The Reign of the Lonely Queen - A History of KMS Tirpitz Part 1

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The History of the German Navy now Called the Deutsche Marine ('German Navy') Achieved many Landmarks in the Underwater War with the use of the U-boat, less well known is the Contributions of the Surface Units and in Particular the Zerstroyer and other Small Boat Units that Saw Action in Both Wars and Helped to Form the New Post War Marine (Navy) on both Occasions after the Great War and the Second World War.
This Story will Revolve around the History of the KMS Tirpitz - but it will also Cover other Areas like the German Marine upto 1944 (when Tirpitz was sunk) as well as Associated Surface Actions and Escort Operations by the Little Boats for the Big Boat.
It will also contain a biography of the Seaman that KMS Tirpitz was named after Alfred von Tirpitz - Father of the Modern German Navy shortly after the creation of the United German Empire.

Ask Anyone to Name a German Ship from the War and most would Name Bismarck, ask them to Name a Loss and HMS Hood would be first to appear on Anyone's lips because of its loss rate and the Resulting 'Revenge' of the RN if your from England or HMAS Sydney if your from Australia or the USS Arizona if your from the USA etc etc....

But What of Tirpitz ?

She did Nothing more then Skulk in Norway until the RAF Succeeded in Sinking her after she was Penned up by the RN - Right?

Wrong!

Tirpitz did so Much More drew so Much more Attention and Effort to Cripple or Sink her from Almost Day One of the War and Most Importantly Proved her value as a Potent Threat to the RN and other Allied Naval Units as what's Now referred to as being a Major Part of 'The Fleet in Being' and this is a Role often Overlooked and Underappreciated to a High Degree.
This is the Story of the German Navy, of Wilhelmshaven and Kiel, of Shipyards and Captains, of Bravery and Death on Both Sides in Equal Proportions and Military Blunders and Successes - most of all it is the Story of Men of all ages who are sent to Fight in Cold Artic Conditions - be it at Sea, Under the Waves, on the Land or in the Skies Above.

Our Story Begins with the German Navy using the First of its Many Names as the newly Formed Prussian Navy one of the Over 40 States of what would be later the German Empire....and from Whom's Birth Pangs would grow the Future Germany's first Imperial German Navy of the Second Reich.

Throughout the Centuries, Prussia's Military and Royal Households Consistently Concentrated on their Land Power Assets, and Never sought a Similar Power at Sea -Yet Historically there has Always been a Prussian Marine force (Preussische Marine), beginning from as Early as in the Days when "Prussia" meant only the Margraviate of Brandenburg (1157-1806).
The Prussian Royal Family that Ruled during the 18th Century had Very Little Interest in Maintaining their Own Navy and this was Mainly Due to the State's Continental Position and the Lack of Easily Defensible Natural Borders.
The Argument would go along the Lines of being that Prussia 'had' to Concentrate its Military Preparations on the Preussische Armee and other Landward Defences - Besides this, the Kingdom was able to 'Rely' on its Many Friendly Connections with the Neighbouring Naval Powers of Denmark and the Netherlands - so what Need did they have for their Own Costly and Ineffective Marine Flotte??

Despite all this the Koniglich Preussische Marine (Prussian Navy) is Recorded as being Formed 1 October 1864 by the Order of Friedrich Wilhelm I (1688-1740) with as one of its Main Tasks the Role of Carrying out Commercial Shipping and Business while 'Attending to the Growing need for German Overseas Colonies being Settled by Undertaking the New Discovery of these Lands and the Acquisition of such Lands'.

This Attitude of 'Marine Disinterest' can be Traced in its Origins to back inside the Prussian Monarchy to as far as Friedrich I (1657-1713) and to his Successor Friedrich Wilhelm I (1688-1740) and the now Ruling Friedrich der Grosse (the Great) (Frederick II of Prussia 1712-1786).
All were of the same Mind

- a View that was Shared by another German Leader -

that being that None held Any or at Best Very Little Interest in Marine Matters and Friedrich II held an Overall View that Prussia should Never seek to Develop its own War Fleet.

