comparative study of the evolution of the German navy in the nineteenth century
discusses strategy and innovation in an era of rapid technological change
examines the genesis of a military institution of great significance to military and naval historians
In this book Olivier carefully analyses the development of German naval strategic thinking, he sheds new light upon the role of its most important officers. His analysis is convincing, and his book is a very good read. --International Journal of Maritime History
David Olivier holds a Ph.D in History from the University of Saskatchewan, Canada.
Part 1: Change in a Changing World: Naval law and technology in the nineteenth century 1. The Roots of Plunder: Privateering and the laws of war at sea to 1865 2. Means and Method: Naval technology and theory in the mid-nineteenth century 2.1 Technology and Navies: New ships, new weapons Part 2: Early Days, Early Dreams: The navies of Prussia and the North German Confederation, 1856-1871 3. Precursor to Empire: The Prussian navy to 1864 4. The Wars of German Unification and Sea Power, 1864-1871 Part 3: The Army at the Helm: The navy in the Stosch and Caprivi eras, 1871-1888 5. Albrecht von Stosch and the Neglected Navy, 1871-1872 5.1 1871: The unhappy peace 6. Diverse Fortunes: The Navy Under Stosch, 1873-1883 7. Two Schools of Thought: The Jeune Ecole and the cruiser admirals 8. Caprivi Off Course: Colonial sideshows, operations planning, construction policies and tactical development, 1884-1888