Recaps

The British Navy lost Ramillies and Ireland as the German Navy pressed its advantage, while Resolution severely damaged Sachsen. The British fleet remained under heavy pressure as the battle continued.

• Sachsen sank Ramillies, then Resolution destroyed Sachsen’s No. 1 Main Gun turret and disabled her No. 2 turret with a 380mm Shell.
• Colonel Lohart refused Admiral Reinhard Scheer’s order to withdraw Sachsen, and Scheer allowed her to keep fighting alongside Baden.
• Regent Leopold and Nassau encircled Ireland, whose shell strike on Nassau’s conning tower temporarily knocked out its officers.
• Regent Leopold repeatedly hit Ireland near the waterline and sank her.

After Ireland was sunk, Admiral Jellicoe recognized that the British fleet was losing and ordered it to hold out until nightfall before withdrawing. Reinhard Scheer realized the British were preparing to flee, threatening his goal of destroying their fleet.

• Vice Admiral Beatty reported that Ireland had been sunk and warned Admiral Jellicoe that the British fleet was increasingly surrounded and outnumbered.
• Admiral Jellicoe abandoned hope of victory as German ships continued inflicting heavy losses on the British fleet.
• Vice Admiral Beatty suggested a breakout, and Admiral Jellicoe decided the fleet should endure until nightfall before withdrawing.
• Admiral Jellicoe ordered the British warships to increase speed, and the German fleet accelerated to keep attacking them.
• Reinhard Scheer suspected the British were preparing to escape and feared they would evade destruction.

Admiral Scheer summoned the German Navy’s 2nd Battle Line to pursue the retreating British fleet. When Hipper’s fourteen capital ships arrived, the German fleet encircled the British Navy’s eleven remaining capital ships and intensified its attack, leaving Jellicoe and Beatty in a desperate crisis.

• Scheer asked Hipper when the 2nd Battle Line could join the battle, and learned it would arrive within half an hour.
• Jellicoe and Beatty hoped the British fleet could survive until nightfall as they escaped the 1st Battle Line’s fire.
• A staff officer warned Jellicoe and Beatty that the German 2nd Battle Line had caught up, destroying their hope of an easy retreat.
• Hipper ordered the 2nd Battle Line to accelerate, catch the British fleet, and open fire.
• The German Navy’s two battle lines attacked the British fleet’s eleven remaining capital ships, leaving Jellicoe and Beatty surrounded and under overwhelming fire.

The German High Seas Fleet’s encirclement devastated the British Grand Fleet, sinking HMS Canada and HMS Hercules. With only eight battleships left against thirty-six German Capital Ships, Admiral John Jellicoe approved David Beatty’s plan to break through with a torpedo attack.

• German ships concentrated their fire on HMS Canada and HMS Hercules as the British fleet struggled under the encirclement.
• German shells shattered HMS Canada’s keel, and the battleship sank with all its crew aboard.
• Repeated hits set HMS Hercules ablaze and flooded her, and she sank less than ten minutes later.
• Vice Admiral David Beatty warned Admiral John Jellicoe that the remaining eight British battleships could not withstand the German fleet much longer.
• David Beatty proposed using small and medium warships for a torpedo attack to break the encirclement, and John Jellicoe approved the plan.

Admiral Jellicoe ordered the Royal Navy’s Light Cruisers and destroyers to launch a torpedo attack to disrupt the German battle lines and help the British Capital Ships escape. The German fleet redirected its fire against the advancing warships, which raced through the bombardment toward torpedo range.

• Vice Admiral Beatty proposed sending Light Cruisers and destroyers to attack both German battle lines with torpedoes, and Admiral Jellicoe approved the plan.
• Admiral Jellicoe ordered the light warships to begin their attack in ten minutes, accepting their likely loss to protect the remaining British Capital Ships.
• The British Capital Ships increased speed while their Light Cruisers and destroyers charged toward the German fleet.
• Scheer ordered the German ships to stop firing on the British Capital Ships and concentrate on the approaching light warships.
• German Capital Ships and light warships opened fire as the British attackers raced through the bombardment to get within torpedo range.

