Navies of the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic: A Comparison and Analysis of Structures, Alliance Relations, Doctrine, and Capabilities

摘要

Since 1967, when NATO adopted 'flexible response' as the alliance strategy, reliance upon the conventional leg of the NATO triad has increased, including reliance upon the West German Navy. The West German Navy's principal mission is to implement the alliance's strategy of 'forward defense' in the Baltic. During the same period of time, the non-Soviet Warsaw Pact naval forces in the Baltic, including the East German Navy, have also been strengthened. Thus two well-equipped German navies of differing ideological and social systems face one another. This thesis surveys the following topics in relation to both navies; German maritime traditions; origins of the present German navies; organizational structure and relationships to alliances: doctrine: strategy and missions; and capabilities.