One of the Earliest Examples of this View led to the Marine being Dissolved for 100 Years under the Orders of Friedrich I from 1711, the Disinterest being so Great that it led to Orders that 'All Newly Discovered Lands be Sold to the Netherlands' for the Best Price possible.

'The Kingdom of Prussia could Never Hope to Equal the Great Fleets of the Time Sailing Under the Flags of the Countries of England, France, Spain, Denmark and Russia with their Own Few Meagre Ships Available' - that was the way that the Argument usually went.

The Prussians would Always Remain 'Behind those Great Maritime Nations' in Shipbuilding Capacity and Quantity - its was Thought to be much Smarter to 'Maintain their Allegiances with the Netherlands and Denmark' while Adding the all powerful Great Brittan and her Empire to their list of Naval Friends in the event of Any such War Breaking Out that Threatened their Maritime Trade Routes.
Frederick II and his Royal Court (along with earlier Prussian Monarchs) also Believed that 'Naval Battles would only Rarely Decide any Future Conflict' and what made More Sense was his Own Personal preference of having the 'best Army in Europe rather than the Worst Fleet' among the Naval Powers of that time.

 

[diversdream]

The Prussian Monarchy despite these Views also held even more Firmer Views on Wanting to take part in International Maritime Commerce on the Worlds Seaways and therefore Founded several Trading Firms to Undertake this Goal.
One of these Founded in 1772 as the Société de Commerce Maritime, still exists today as a Foundation named the Preussische Seehandlung.

After the end of the Napoleonischen Kriege (Napoleonic Wars 1803-1815), Prussia slowly began to Build its own Small Fleet for Coastal Defence Purposes only.
This was Started on 28 November 1816 under the Orders of Friedrich Wilhelm III (1770-1840) and was Formed around 2 ex Swedish Navy Kanonenbooten (Cannon Boats) and a Newly Armed Schooner (really a Brigantine) Stralsund (Konig Preuss (Sea Captain) Johann Diedrich Longe (1779-1863).
The Stralsund is Considered by Many as the First True Prussian Marine Ship as she was Constructed and Manned under the Orders of Friedrich Wilhelm III, making Konigl Preuss Johann Diedrich Longe as her Master one of the Earliest if not the Earliest Captain of the Preussische Marine.
The Flag of the Stralsund which was handed over to her by the Prussian Minister for War on behalf of the Koing on 28 November 1816 was to be the Only Ship to Sail under her Colours and is for this Reason known as the 'Stralsund Flag'.

The Stralsund was Armed with a Pair of 24 Pound Cannon and 6 x 18 Pound Cannon, her Complement has been Lost to the Sands of Time but it is Estimated based on the Number of Hammocks Carried and other Reasoning as being Under 50 Sailors in total.
She was Built by the Joachim J Meyer Shipyard in Stralsund near the Island of Rugen on the Baltic Sea with her Keel being Laid in 1816 and Work Completed on her by 12 February 1817.
Her only Kommander was Konig Preuss Johann Diedrich Longe who Sailed on her until 1829 at which point he left to take up a Shore Position and his Command was Scrapped 8 November 1829 after being earlier Sold at Auction.

It was not til the Rule of Friedrich Wilhelm IV (1795-1861) who became Interested in the Marine while only a Prinz, that the first True Blueprint for a Long Term Koniglich Preussische Marine was Laid out and in 1841 when he gave Approval for the Construction of the Segelschulschiff (Sail Training Ship) Amazone.

The Amazone was Constructed 1841-1843 and Among her Many Achievements were -

1844 - the Pioneering of the Sail Route's to England, Portugal, Gibraltar, Greece and Turkey as well as Gaining Entry into the 'Black Sea'

1845 - Sailed the Route from Denmark to Genoa and back Stopping at England and Spain while Underway

1847 - Crossed the Atlantic and Docked at New York, America

1853 - Reached South America and North America

1857 - Reached Scandinavia and England.

