The strategic case begins with geography. Heligoland sits close enough to Germany to affect exits from its main North Sea ports, yet remains separated from the mainland by water. Any power holding it can watch, constrain, or defend traffic around the German Bight. Shipping using the Kiel Canal and nearby estuaries would operate under the shadow of a base in Germany's maritime backyard. The counterfactual turns on who can use this small island as a forward naval position.
Chapter · 11:06-16:23
Heligoland as a North Sea chokepoint
Heligoland's position near the Kiel Canal and German ports makes it a powerful base for a blockade or for controlling movement in the German Bight.