Admiral Reinhard Scheer’s German battle line fought off British light warships charging to launch torpedo attacks. A German destroyer sacrificed itself to save the Battleship Kaiser, which then sank the British destroyer responsible for the attack.

• The Battleship Bavaria battered a British light cruiser with secondary guns before a 380mm shell destroyed its bow and sank it.
• German and British light warships exchanged fire as both sides charged through dense bombardment to reach torpedo range.
• A British destroyer launched four heavy torpedoes at the Battleship Kaiser, which evaded three but could not avoid the fourth.
• A German destroyer blocked the remaining torpedo and was blown apart, leaving the Kaiser unharmed.
• The Kaiser’s captain ordered his guns to sink the British destroyer, and a 343mm shell destroyed it.

The German Navy repelled the British light-warship torpedo attacks but suffered the loss of the Battleship Thuringen and damage to several other Capital Ships. Admiral Reinhard Scheer sent Vice Admiral Hipper’s Battlecruisers after the fleeing British fleet, which was forced to stand and fight.

• A British Navy destroyer struck the Battleship Nassau with two Torpedoes, and Admiral Reinhard Scheer approved its withdrawal for repairs.
• Royal Navy light cruisers and destroyers continued their torpedo attacks, sinking a German Navy Light Cruiser and heavily damaging several German Capital Ships; the Battleship Thuringen sank.
• The German Navy sank seven British Navy light cruisers and forty-five destroyers, forcing the surviving British light warships to retreat.
• Admiral Reinhard Scheer ordered Vice Admiral Hipper to pursue the British Capital Ships with the remaining eleven Battlecruisers.
• Vice Admiral Hipper caught up with the British main fleet, and Admiral John Jellicoe and Vice Admiral David Beatty prepared to fight rather than attempt to escape.

The British and German fleets began a final exchange of fire before nightfall, with both commanders hoping to secure decisive losses while time remained. The fighting continued as the German battleship Blücher hit the British battleship Monarch at 6:12 p.m.

• Admiral John Jellicoe ordered the British fleet to fight again and used news of the torpedo attack’s results to rally the sailors.
• Vice Admiral Hipper assigned German battlecruisers to attack the British battleships as twenty German battleships closed in from behind.
• The British battleship Vengeance opened fire on the German battlecruiser Mackensen, and the German ships returned fire.
• Both fleets exchanged heavy fire at close range, trying to achieve their goals before nightfall.
• At 6:12 p.m., the German battleship Blücher struck the British battleship Monarch.

The German Navy’s battlecruisers overwhelmed the British battle line, sinking Thor, Monarch, Orion, King George V, Royal Oak, and Royal Sovereign. Vengeance and Resolution survived the bombardment and escaped under cover of night, leaving the battle a German victory.

• Lothringen and Von der Tann repeatedly struck Thor, which flooded and sank.
• Admiral John Jellicoe ordered the British ships to continue fighting after learning Thor was lost and Monarch was surrounded.
• Four German battlecruisers sank Monarch, and the German fleet then sank Orion and King George V.
• The German encirclement sank Royal Oak, while a shell detonated Royal Sovereign’s aft magazine and sent the ship down stern-first.
• Vengeance and Resolution survived severe damage and escaped after nightfall, ending the battle in a German Navy victory.

The German Navy defeated the British fleet in the North Sea, leaving Britain’s Royal Navy devastated and unable to challenge German control of the seas. Admiral Reinhard Scheer ordered the blockade of Britain to resume, and Wilhelm II and his court celebrated when Field Marshal von Pohl confirmed the victory.

• German ships searched the dark North Sea and rescued survivors from both sides after the battle ended.
• Vice Admiral Hipper regretted that the Battleships Vengeance and Resolution had escaped, but Admiral Reinhard Scheer praised the victory and reviewed the fleets’ losses.
• Vice Admiral Spee warned that Britain still had damaged battleships, and Admiral Reinhard Scheer ordered the Commerce Raiding Fleet to resume its blockade of Britain.
• Wilhelm II and German officials waited anxiously in Berlin for news of the battle.
• Field Marshal von Pohl reported that the High Seas Fleet had defeated the British, and Wilhelm II and the court cheered.

