The Naval War in the Baltic, 1914-1915

The lessons that emerge from the way a weaker fleet was able to overcome a larger one retain their relevance for naval warfare today.
About this Event

The Baltic was an important theatre of action during the First World War, with maritime trade routes that were vital to the belligerents. This talk will examine the opening campaign that ended with the winter freezing of the Baltic Sea in February 1915.

When war broke out, there had been a general expectation that the small Russian fleet would be swept aside by its far more powerful German adversary. Seven months later, the campaign ended with German naval forces abandoning the central and eastern Baltic after suffering disproportionate losses, with associated disruption to German maritime trade. The Russian capture and exploitation of Germany's secret naval codes also constituted a disastrous setback in the intelligence war.

The personalities and leadership of the opposing fleet commanders, Admiral Nikolay fon Essen and Grossadmiral Prinz Heinrich von Preussen, and the way in which they responded to developments in naval technology, tactics and strategy, are central to understanding the outcome of the campaign. The lessons that emerge from the way in which a weaker fleet was able to overcome a larger one retain their relevance for naval warfare today.

Speaker:

Mark Harris is an author of naval history, with a special interest in the First World War. He is a member of the Society for Nautical Research and aims to reveal new insights through his research and writing, with an emphasis on research in relatively neglected subjects. His first book, Harwich Submarines in the Great War, was published in 2021. He is currently working on a three-volume history, The First World War in the Baltic Sea, with the first volume published in 2025.

This event is open to the public and free to attend both in-person and online (via Zoom). In-person spaces are limited, so register now to secure your spot!