The Maritime Flank of the Western Front. the Development and Operations of the German Marinekorps Flandern 1914-1918

Karau, Mark

ISBN 10: 1848322313 / ISBN 13: 9781848322318

Published by Seaforth Publishing, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, 2015

About this Item

With plates. Light shelfwear. ; Octavo; xii, 276 pages.

Seller Inventory # LCB61104

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Maritime Flank of the Western Front. the Development and Operations of the German Marinekorps Flandern 1914-1918
• Publisher: Seaforth Publishing, Barnsley, South Yorkshire
• Publication Date: 2015
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1848322313
• ISBN 13: 9781848322318
• Binding: Original decorated wrappers
• Edition: First Edition Thus.
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

Belgium was once described as the 'dagger held at the throat of England', a collection of provinces that had long been a critical factor in British foreign policy, and the traditional concern was that Belgium, and especially the Flanders coast, would fall into the hands of the strongest continental power. In 1914, Germany's occupation of Belgium brought about the spectre of enemy ships only seventy miles from the British coast, and the coast of Flanders became, effectively, the maritime flank of the Western Front. Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz was one of the few within the German navy who recognised the strategic potential of the three ports of Ostend, Zeebrugge and Brugges; that they were closer to England than the Helgoland Bight for access by small craft, and brought Germany to within a few hours sailing of the Thames estuary. This new book tells the story of the creation, purpose, operations and career of the MarineKorps Flandern. The Flanders harbours should have allowed the German navy to strike dangerous blows at vital British traffic in the Channel and southern North Sea but the MarineKorps was unable to fulfill the great expectations of von Tirpitz. The author not only explains how the German conducted operations, but also explains how the opportunites presented by the Flemish occupation were wasted away. A significant and insightful book on an important theatre of the War

About the Author

MARK KARAU is and lecturer of history at the University of Wisconsin Colleges. His published articles include pieces in Relevance: The Journal of the Great War Society and The Journal of Military History.