Churchill Criticizes the German Fleet

Please read the speech given by Winston Churchill and answer the following questions.

1. Explain in your own words what Churchill sees as the difference between the significance of the German and the British fleets.
Churchill thinks that the British Navy is a necessity and it is essentially defensive. He thinks that the Germany navy is a luxury. They were a great power before they had their navy, whereas Britain is a great power because of its navy.

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?
His choice of words makes the German fleet seem unnecessary and extra for Germany. Churchill explains that "Germany was a great power, respected and honored all over the world, before she had a single ship..."

3. What does Churchill mean by "the ratio which our naval strength will have to bear to other great naval Powers"?
He means that since the navy is the reason Britain is a great power, they must make sure they have a strong navy. Also, if Germany or any other great power starts to expand and strengthen their navy, Britain will keep up and always be stronger.

4. How exactly is Churchill threatening Germany in this speech?
Churchill is threatening Germany by saying that they are going to keep building their navy up and have a naval race. He says that their navy is going to be so strong that other naval powers shouldn't even bother to try and fight them.

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?
Germany probably paid attention to how Churchill portrays Britain's navy as opposed to Germany's navy. Churchill threatens Germany with the fact that Britain is going to build up their army so that they will be so strong that no one will want to fight them. I think that the effect Churchill intended was for Germany to feel scared of Britain and feel threatened so they will not attempt to fight them.