She was Sunk during a Gale with All Hands under the Kommand of Leutenant Hermann while making another Voyage to Portugal when Within Sight of the Netherlands on 14 November 1861 with Over 100 Souls Reported as Being on Board by some Sources, the Exact Number Varying from the Different Sources I have been able to Consult upto this Time (2009).
As in the Manner of Others of her Nature she was Designed Mostly for Commerce and Pioneering Trade Routes but she was still Armed for her Own Protection and Carried 12 x 18 Pound and 4 'Short' 24 Pound Guns.
Again as can be Seen more Value was Placed on the Development of a 'Large and Effective Merchant Fleet' than on Any kind of Military based Marine.

In this Connection, the Prussian Maritime Enterprise would go onto Play a Notably Significant Role in the Very Near Future.
The Ships that Sailed as part of the Société de Commerce and Others Undertook Early Maritime Trade, but they were also Armed to Protect themselves against Pirates (some of which Sailed from a Castle in the future location of Wilhelmshaven which Due to their Effectiveness would see that Castle later Burnt to the ground) and flew the Preussische Seekriegsflagge (Prussian War Ensign).

This Protection Flotte (modern day Aux Navy) was to be in Existence until as Late as around 1850.


One of the First to Work for the Development of a True Koniglich Preussische Marine was a Member of Prussia's Royalty - Prinz (Prince) Adalbert of Prussia.

 

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Prinz Heinrich Wilhelm Adalbert von Hohenzollern (1811-1873) had made a Number of Journeys Abroad and Rapidly Recognized the Value of Any type of Fleet in Offeringing Support and Escort to their Commercial Interests and to Protecting Prussia's own Growing Navigational Seaways.
During the Revolutionary Era of 1848-1852 at the behest of the Frankfurter Nationalversammlung (Frankfurt National Assembly - Parliament of the Day), the Prinz was given the Responsibility of Establishing the German Confederation's (1815-1866) Reichsflotte (Imperial fleet).

The Newly Formed Deutsche Bund (German Confederation) of 1815 which came about After the Congress of Vienna (1814-1815) Possessed Practically No Fleet of its own instead Relying on the Treaties held with the 'Allied powers' Made up of Great Britain and the Netherlands to keep its Seaways and Ports Secure.
This Change in Policy was brought about with the Nationalversammlung now being Faced with a War against One of its Former Allies, Denmark over Who should Control the Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein or as it was referred to by the Nationalversammlung the 'Schleswig-Holstein Question'.

During the Schleswig-Holsteinischer Krieg that took place Principally in Northern Germany and Southern Denmark (First War of Schleswig 1848-1851 to be followed in February-October 1864 by the Second War of Schleswig) - the Failure of this Strategy became Abundantly Clear because Great Britain and the Netherlands
remained Neutral and the Seaways of Prussia remained Undefended.
Within a Matter of Days, the Danish Navy Halted all German Maritime Trade in the North Sea and Baltic Sea Ports by Blockading those Ports with Warships.
The Navy of Austria which was Prussia's Closest Ally, lay in the Mediterranean and as a Result was Unable to Intervene until only much later in the War.

There was only One Naval Combat of the Entire War Involving the Koniglich Preussische Marine and it took place on 14 June 1849 - Seegefecht bei Helgoland (Battle of Heligoland).

After the Failure of the Revolutions of 1848, the so called Marzrevolution (March Revolution) - Adalbert was able to Resume his Plans for the Establishment of a Prussian Navy and it is a Testament to his hard Work and Endeavours in both fields of Seamanship and Construction that the end result would lead to the growth of Prussia's Burgeoning Trade Empire supported by a well Armed Preussische Marine.
The Prinz began with the Construction of Warships and just as Importantly the Establishment of Naval Education and Training Schools and as a direct Result from around the Middle of the 1850s, one could Nearly Always find a Prussian Korvette or Fregatte Somewhere upon all the World's Seas

