Jan Rüger

Jan Ruger, the author, develops the theme of how primarily the British and Imperial German navys postured and displayed their navies in the decades prior to WWI. These displays were not for impressing each other, but also impressing the rest of the world as well. Fleet reviews and ship launchings became national festivals with filming and press releases; carefully worded speeches by carefully selected speakers. All this was controlled by Naval Press Bureaus. Among the purposes of this theater was to generate enthusiasm among the politicians and civilians alike to make easier approval for funding to continue building the navy. They were also a form of displaying Imperial power to the nation and worldwide.

At some point the naval powers realized the danger on provoking 'the other' in this game (i.e. the Germans or British depending on viewpoint) and the great expense of putting on the show. However, apparently the process was so successful that the press, public, and local communities would not give up the entertainment and economic value of these activities. In effect the naval authorities lost contol of the game.

I very much recommend this book to anyone interested in WWI, the German/Anglo naval race, and even the history of the inter-war period. The Nazis learned some trick of staging public events from the efforts of The Great Naval Game.… (mais)