Imperial German Navy
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The Imperial German Navy or the Kaiserliche Marine was the navy of the German Empire, which existed between 1871 and 1919. It grew out of the small Prussian Navy, which was mainly for coastal defence.
Major elements of the High Seas Fleet in the early 1910s
Proclamation of Wilhelm I as Emperor of Germany at Versailles, France in 1871
Wilhelm II in German Admiral's uniform in 1913
Alfred von Tirpitz
Wilhelm II
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Wilhelm II was the last German Emperor from 1888 until his abdication in 1918. His fall from power marked the end of the German Empire as well as the Hohenzollern dynasty's 400-year rule over Prussia.
Imperial German Navy
…existed between 1871 and 1919. It grew out of the small Prussian Navy (from 1867 the North German Federal Navy), which was mainly for coastal defence. Kaiser Wilhelm II greatly expanded the navy. The key leader was Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz, who greatly expanded the size and quality of the navy, while adopting the sea…
Wilhelm in 1902
Wilhelm in 1867, aged 8
Wedding of Prince Henry of Prussia with Princess Irene of Hesse on 24 May 1888. The future emperor Wilhelm II is on the right. The emperor Frederick III is seated on the left and would have died just three weeks after.
Otto von Bismarck, the Chancellor who effectively dictated German policy until Wilhelm II assumed the throne in 1888