Reviews
How, as a naval officer, [Tirpitz]... became probably the second most effective politician in the history of Imperial Germany is a fascinating story. It is well told in this large, comprehensive and extensively researched book., "Beyond its great interest for naval and military historians regardless of specialization, this work will be required reading for any... historian of the Second Reich and the interwar period... and for those fascinated by the eternal query, 'Who or what caused the outbreak of the First World War?'" Eric C. Rust, author of Naval Officers Under Hitler: The Story of Crew 34, As both a definitive biography and detailed evaluation of the historiography of this period, Kelly has produced a compelling portrait of Tirpitz that balances the views of those scholars who have overestimated Tirpitz's rationality in political, social and military affairs with those who underestimated his opportunism.--Keith Bird, author of Erich Raeder: Admiral of the Third Reich, An invaluable addition to military biography shelves, Tirpitz and the Imperial German Navy is especially recommended for college library collections., Although this is a scholarly biography, it is in everyway quite readable. Backed by solid research, using untapped and newly available documents and family letters, Kelly has produced a clear picture of one of the major causes of World War I., "Kelly's fascinating political biography of Alfred von Tirpitz joins the large historiography on German naval policy prior to WWI.... Recommended." -Choice, "[T]he book is stellar. It is based on decades of research in federal, regional, and private archives and takes into account a flood of scholarship on Tirpitz and the fleet. Well written and sensibly organized, the book allows English-language readers their first in-depth look at one of the men who helped shape the 20th century." -Naval History, October 2011, [T]he book is stellar. It is based on decades of research in federal, regional, and private archives and takes into account a flood of scholarship on Tirpitz and the fleet. Well written and sensibly organized, the book allows English-language readers their first in-depth look at one of the men who helped shape the 20th century., The author does a masterful job of analyzing Tirpitz' political skills, his mastery of technology and change, as well as the grave weaknesses of the dysfunctional political system of a federal Germany headed by a weak and vacillating Emperor and riven by unbridgeable political divisions. Highly recommended., "Beyond its great interest for naval and military historians regardless of specialization, this work will be required reading for any... historian of the Second Reich and the interwar period... and for those fascinated by the eternal query, 'Who or what caused the outbreak of the First World War?'" -- Eric C. Rust, author of Naval Officers Under Hitler: The Story of Crew 34, "[This] book presents a balanced, convincing picture of Tirpitz as naval officer and bureaucratic politician, based on a thorough examination of the relevant archival sources. It is a distinguished contribution to the historiography of imperial Germany." -Journal of Modern History, "This is an invaluable reference work on Tirpitz, the Imperial German Navy, and on politics in Wilhelmine Germany." -The Northern Mariner, This is an invaluable reference work on Tirpitz, the Imperial German Navy, and on politics in Wilhelmine Germany., Kelly's fascinating political biography of Alfred von Tirpitz joins the large historiography on German naval policy prior to WWI.... Recommended., Kelly's fascinating political biography of Alfred von Tirpitz joins the large historiography on German naval policy prior to WWI. . . . Recommended., [This] book presents a balanced, convincing picture of Tirpitz as naval officer and bureaucratic politician, based on a thorough examination of the relevant archival sources. It is a distinguished contribution to the historiography of imperial Germany., "Patrick Kelly has produced a first-rate biography of this grand admiral who is better known for his political skills than his naval ones." -U.S. Naval Insitute Proceedings, Beyond its great interest for naval and military historians regardless of specialization, this work will be required reading for any... historian of the Second Reich and the interwar period... and for those fascinated by the eternal query, 'Who or what caused the outbreak of the First World War?', "The author does a masterful job of analyzing Tirpitz' political skills, his mastery of technology and change, as well as the grave weaknesses of the dysfunctional political system of a federal Germany headed by a weak and vacillating Emperor and riven by unbridgeable political divisions. Highly recommended." -- Camaraderie, Summer 2011, "Patrick Kelly has written the first major scholarly biography of Tirpitz in English, based on detailed knowledge of vast archival material and an extensive historical literature. With great precision, Kelly's narrative integrates Tirpitz's naval and political careers with broader developments within the German Empire and the Weimar Republic. He also treats in detail the international politics of Wilhelmine arms policy, the naval race with Britain, and the ensuing First World War. This book can be thoroughly recommended to students of both German and naval history." -- Rolf Hobson, author of Imperialism at Sea: Naval Strategic Thought, the Ideology of Sea Power, and the Tirpitz Plan, 1875-1914, "As both a definitive biography and detailed evaluation of the historiography of this period, Kelly has produced a compelling portrait of Tirpitz that balances the views of those scholars who have overestimated Tirpitz's rationality in political, social and military affairs with those who underestimated his opportunism." -- Keith Bird, author of Erich Raeder: Admiral of the Third Reich, "An invaluable addition to military biography shelves, Tirpitz and the Imperial German Navy is especially recommended for college library collections." -Midwest Book Review, August 2011, As both a definitive biography and detailed evaluation of the historiography of this period, Kelly has produced a compelling portrait of Tirpitz