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.

To Churchill, Britain's navy is purely for defense. It is necessary for them to have a powerful navy in order to protect themselves and Britain's existence. Britain has no aims of aggression or offensiveness with their super-powerful navy. Germany's navy "is to them more in the nature of a luxury." Germany built up its navy so it could contend with Britain's. Its aims are indeed offensive and unnecessary. It is not for defense, but for the sake of being as powerful as Germany can be.

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 language in describing the German army gives the impression that Germany is aggressive and selfish. At one point, he states that Britain's navy is what makes it a Great Power, and is its only source of superiority. Germany, on the other hand, was respected as a Great Power before it had any ships. It didn't need a navy to be a superior Great Power, it just wanted more and more power so it built up its navy as well.

3. What does Churchill mean by "the ratio which our naval strength will have to bear to other great naval Powers"?
When Churchill says "the ratio which our naval strength will have to bear to other great naval powers," he is talking about its famous immense naval superiority. Germany, with superior power plus a formidable navy, will largely decrease the margin by which Britain has superiority due to its navy alone. The navy was Britain's power, and by coming close to equal power, Germany was reducing Britain's power and superiority, and threatening its safety.

4. How exactly is Churchill threatening Germany in this speech?
Churchill threatens Germany in this speech by saying that Britain will build up its navy even larger and more powerful, so that not only will it's margin of superiority still be there, but it will be an even greater superiority than before. It will be an even greater power, and Germany will face the consequence of being left in the dust in a naval arms race.

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?

The German government could complain about this speech for numerous reasons. First of all, Britain criticizes Germany for expanding his army, and accuses them of being selfish in a quest for excessive power. Britain also accuses them of upsetting the balance of the Great Powers, and forcing Britain to expand its nave further, as well, in order to remain at its position of naval superiority, and it says that it intends to do so, launching a naval arms race between the nations. Churchill's intentions were probably to frighten Germany, and make them stop the expansion of their navy for fear that Britain's navy will become even more powerful than it already is. Also, it was also probably intended to hurt Germany's reputation and get the other nations angry at Germany for excessively expanding its power. Churchill states that Britain's navy is entirely defensive, but the speech in which he states it is highly offensive against Germany.