After the German Navy won a crushing victory over the British fleet, Wilhelm II and his ministers celebrated Germany becoming the new overlord of the seas. Oscar learned the details of the battle’s limited German losses and urged continued caution as the navy resumed its blockade of Britain.

• Wilhelm II, Tirpitz, and the ministers celebrated the German Navy’s victory over Britain, while Falkenhayn announced that the Imperial Army would attack on the Western Front within a week.
• Oscar asked von Pohl about the naval battle’s results and the Imperial Navy’s losses.
• Von Pohl reported that Germany had sunk twenty-two British battleships, five battlecruisers, and many smaller ships, while losing one battleship, seven light cruisers, and fifteen destroyers.
• Wilhelm II and Tirpitz praised the victory, and Oscar warned that damaged British capital ships could be repaired within two months.
• Von Pohl said Scheer had ordered the High Seas Fleet to resume the blockade and monitor Britain in case its navy put to sea.

After the Royal Navy suffered a crushing defeat to the German Navy, Admiral John Jellicoe and Vice Admiral David Beatty faced the loss of British command of the seas and sent word to London. Churchill waited anxiously for news of the battle and hoped the fleets had at least destroyed each other.

• The Battleship Vengeance and Resolution were left badly damaged, and Admiral John Jellicoe and Vice Admiral David Beatty accepted that the British fleet had been defeated.
• Admiral John Jellicoe feared Britain would lose its colonies and face a German attack, while Vice Admiral David Beatty said the politicians would have to decide whether to accept Germany's terms or continue the war.
• A staff officer asked permission to send a Telegram, and Admiral John Jellicoe ordered him to inform London of the defeat.
• Churchill waited in his London office for news, hoping the Royal Navy had defeated the Germans or at least fought them to mutual destruction.

Churchill received news that the Royal Navy had suffered a catastrophic defeat, losing most of its capital ships and elite sailors to the German Navy. He concluded that Britain had no chance of recovering control of the seas and feared the British Empire would collapse if it lost the war.

• Churchill received a Telegram from Grand Fleet Headquarters and sensed from his secretary's panic that the news was dire.
• Churchill read that the Royal Navy had lost twenty-two Battleships and five Battlecruisers, with several more capital ships heavily damaged.
• Churchill learned that only seven Battleships and one Battlecruiser remained, and most of them needed months of repairs.
• Churchill discovered that Britain had sunk only one German Battleship, a casualty ratio of twenty-seven to one.
• Churchill despaired that the Royal Navy could not recover and that the British Empire would likely cease to exist after defeat.

After the Royal Navy’s crushing defeat, Churchill reported the losses to Prime Minister Asquith, who feared Britain could no longer win the war. Asquith summoned the Cabinet to decide how to preserve the British Empire’s core interests.

• Churchill read the telegram and rushed to the Prime Minister’s residence at midnight.
• Churchill told Asquith that Britain had lost the naval battle, and Asquith asked about the damage on both sides.
• Churchill reported that the Germans had sunk twenty-two British Battleships and five Battlecruisers, while Britain had sunk only one German Battleship.
• Asquith lamented that the British Empire was finished, but Churchill agreed the defeat had left Britain in crisis.
• Asquith absolved Churchill and the Royal Navy of personal blame, then ordered the other Cabinet members summoned to discuss what to do next.

After the Royal Navy suffered a crushing defeat, Churchill told the British Cabinet that Britain could no longer follow its plan to regain naval supremacy. The ministers debated seeking peace with Germany to protect the homeland, while Churchill insisted they could negotiate over Germany’s harsh terms.

• Prime Minister Asquith summoned the Cabinet to hear Churchill report the naval battle’s outcome.
• Churchill said the Royal Navy had lost twenty-two Battleships and five Battlecruisers, while sinking only one German Battleship.
• Richard Haldane questioned how Britain could continue the war, and Churchill said the Royal Navy had fought hard but was outmatched by Germany.
• Churchill rejected the earlier plan to send Britain’s remaining Pre-dreadnoughts against the German fleet.
• Sir Edward Grey proposed peace talks to keep the British homeland from being invaded, and several ministers supported considering negotiations.
• Churchill urged the Cabinet to bargain over Germany’s harsh terms rather than accept defeat.