He was Forced to Resign his Post by his Cousin who was the Koing (Friedrich Wilhelm IV) in 1849 due to the Kings Mistrust of the 'Revolutionary Based' Frankfurter Nationalversammlung and was Replaced by the Netherlands born Jan Schroder (1800-1885) who now became the first Seebefehlshaber of the Newly Announced Reichsmarine when he was Promoted from Kommodore to Admiral.
Despite this Prinz Adalbert was still Able to Assist in the Growth of the latter Reichsmarine and due to his Work in Gaining the Jade Treaty of 20 July 1853 which Led to Prussia and the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg jointly Agreeing to a Withdrawal from a Region along the Western Bank of the Jade Bay

- where from 1854 onward Prussia Established the Fortress, Naval Base and Future city of Wilhelmshaven.

Besides Prince Adalbert some of the other Important Figures of this early Period that Served with the Preussische Marine were Officers like Karl Rudolf Bromme (1804-1860), Ludwig von Henk (1820-1894),
Eduard Karl Emanuel von Jachmann (1822-1887) and Alexander von Monts (1832-1889).

The Deutsche Bund (German Confederation) first called its Marine the Norddeutsche Bundesmarine (Northern German Federal Navy) and it was Formed from out of the Koniglich Preussische Marine after the End of the 'Schleswig-Holstein Question' action against Denmark in 1867, and as a Result of the Conclusion of the Austro-Prussian War or Deutscher Krieg in 1866 (Österreichisch-Preussischer Krieg (Austro-Prussian War) or Bruderkrieg (War of Brothers).

 

[diversdream]

The Fleet Ensign was Raised for the First Time in 1867 under Oberbefehl der Marine Prinz Adalbert of Prussia, with the Overall Kommander based inside the Marineministerium, General Albrecht von Roon (1803-1879).
At Formation the Deutsche Bund's Norddeutsche Bundesmarine Flotte was made up Overall of 6 Panzerschiff, 9 Korvettes and 8 Aviso's.

The Major Task for the Norddeutsche Bundesmarine was the 'Protection of Maritime Trade, the Defence of the Coastline' and as a Long Term Goal to be able to 'Disrupt Enemy Trade Routes' and to Attack 'Enemy Fleets and or Coastal/Port areas' as/when Ordered.
In 1869 both Kiel and Wilhelmshaven became Ports for the Basing of the Norddeutsche Bundesmarine, and after only Limited Service during the Deutsch-Franzsischer Krieg (Franco-Prussian War 1870-1871) the German Marine underwent yet Another Name Change.

At the Outset of the Deutsch-Franzsischer Krieg the French Government Ordered an Immediate Naval Blockade of the North German Coastline, Similar to the Actions of Denmark, which the relatively small Norddeutsche Bundesmarine could do Little to Oppose.
This Blockade was only Partially Successful Due to a Crucial Oversights by the Naval Planners back in Paris.
The Conscripts that were Supposed to be at the Ready in case of War were Already in use further afield in the Newfoundland Fisheries or in Scotland, Reducing Available Manpower to a Critical degree.
As a Direct Result Only Partial Elements of the Powerful 470-Ship French Navy put to Sea on 22 July 1870 and Before Long they began to Suffer from Shortages - most of all the new God of War - Coal.
The Complete Failure of the Attempt to Blockade Wilhelmshaven and Conflicting Orders on whether or Not to Proceed to the Baltic Sea or to Return to France made the French Naval Efforts Overall Ineffective at Best and a Debacle at Worst.

In what Many would Today call a Bold move Designed to relieve Pressure from the Expected German Attack into Alsace-Lorraine, Napoleon III (1808-1873) and others in the French High Command planned at the Outset of the War to Launch a Seaborne Invasion of Northern Germany.
It was Hoped that the Invasion would Not only Divert German Troops from the Front, but also Inspire Denmark to Assist with its 50 000 Strong Army and Substantial and Highly Experienced Navy.
However it was Discovered that Prussia had recently Installed Formidable Defences around the Major North German Ports, including Coastal Artillery Batteries Consisting of 'Krupp' Heavy Artillery that could Hit French ships from a Distance of over 4000 yards.
The French Navy Lacked the Necessary Heavy Weaponry to Deal with these Coastal Defences, which along with the Difficult Topography of the Prussian Coastline made Any Seaborne Invasion of Northern Germany Now All but Impossible.

