Why Germany could neither hold nor safely withdraw its overseas squadron

Was Germany's overseas naval failure caused by policy, inadequate resources, or the lack of a retreat plan?

All were connected: the imperial ambition created a position that could not be held and had no practical wartime exit.

The squadron's position followed the Kaiser's desire for an overseas empire more than a sustainable war plan. Germany lacked the local resources needed to hold its stations against stronger maritime opponents. It also lacked a secure withdrawal route, because a returning squadron would need coal and would be hunted across the oceans. Once war began, neither defending the bases nor bringing the force home offered a reliable solution.