Russia had worsening relations with Germany but ordered modern cruisers from German yards in 1912. The vessels were nearly complete when war began, so Germany retained them and placed them in its own fleet. American shipbuilding capacity offered a plausible source outside the anticipated conflict. Foreign construction itself made sense because Russia's domestic capital-ship program moved so slowly. Choosing a likely enemy exposed the order to immediate wartime seizure.
Notable Point · 1:39:41-1:45:14
Ordering Russian cruisers from a potential enemy
The lost German-built cruisers illustrate how procurement choices can turn diplomatic risk into an immediate loss of capability.