As the Autumn Storms of the North Sea took their Toll on the Remaining French Ships, the Blockade became Less and Less Effective as every Day went by.
By September 1870, the Blockade was Finally Abandoned Altogether for the Winter and the French Navy Retired to Ports along the English Channel, Remaining in Port for the Remainder of the War.
It is True that Isolated Engagements took place between French and German Ships in other Theatres, such as the Blockade by the French Corvette Dupleix of the German Korvette Hertha in Nagasaki Japan and the Gunboat Battle between the Prussian Gunboat Meteor and the French Aviso Bouvet Outside of Havana Cuba in November 1870 During which Neither Ship was Sunk - However Both were Damaged with Killed and Wounded on Both sides.

These were However Not the Normal Way of Events.

After the Flag of the Norddeutsche Bundesmarine was Brought Down for the Last Time it was Replaced by the Newly Announced Kaiserliche Marine which came into Existence in 1871 and Flew its own Kaiserliche Marine Jack (1903-1918) and its own War Ensign - Reichskriegsflagge (1903-1918).
The Kaiserliche Marine was Created by the Newly Risen Second Reich's Formation as the Deutsche Reich
(1871-1918) under the Kaiser Wilhelm I (1797-1888) and Reichskanzler Otto Eduard Leopold von Bismarck
(1815-1898).
All the Ships of the Kaiserliche Marine were to be Prefixed (like the RAN etc HMAS) as SMS for Seiner Majestat Schiff Which Was in effect His Majesty's Ship.
The Newly Created Emperor Kaiser Wilhelm I as King of Prussia, was Head of State of the Strongest State Forming Part of the newly Unified Deutsche Reich.
The Marine Remained the Same as that Operated by the Deutsche Bund's Norddeutsche Bundesmarine, which itself in 1867 inherited the Koniglich Preussische Marine so that Now the Wheel had Turned Full Circle in its Own way.

Article 53 of the 'New Constitution' Recognised the Existence of the Kaiserliche Marine as an 'Independent Organisation', but until 1888 it was Kommanded by Armee Officers and initially Adopted the Same Regulations as those Already in force in the Preussische Armee.
The Oberbefehl of the Kaiserliche Marine (Supreme command) was the Kaiser, but its first Appointed Chef was General der Infanterie Albrecht von Stosch (1818-1896).
Alongside these Changes the Fortification and Building of Modern Shipyards on the Baltic Sea at Kiel and on the North Sea at Wilhelmshaven were also soon underway as these and other Ports were Developed into Primary Marine Bases of a Long Term Nature.
The Marinebehorden (Ministry of Marine) became the Kaiserliche Admiralitat (Imperial Admiralty) on 1 February 1872, while General der Infanterie Stosch became formally Admiral Stosch in 1875.

The Kaiserliche Marine's Major Task was seen to be to - 'Prevent any Invading Army from Landing' and to 'Protect Coastal Towns from Possible Shore Bombardment' - with France and Russia seen as being the 'Most Likely' Enemies at the time.

Under the 'Guidance of Albrecht von Stosch a Marineakademie (Naval academy) was Created at Kiel in March 1872 for Training Officers to be followed in May the same Year by the Creation of the Maschinen-Ingenieur Korps (Machine Engineer Corps) and finally in February 1873 an Independent Kaiserliche Marine Medizinischen Korps ('Medical Corps').
The Two Fields for which the German Navy under Any Name would become Synonymous with were to be Next Formed with a Separate and Specialist Torpedo Ingenieur Korps ('Torpedo Engineer Corps') Created in July 1879 to Not only Deal with Torpedoes but also the Development and Use of the Seamine for both Offensive and Defensive purposes.

