Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:16:34-1:19:47

The Baltic Project never became one settled operation

The proposed Royal Navy move into the Baltic encompassed blockade, support for Russia, coastal pressure, and possible action around Denmark without settling on one plan.

Baltic ProjectDenmarkJohn FisherJohn JellicoeRoyal NavyWorld War I
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Question

What impact would the Baltic Project have had on the postwar world?

Short answer

No single answer is possible because the project never matured beyond several competing naval and amphibious concepts.

Notes

The panel cautions that the Baltic Project remained a cluster of ideas rather than a concrete operational design. Suggestions ranged from cutting German trade with Scandinavia to supporting Russia, threatening the German coast, or landing troops. Jellicoe's more restrained concept required defeating the High Seas Fleet first and emphasized missions the navy could perform without drawing troops from the Western Front. Any entry into the Baltic also raised the possibility of defending or reinforcing Denmark against a German response.