German planners assumed the Royal Navy would aggressively seek the High Seas Fleet and impose a close blockade. Mines, submarines, and torpedo boats were then supposed to reduce British strength before Germany accepted battle near its own repair bases. This plan aimed to offset Britain's numerical and infrastructure advantages by making damaged German ships more likely to reach port while British ships had to cross the North Sea. Its hidden premise was strategic coercion: Britain had to behave exactly as Germany required.
Chapter · 0:01-3:14
German strategy expected the Royal Navy to close in
Scheer's career is introduced through a German strategy that expected a close British blockade vulnerable to mines, submarines, torpedo boats, and battle near German bases.