Churchill argued against seeking peace with Germany and proposed repairing the Royal Navy’s surviving ships to raid German trade and force a second decisive naval battle. The chapter ended with him promising that other methods could restore the navy’s strength, though he did not explain them.

• Churchill warned the ministers that peace talks would encourage Germany to demand more and argued that the Anglo-French forces might withstand a German attack.
• Richard Haldane estimated the Allies had only a fifty percent chance of holding back Germany, while Sir Edward Grey warned that battlefield defeats would harden German demands.
• Churchill said the Royal Navy could repair seven Battleships and one Battlecruiser and send them to raid German maritime transport routes.
• Richard Haldane and Sir Edward Grey doubted that commerce raiding could defeat Germany or that the weakened Royal Navy could fight another decisive battle.
• Churchill said other methods could restore the Royal Navy’s strength and make a second decisive battle possible.

Churchill proposed buying the United States’ active-service Capital Ships to restore Britain’s Royal Navy and continue the war against Germany. Prime Minister Asquith approved contacting the Americans and accepted that Britain might trade unimportant colonies if necessary.

• Churchill told the Cabinet that Britain could not rebuild its fleet in time and proposed purchasing warships from another country.
• Churchill identified the United States as the only possible seller and argued that it could trade its twelve active-service Capital Ships for funds and strategic advantage.
• Lewis Vernon Harcourt supported Churchill’s reasoning that the United States had reasons to oppose German dominance and help Britain.
• Prime Minister Asquith ordered the government to contact the Americans, while Lloyd George warned that the cost and conditions might be unacceptable.
• Churchill proposed exchanging unimportant colonies for warships if Britain lacked funds, and Asquith accepted that defeating Germany took priority.

With Britain facing defeat by Germany, Churchill proposed buying American warships and combining British, French, and Italian fleets to challenge the German Navy. Asquith and the Cabinet agreed to pursue the plan, leaving its success dependent on winning support from the other nations.

• Asquith told Churchill that Britain could trade only its least valuable colonies for American warships and must protect its core possessions.
• Richard Haldane and the Colonial Secretary questioned whether American battleships could close the gap with Germany.
• Churchill argued that American ships would perform well against German battleships and proposed adding the French and Italian navies to Britain’s fleet.
• Churchill laid out a plan for a combined force of up to thirty-six Capital Ships to face Germany.
• Asquith and the Cabinet agreed to try Churchill’s plan despite doubts about persuading the Americans, French, and Italians.

Churchill secretly sailed to the United States to seek American battleships for Britain, while Secretary Daniels confirmed Germany’s decisive victory over the British fleet. Daniels warned President Woodrow Wilson that the United States should remain neutral, leaving the American government shocked by Germany’s overwhelming power.

• Churchill left Britain aboard a destroyer to negotiate directly with the United States for warships.
• American intelligence gathered details of the naval battle and reported that Germany had won decisively.
• Daniels verified the reports and concluded that the United States was not strong enough to risk war with Germany.
• Daniels went to the White House and urged Wilson to keep the United States neutral.
• Daniels told Wilson that Germany had sunk twenty-two British battleships and five battlecruisers at little cost, and Wilson was stunned.

After Germany’s overwhelming naval victory over Britain, President Woodrow Wilson and his cabinet assessed the likelihood of German victory and the risks to the United States. They decided that America should preserve strict neutrality and stop assisting Britain.

• President Woodrow Wilson learned that Germany had sunk twenty-two British battleships and five battlecruisers while losing only one battleship, and agreed with Minister Daniels that the United States should not provoke Germany.
• Minister Daniels told Wilson that the American Navy was expanding, and Wilson called a cabinet meeting to discuss the consequences of Britain’s defeat.
• The cabinet began its meeting without Secretary of State Bryan, who was meeting with the British ambassador.
• Secretary of War Garrison assessed that Germany was likely to defeat the Anglo-French forces, while Vice President Marshall argued that Britain and France could not sustain the war after the British Navy’s defeat.
• Vice President Marshall urged strict neutrality and an end to American aid for Britain, and Wilson and the cabinet agreed.

