Who is admiral holtzendorff

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It is probable that it will rather only counterbalance the loss otherwise to be expected by reason of increased arming. Add to this the cessation of the psychological effects of panic and fear. These effects, which can be brought about only as the result of ruthless U-boat warfare, constitute in my opinion an absolutely essential prerequisite of success.

The experiences which were ours in the beginning of the U-boat war in the spring of , when the British believed that it was being carried on in dead earnest, show the weighty importance of these effects, as do our experiences of the short U-boat war of March and April, It is further necessary, as a prerequisite, that the unrestricted U-boat war should commence at the time that it is announced, and that no time be left for preparations, particularly between England and the neutral Powers.

It is only in such case that great fear will be injected into the enemy and into neutrals as well. The announcement of the unrestricted U-boat war will bring the Government of the United States of American once more face to face with the question of whether or not it will maintain the same position regarding the question of the use of U-boats which, judging from its attitude, it has maintained up to this time. I am positive in the opinion that war with the United States is so serious a question that all steps should be taken to avoid it.

But in my opinion also the fear of such a break should not overawe us at the crucial moment to the extent of causing us to renounce the use of the weapon which promises us victory. In any case, it is expedient for us to assume the solution more unfavorable to us and to clear up our own mind on the question of the effect which the entrance of the United States into the war would have on the result of the war, as far as our opponents are concerned.

This effect could at best be practically negligible with regard to shipping space, It is not be be expected that more than an inconsiderable fraction of the tonnage belonging to the Central Powers now lying in American ports, and perhaps also other neutral ports, would at once be put in use for commerce with England. It would be quite possible to damage the greater part thereof so seriously that it would not be seaworthy in the critical period of the first few months.

Arrangements have been made to bring this result about; moreover, it would be next to impossible to obtain crews for these ships. We may attribute an equal paucity of results in the case of American troops which, on account of absence of cargo space, would not be able to be brought over in any considerable numbers; and to American money, which can never take the place of transportation and shipping space.

The only question to be considered is the attitude which America would assume towards the question of concluding peace—the peace for which England would be forced to sue. We can not suppose that the United States would then determine to carry on the war against us single-handed, as it has no means at its disposal for taking definite steps against us, whereas its commerce would be damaged by our U-boats.

On the other hand, it is to be expected that the United States would support the conclusion of such a peace, in order to resume normal commercial relations at the earliest possible moment. I therefore reach the conclusion, that an unrestricted U-boat war so correctly timed as to bring about peace before the gathering of the harvest of the summer of , that is to say, before August I, will have to be at the cost of a break with the United States, for the reason that we are left no other choice.

It follows that in spite of the danger of a break with America, an unrestricted U-boat war, promptly launched, is the proper means of winning the war. Moreover, it is the only means to this end. Ever since I announced in August, , that the time had come for dealing a crushing blow to England, the situation has materially changed to our advantage. The falling off of crops all over the world, taken in connection with the effect of the war on England up to this time, affords us once more the opportunity of bringing about a decision in our favor before the new crops are gathered.

If we fail to make use of this opportunity, which so far as can be foreseen, is our last, I can see no alternative that that of mutual exhaustion, without its being possible for us to terminate the war in such a way as to guarantee our future as a world Power.

In order to obtain the necessary results in time, the unrestricted U-boat war mush commence by February I at the latest. I ask your Excellency to inform me as to whether the military situation on the Continent, particularly in regard to those Powers who still remain neutral, is such as to make this date convenient. I shall need three weeks time for the necessary preparations. New York, Oxford University Press, , 2: This document lays out the rationale for German resumption of unrestricted submarine warfare.

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