Why did Germany not prioritize U-boats over battleships before the Second World War?
Short answerPolitics favored capital ships, and a balanced fleet imposed wider operational burdens on Britain than submarines alone.
NotesHitler and the economic plan favored capital ships, while Germany was trying to build a balanced fleet. An all-submarine threat would let Britain concentrate on escorts and sloops, whereas German capital ships forced scarce Royal Navy units to cover additional theaters and contingencies.