 

[diversdream]

In May 1872 an Ambitious ten year Building Program was Instituted to Modernise and Redevelop Overall the Kaiserliche Marine in all facets of Ship and Shore areas,along Much Similar lines as the Later Z-Plan was Expected to do.

The Kaiserliche Marine would Base its Flottengrundungsplan around the New Construction of -

8 Panzerfregatten (Ironclad Frigate)

6 Panzerkorvetten (Ironclad Corvette)

20 Leicht Korvetten (Light Corvettes)

7 Kustenpanzerschiffe (Monitors)

2 Schwimmende Batterie (Floating Batteries)

6 Avisos

18 Kanonenboot (Gunboats)

28 Torpedoboot (Torpedo Boats).

The Building Plan had to be Approved by the Reichstag (the new German Parliament) at an all up Cost estimated at 220 million Goldmarks (GM), the Allocation of which Funds was under the 'Reichstag's Overall Control' - it was later Approved in Full.
One Quarter of the Finances were to be Provided by the Recently Defeated French in the Form of 'War Reparation Payments' and this would No Doubt have Helped to Sway any 'Doubters' inside the Reichstag along with the 'Strong Support' of Reichskanzler von Bismarck for the Building Plan.
Additionally there would also be 2 Overseas Marine Stations supported by its own Marine Squadron along with the formation of an substantial Marine Reserve force.

The Kaiserliche Marine was given a New Chef der Marine in 1883 with the Replacement of Admiral von Stosch with another Armee officer General der Infanterie Georg Leo von Caprivi de Caprera de Montecuccoli (1831-1899).
With the Appointment of Georg Leo von Caprivi he Arrived to take Charge of a well developing Marine Thanks largely to the Groundwork laid so well by Admiral von Stosch and those Others before him - when he took over the Flotte was made up of 7 Panzerfregatten and 4 Panzerkorvetten with other's Sitting on the Slipways.
Sailors were also Coming along well with a good base made up of 400 Commissioned Officers and 5000 Ratings and Leading Hands - All Qualified and Ready for Sea or Shore Postings.

The Objectives of Coastal Defence remained Largely Unchanged but there was a New Emphasis on Development of the Torpedo which Offered the Revolutionary Possibility of 'Only a Relatively Small Class of Ship' being Able to Successfully Attack and Cripple- if not Sink- much 'Larger classes then those Attacking'.
As an Indicator of the Importance Now held for the only Recently Invented Self Propelled Torpedo (1864) above all other types of Weaponry, Wilhelmshaven was first to have its Own Port Based Torpedo Division which was Created there in October 1887 (Kiel was Second).
Also in 1887 the Chef der Marine 'Requested' that an Additional 10 Panzerfregatten be Ordered from the Ship Builders to Reinforce his Existing number of Ships.

Soon however the Old Arguments Reared their Ugly Heads into the Reichstag and before too long the Kaiserliche Marine was Once more being Starved of Funds by its Old Enemy - the Army.
Greater Importance was Placed at this Time on Development of the Army, which was Expected to be 'more Important' in any kind of 'Winnable War'.
However One of the Most Important Building Events Did Start to take Place in this Period

- the Invaluable Marine aid in Both War and Peace -

Construction of the Kiel Kanal.

The Kaiser Wilhelm Kanal Commenced Construction in June 1887 with the Goal of Connecting the North Sea with the Baltic sea by Cutting through the Jutland Peninsula Landmass and thus Allowing German ships to Travel between the two seas, Avoiding waters Controlled by other Countries.
This Shortened the Journey for Commercial Shipping but Specifically United the two Operational areas Principally of Concern to the Kaiserliche Marine, as well as Both of its Major Ports, now seen to be No longer Capable of only Sortieing a fleet from one Port per Time as before.
The Cost was Approx 150 million GM

- but its Strategic and Commercial Value was Invaluable and is still Used by all Seafaring Peoples in Either Areas to this Present day.

