Churchill Criticizes the German Fleet

1. Explain in your own words what Churchill sees as the difference between the significance of the German and the British fleets.

In Churchill's eyes he sees that the German fleets are for luxury and expansion, while on the other hand he defends the British fleet as defensive and primarily to defend the colonies that they have. Churchill believes that Germany is not building a naval fleet for their own good but to promote and possibly start a war. He compares Germany's fleet with his fleet by saying his fleet is for protection of Great Britain and the colonies. He also says no other country should try to compete with them because they will always be out done, which is a tacit warning to Germany and any other country who tries to out-navy Great Britain. However, the number of battleships or the naval arms race is the similarity Great Britain has with Germany.

2. Look carefully at the language Churchill uses in describing the German fleet. What impression of the German fleet does his choice of language give?

Churchill's choice of language gives off the impression that the German fleet is there strictly in aggression and to possibly start a war. Churchill describes the German fleet as a "nature of a luxury" for the Germans and that they are going to use it for expansion into other countries and make colonies. This choice of language shows that Churchill sees and wants everyone else to see that the German's growing power in the navy is a threat. Also, before Churchill describes the supposed reasons behind the increasing naval fleet he describes Germany as a friendly Empire, which shows that Great Britain wanted to stay friends with Germany but wanted to stop their increasing power because they saw it as a threat.

3. What does Churchill mean by "the ratio which our naval strength will have to bear to other great naval Powers"?

Well a ratio is a comparison of common objects that are different in number, therefore by using this definition Churchill means that the number of battleships in his fleet must be greater than all the other naval fleets in the world. Normally in a ratio there is one greater number and another number of lesser value, so Churchill wants to be the greater value number in a ratio and doesn't want any other nation to out navy Britain.

4. How exactly is Churchill threatening Germany in this speech?

Churchill is threatening Germany in this speech by declaring that they shouldn't increase their navy anymore because they will always out-number them, and by trying to influence the citizens and other countries to be aware of Germany as an increasing power and a threat. Churchill names the reason, that he believes, why Germany is increasing its navy and by this he creates a feeling of patriotism which is an attempt for the citizens to join him in the arms race and for other countries to see Germany as a threat.

5. This speech was studied very carefully by the German government (as Churchill knew it would be). Which parts of it might give the German government grounds to complain to the British government? What do you think was the effect Churchill intended this speech to have in Germany?

One part of the speech that gave the German government grounds to complain to the British government was the part where Churchill tried to use literary propaganda to start a war against Germany, to turn everyone against Germany. Churchill did this by tacitly talking about Germany being a threat. He said that Germany was building up their navy for all the wrong reasons, it was an act of aggression and not of defense. Also, another part that gave Germany the grounds to complain to the British government was when Churchill said that they will always have more battleships than any other country in the world and that they should not challenge them. This is also a threat because it's basically telling the Germans that they should stop building their battleships because they will always be out done.

I believe that Churchill intended to threaten Germany and all of her alliances so that other countries would be aware of Germany's actions and that they possibly might try to start a war. This is true because Britain saw Germany as a threat and wanted other countries to see this so that they could possibly join Britain in an alliance against Germany. Even though he clearly said that he wants to be friendly but that's just to convince Germany that they are "friends," or in other words he is friends with Germany on the outside but on the inside he hates Germany. Basically, Britain isn't ready to fight Germany alone, he wants back-up; however he believes that he can put a stop to Germany's growing power by threatening them that they will never have the top naval fleet.