that balances the views of those scholars who have overestimated Tirpitz's rationality in political, social and military affairs with those who underestimated his opportunism., Patrick Kelly has written the first major scholarly biography of Tirpitz in English, based on detailed knowledge of vast archival material and an extensive historical literature. With great precision, Kelly's narrative integrates Tirpitz's naval and political careers with broader developments within the German Empire and the Weimar Republic. He also treats in detail the international politics of Wilhelmine arms policy, the naval race with Britain, and the ensuing First World War. This book can be thoroughly recommended to students of both German and naval history., "Beyond its great interest for naval and military historians regardless of specialization, this work will be required reading for any... historian of the Second Reich and the interwar period... and for those fascinated by the eternal query, 'Who or what caused the outbreak of the First World War?'" -- Eric C. Rust, Baylor University, How, as a naval officer, [Tirpitz] . . . became probably the second most effective politician in the history of Imperial Germany is a fascinating story. It is well told in this large, comprehensive and extensively researched book., "As both a definitive biography and detailed evaluation of the historiography of this period, Kelly has produced a compelling portrait of Tirpitz that balances the views of those scholars who have overestimated Tirpitz's rationality in political, social and military affairs with those who underestimated his opportunism." -Keith Bird, author of Erich Raeder: Admiral of the Third Reich, "An invaluable addition to military biography shelves, Tirpitz and the Imperial German Navy is especially recommended for college library collections." -- Midwest Book Review, August 2011, "Although this is a scholarly biography, it is in everyway quite readable. Backed by solid research, using untapped and newly available documents and family letters, Kelly has produced a clear picture of one of the major causes of World War I." -thepastinreview.weebly.com, "Patrick Kelly has written the first major scholarly biography of Tirpitz in English, based on detailed knowledge of vast archival material and an extensive historical literature. With great precision, Kelly's narrative integrates Tirpitz's naval and political careers with broader developments within the German Empire and the Weimar Republic. He also treats in detail the international politics of Wilhelmine arms policy, the naval race with Britain, and the ensuing First World War. This book can be thoroughly recommended to students of both German and naval history." -Rolf Hobson, author of Imperialism at Sea: Naval Strategic Thought, the Ideology of Sea Power, and the Tirpitz Plan, 1875-1914, "How, as a naval officer, [Tirpitz]... became probably the second most effective politician in the history of Imperial Germany is a fascinating story. It is well told in this large, comprehensive and extensively researched book." -Ausmarine, "Beyond its great interest for naval and military historians regardless of specialization, this work will be required reading for any... historian of the Second Reich and the interwar period... and for those fascinated by the eternal query, 'Who or what caused the outbreak of the First World War?'" -Eric C. Rust, author of Naval Officers Under Hitler: The Story of Crew 34, "Kelly's book is a great achievement. Well written and based on new sources, his biography of Grand Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz allows the reader deep insights into the life of a man who played a very important role at the turn of the last century and who shaped German policy in a way few others did." -gh.oxfordjournals.org, "The author does a masterful job of analyzing Tirpitz' political skills, his mastery of technology and change, as well as the grave weaknesses of the dysfunctional political system of a federal Germany headed by a weak and vacillating Emperor and riven by unbridgeable political divisions. Highly recommended." -Camaraderie, Summer 2011, Kelly's book is a great achievement. Well written and based on new sources, his biography of Grand Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz allows the reader deep insights into the life of a man who played a very important role at the turn of the last century and who shaped German policy in a way few others did., "[T]he book is stellar. It is based on decades of research in federal, regional, and private archives and takes into account a flood of scholarship on Tirpitz and the fleet. Well written and sensibly organized, the book allows English-language readers their first in-depth look at one of the men who helped shape the 20th century." -- Naval History, October 2011, Patrick Kelly has produced a first-rate biography of this grand admiral who is better known for his political skills than his naval ones.
Table of Content
Contents Acknowledgments Abbreviations 1. Introduction 2. Tirpitz's Early Life 3. The Aspirant, 1865-1870 4. The Young Officer, 1870-1877: A Taste of War 5. The Creation of the German Torpedo Arm, 1877-1889 6. Interim, 1889-1891 7. Oberkommando der Marine, 1892-1895 8. On the Verge of Power, 1895-1897 9. Tirpitz Ascendant, 1897-1898 10. The Second Navy Law, 1899-1900 11. The "Quiet" Years, 1900-1906 12. Sow the Wind, 1906-1908 13. The Whirlwind Rises, 1908-1911 14. Denouement, 1911-1914 15. Tirpitz at War, August 1914-March 1916 16. Uncommon Recessional, 1916-1930 17. Conclusion Appendix Notes Bibliography Index, Contents Acknowledgments Abbreviations 1. Introduction 2. Tirpitz's Early Life 3. The Aspirant, 18651870 4. The Young Officer, 18701877: A Taste of War 5. The Creation of the German Torpedo Arm, 18771889 6. Interim, 18891891 7. Oberkommando der Marine, 18921895 8. On the Verge of Power, 18951897 9. Tirpitz Ascendant, 18971898 10. The Second Navy Law, 18991900 11. The "Quiet" Years, 19001906 12. Sow the Wind, 19061908 13. The Whirlwind Rises, 19081911 14. Denouement, 19111914 15. Tirpitz at War, August 1914March 1916 16. Uncommon Recessional, 19161930 17. Conclusion Appendix Notes Bibliography Index