The Kanal was opened by Kaiser Wilhlem II during 1895 and was known by its Title of the Kaiser Wilhelm Kanal by all Germans til After the Second World War.

The Protection of German Maritime Trade Routes became 'Vitally Important' at a later time as well and this would soon lead to the Setting up of some Overseas Supply Stations and in the 1880s the Kaiserliche Marine played a Major part in helping to 'Secure the Establishment of German Colonies and Protectorates' in Africa, Asia and Oceania (Examples would have been German East Africa (Deutsch Ostafrika 1885-1919), German New Guinea (Deutsch Neuguinea 1885-1914) and Micronesia-Caroline Islands (Karolinen 1899-1919).

After Surviving Several Assassination Attempts the most recent being in 1878 in which the Kaiser was himself
Wounded, but Survived, and being the Konig of Prussia and Kaiser of Germany from 1871-1888, Kaiser Wilhelm I Died where he was born, in Berlin 9 March 1888 of 'Natural Causes' Aged 90.

His Closest Friend was Reichskanzler von Bismarck and he Described the late Kaiser in his Memoirs as being

- 'An Old-Fashioned, Courteous, Infallibly Polite Gentleman and a Genuine Prussian Officer, whose Good Common Sense was Occasionally Undermined by "Female Influences!".

Friedrich III (Friedrich Wilhelm Nikolaus Karl von Preussen 1831-1888) Ascended the Throne to become Koing of Prussia and Kaiser of Germany while his Wife Victoria Adopted the Title and Style of Kronprinzessin Victoria and Kaiserin Victoria (Her Imperial and Royal Majesty The German Empress Queen of Prussia).

The German Reichskanzler von Bismarck Openly 'Disliked and Mistrusted' the New Kaiser because of his More 'Liberal Attitudes and Beliefs' and what he saw as being the 'Undue Influence of his Wife' from England Kaiserin Victoria Adelaide Mary Louisa (1840-1901), the Eldest Daughter of England's Queen Victoria
(1819-1901).

The Couple were Engaged in 1857 and Married on 25 January 1858 at Saint James Palace England after first Meeting in 1851 and based on all Known Records were Both 'Genuinely in Love' with one Another 'quite deeply', much as Queen Victoria Loved her own 'Beloved Albert' (Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha 1819-1861).
At the Time of their Wedding, Londoners Chanted

- "God Save the Prince and Bride! God Keep their Lands Allied!"

These would be the Self Same People that would be Later Braying for German Blood in Only a few years time...

Reichskanzler von Bismarck found himself often 'at Odds' with Friedrich III over his 'Policies and Actions' which often led to Friedrich III siding with the Country's more Liberal Minded 'Peoples' in their own
'Opposition to the Expansion' of the Deutsche Kaiserreich's Kriegsministerium (German empire's Armed Forces ministry).
His Personal Protests started even Earlier then his Rule when he did the Unthinkable and Publicly Disagreed with Not only Reichskanzler von Bismarck but also his Ruler the Kaiser Wilhelm I.
This took place at Danzig, where at an Official Reception in the City he loudly Denounced Reichskanzler von Bismarck's Restrictions on 'Freedom of the Press' and was as a result Politically Isolated for Most of his Lifetime or as we know it 'Sent to Coventry'.

Retaining his Military Portfolio and Not Much Else, he Continued to Represent Germany and its Kaiser at Ceremonies,Weddings, and Celebrations, such as Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee held in 1887.
The Kronprinz (Crown Prince) also became involved in many Public Works Projects, such as the Establishment of Schools and Churches in the area of Bornstadt near Potsdam.
He is perhaps best Remembered in Germany for his Efforts in Turning Berlin into a 'Great Cultural Centre' as well as the Capital of the Newly United Germany and was Personally Appointed as the 'Protector of Public Museums' and it was largely Due to Friedrich that considerable Artistic Collections were Later Acquired to be Housed in Berlin's New Kaiser Friedrich Museum (later known as the Bode Museum).

 

[beaupower32]

Intresting read, but this should be in the stories section, not aircraft pictures.