ABSTRACT
By May 1906 Alfred von Tirpitz consider a building rate of four large ships per year and by December 1906 he had definitely decided to increase the size of German battleships to match those of the British in spite of his anticipation of a resulting deterioration of Anglo-German relations. Germany’s isolation had become evident at Algeciras where only Austria-Hungary had supported her. Britain had drawn closer to France, and sought an agreement with Russia whose military strength was slowly recuperating. By the time that the Agadir crisis had led to a further deterioration of Anglo-German relations, both Tirpitz and Wilhelm were having second thoughts about a 3:2 building rate, fearful that it would bind Germany after 1911 to the construction of two capital ships per year, which would preclude the introduction of another navy bill, stabilizing the building rate at three capital ships per year. Britain was obviously the key to Bethmann-Hollweg’s foreign policy until the Agadir crisis—and perhaps beyond.
