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.
He thinks that the British's naval power is for their defense whereas Germany built theirs just to have a naval power.

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?
That Churchill doesn't really want to start anything, like a war, so it seems as though he is chosing his words wisely so they don't take anything the wrong way.

3. What does Churchill mean by "the ratio which our naval strength will have to bear to other great naval Powers"?

Churchill basically means that if Britain and Germany ever go to war, then Britain definately needs to step up and make sure that they have way more ships than Germany or at least one more. And I think that he might be saying that their naval power will be stronger.

4. How exactly is Churchill threatening Germany in this speech?
Churchill is threatening Germany by saying that Britain's naval power is better than Germany's so they should just give up.

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?

When Churchill says, "We have no thoughts, and we have never had any thoughts of aggression, and we attribute no such thoughts to other great Powers. There is, however, this difference between the British naval power and the naval power of the great and friendly Empire-and I trust it may long remain the great and friendly Empire-of Germany. The British navy is to us a necessity and, from some points of view, the German Navy is to them more in the nature of luxury. Our naval power involves British existence. It is existence to us; it is expansion to them." That part of his speech might gave given the German government grounds to complain to the British government. I think the effect that Churchill wanted to have in Germany was to get the Germans to realize that they don't stand a chance against the British.