Page 153 - Il Mediterraneo quale elemento del Potere Marittimo - Atti 16-18 settembre 1996

GERMAN NAVAL STRATEGY IN THE MEDITERRANEAN

1914-1918

JURGEN ROHWER

Up to 1912 the German Navy had no combat ships in the Mediterranean.
Only some training ships visited the area during their training cruises. But when
in late 1912 during the Balkan Wars a danger arose to Costantinople, and the Tur-
kish Grand V esir asked the conference of ambassadors there to organize an inter-
national naval force to cover the interests of the states, the German government
sent the newest battlecruiser Goeben and the modern light cruiser Breslau as a "Me-
diterranean Division". Since October 1913 Rear Admiral Souchon was its chief.
In July 1914 the Goeben was after repairs at the Austrian harbour Pala, the
Breslau at Durazzo to assist the Prince of W i ed as Head of Montenegro. Following
the alliance between Germany, Austria-Hungary and ltaly three existed some ar-
rangements fora joint use of the naval forces of the three powers under the com-
mand of the Austrian Admiral Haus. In October 1913 Souchon had discussed the
arrangements with Haus, in December with the ltalian Vice Admiral Luigi di Sa-
voia Duca degli Abruzzi, and injanuary 1914 with the ltalian Admiralty in Rome.
In March 1914 Souchon arranged with Haus, that in case of war with France it
niust be the first task to disrupt the transport of the Algerian XIXth Corps from
North Africa to France. For this task the German ships should be supported by
Austrian and ltalian cruisers and destroyers.
To accomplish this task the two German ships joined on l August 1914 off
Brindisi and arrived on 2 August a t Messina as it was arranged. But when the war
between Germany and Russia was declared and the war with France was immi-
nent, no Austrian or ltalian ships were at Messina. The Goeben and Breslau had
to overcome some difficulties to get coal supplies. Without any order from Berlin
admiral Souchon decided to depart during the night of 2/3 August and, after ha-
ving received the message about the declaration of war on the morning of 3 Au-
gust, the Goeben and the Breslau on the morning of the 4 August bombarded
Philippeville and Bone as planned. While on the way to these bombardments ad-
mirai Souchon received the message about the secret conclusion of a pact with Tur-
key and the order to go for Constantinople. On the way back to Messina the German
ships were met by the two British battlecruisers lndefatigable and Indomitable. There
was no declaration of war between Germany and Great Britain at the time, not
withstanding the two ships turned and followed the Germans, but they were able
to outrun the British, overcoming some machinery problems on the Goeben. When