President Wilson and his Cabinet decided to strengthen the Republic of America's military and maintain strict neutrality as Germany appeared close to winning the war. They learned that Churchill would secretly visit in three days, leaving them uncertain about Britain's intentions.

• President Wilson told his Cabinet that the Republic of America needed to strengthen both its army and navy after the war exposed its military weakness.
• Redfield warned that Germany's growing influence in South America threatened American interests, and Wilson insisted the United States could not lose the region.
• Daniels proposed accelerating naval construction, while Garrison outlined plans to expand and better equip the army.
• Wilson declared that the United States would remain neutral rather than provoke Germany or interfere in the war.
• Bryan reported that Churchill would make a secret visit to the United States in three days, prompting Wilson and the Cabinet to speculate that Britain wanted American support.

Churchill secretly met with Bryan and Daniels in Washington after Britain’s defeat by Germany and asked the United States to sell Britain its twelve active Capital Ships. Bryan refused, leaving Churchill’s attempt to secure American naval aid unsuccessful.

• Churchill arrived secretly at Naval Base Norfolk on March 25 and was taken under American security to Washington.
• Churchill told Bryan and Daniels that Britain had suffered a crushing naval defeat and could no longer contend with Germany.
• Bryan stated that the United States would remain neutral and would not join the Allied Powers.
• Churchill clarified that Britain sought American assistance by purchasing warships, not by forcing the United States into the war.
• Churchill requested all twelve Capital Ships in active service with the American Navy.
• Bryan rejected the request, saying the United States needed its warships to protect its own interests.

Churchill tried to persuade Bryan and Minister Daniels to sell Britain twelve American Capital Ships, arguing that the sale would benefit the United States and help the Allies resist Germany. Bryan said he would consult the President, leaving Churchill hopeful but without an answer.

• Churchill argued that Germany could not threaten the United States and that selling Britain warships would strengthen the American Navy while draining Germany’s power.
• Daniels questioned whether twelve ships could help Britain overcome Germany, and Churchill described plans to combine British, French, and Italian fleets.
• Churchill explained that the Allies hoped to break Germany’s blockade and keep Britain in the war, even if their fleets could only fight Germany to mutual destruction.
• Churchill humbled himself to appeal for American help, and Bryan said he would report the request to the President before answering.

President Wilson considered Britain's request to buy the Republic of America's twelve active Capital Ships and agreed that the sale would benefit the United States by funding naval expansion and prolonging the war against Germany. He ordered his officials to demand high prices and British naval technology in exchange.

• President Wilson was surprised when Bryan told him Britain had formally requested the Republic of America's twelve active Capital Ships.
• Daniels argued that selling the ships was safe and advantageous, citing America's distance from Germany, the money the sale would raise, and the prospect of the Allied Powers weakening Germany.
• Bryan supported selling the warships so Britain would keep fighting Germany, and Wilson agreed that the war should continue.
• Wilson ordered his officials to demand the highest possible prices, and Daniels proposed specific prices for Capital Ships, Armored Cruisers, Light Cruisers, and destroyers.
• Daniels demanded that Britain transfer its 381mm Main Gun and Steam Turbine technologies to the United States for free, and Wilson supported the demand.

Churchill negotiated with Bryan and Daniels to buy American warships for Britain as the British Empire’s position worsened. He accepted the Americans’ reduced prices, agreeing to pay 1.07 billion dollars for the fleet.

• Churchill met Bryan and Daniels, who told him that the President had agreed in principle to sell American capital ships to Britain.
• Churchill requested twelve capital ships, six armored cruisers, twenty light cruisers, and fifty destroyers.
• Daniels quoted prices Churchill called outrageous, while Bryan and Daniels refused to lower them at first.
• Churchill and Daniels bargained until Daniels agreed to a final price of fifty million dollars per battleship, twenty million per armored cruiser, ten million per light cruiser, and three million per destroyer.
• Churchill accepted the deal, committing Britain to pay 1.07 billion dollars for the warships.