread-out defense.

The Royal Naval commander who famously stated that Britain could lose the entire war if its fleet was destroyed.

The British Navy's superiority in firepower and sheer number of ships during the Battle of Heligoland Bight.

A type of warfare where a country attacks enemy ships without warning, including civilian vessels.

The sinking of a British passenger ship by a German U-boat in May 1915. Over 1,000 passengers died, including 128 Americans.

A British passenger ship targeted by German U-boats during WWI. It was also used for military purposes, carrying supplies.

The German government's claim that the Lusitania carried military supplies in addition to passengers.

The US President who warned Germany that the US might enter the war due to the Lusitania sinking.

The German decision to stop unrestricted warfare after the Lusitania incident, aimed at avoiding US entry into the war.

A policy adopted by Germany after the Lusitania incident where merchant vessels were only attacked after warning, and passenger safety was secured.

The impact of the Lusitania incident on tensions between the US and Germany, increasing the risk of US involvement in WWI.

Both sources agree that the British fleet was significant, with Source B describing it as 'the best of the English fleet' and 'a much stronger enemy'. Source A supports this by stating that the British fleet forced the German fleet to return to port, implying a sense of threat.

Source B claims a German victory at Jutland, describing it as 'a great and splendid success' and implying superior fleet capabilities. However, Source A contradicts this by stating the Germans 'avoided a prolonged battle' and fled when the British main forces arrived, suggesting a retreat and significant damage.

Both Sources A and B acknowledge that the British suffered heavy casualties in the Battle of Jutland. Source A specifically mentions the sinking and abandoning of multiple cruisers.

Extract C argues that the German navy did not pose a significant threat to Britain during World War I, despite claiming victory at Jutland. It highlights the British naval supremacy and the effectiveness of their blockade, which ultimately limited German capabilities.

Extract C suggests that the German navy's superior gunnery and ship design, demonstrated at Jutland, did not translate into a real threat to Britain. The British naval dominance and effective blockade prevented Germany from achieving a decisive victory.

Extract C emphasizes that only the complete destruction of the British fleet could have provided Germany with a path to victory in World War I. They failed to achieve this objective, limiting their overall impact on the war.

The Battle of Jutland, though a major naval battle, did not significantly change the overall course of World War I. Despite differing accounts of the battle's outcome, it ultimately did not lead to a decisive victory for either side, and British naval supremacy remained.

The sources are in agreement that the British suffered a significant number of casualties in the Battle of Jutland. Source A states, ‘our losses were heavy… others are still missing’, while Source B mentions ‘enemy losses… several times greater’.

Source B claims that the Germans achieved a ‘great and splendid success’ in the Battle of Jutland, attributing it to the superior strength of their fleet. Source A contradicts this, suggesting the Germans’ retreat as evidence of their ‘severe damage’ and highlighting their avoidance of ‘a prolonged battle’.

Both Source A and Source B acknowledge the significant size and power of the British fleet. Source A points out the Germans’ return to port upon seeing the British fleet, indicating their perception of the British as a formidable force. Source B reinforces this by calling the British fleet ‘stronger’ and the ‘best of the English fleet’.

Source A suggests that the Germans engaged in a tactical retreat when confronted by the main British forces, describing the incident as ‘severely damaged’ and avoiding ‘a prolonged battle’. This contrasts with Source B’s claim of a German victory, potentially implying a different interpretation of the events.

While both sources agree that the British experienced significant losses, their emphasis differs. Source A simply states ‘our losses were heavy’, acknowledging the casualties without further judgment or exaggeration. Source B, however, describes the British losses as ‘several times greater’, amplifying the notion of significant casualties.

Source A emphasizes the Germans’ avoidance of a prolonged battle, describing it as ‘severely damaged’ and retreating when faced with the main British forces. Source B, however, focuses on the German victory, suggesting that their fleet was capable of overcoming the British in battle. This suggests a conflict in perspective regarding the strategic implications of the battle.

Source B presents a narrative of German victory based on their supposed superiority in the battle and the ‘several times greater’ losses inflicted on the British. Source A, on the other hand, portrays the Germans as having ‘avoided a prolonged battle’ and ‘severely damaged’ upon the arrival of the British main forces. This suggests two competing viewpoints when interpreting the outcomes of the Battle of Jutland.

The Battle of Jutland was a major naval engagement between the British and German fleets in 1916. It was a close-fought battle with heavy losses on both sides, but ultimately resulted in a tactical victory for the Germans.

The author believes that the Battle of Jutland was a significant success for the Germans because they inflicted heavy losses on the British fleet.

The author uses several sources, including Extract C and Source A, to support their argument that the Germans inflicted heavy losses on the British at the Battle of Jutland.

The phrase "enemy losses are several times greater" suggests that the British suffered significantly greater losses than the Germans at the Battle of Jutland.

The author believes that the Germans posed a significant threat to Britain during World War I because they were able to inflict significant damage on the British fleet at the Battle of Jutland and bombard British coastal towns.

The author uses their own knowledge and sources to refute the interpretation that the Germans were not a significant threat to Britain.

The author uses the phrases "severely damaged," "must have been large," and "returned to port" to suggest that the German fleet sustained heavy losses at the Battle of Jutland and retreated to port.

The author uses the phrase "enemy losses are several times greater" in Source B to highlight the significant losses sustained by the British at the hands of the Germans.