Donko, Wilhelm M. Österreichs Kriegsmarine. Eine Seemacht und ihr Ende

This book offers an overview of the structure and development of the k. (u.) k. Marine until its demise in 1918 - with a wealth of photographic documents showing not only the great warships, but also the harbours, life on board and scenes of everyday maritime life.

The Imperial and Royal Navy was not just a technical-administrative power. Navy was not only a technical-administrative organisation with a few ships and harbours, but also something like "home" for thousands of people and their families from all parts of the monarchy. In the First World War, it proved to be a fighting force in substance that remained fully operational until the final collapse of the monarchy, which should by no means be taken for granted. The city of Pola, Pula in Croatian, was the main war port of this navy with a somewhat sophisticated air. But 100 years ago, in November 1918, time and the world as we knew it came to an abrupt end there, as it did in the entire Danube Monarchy. It became "yesterday's world". The once eighth largest navy in the world, equipped with modern battleships, cruisers, submarines, seaplanes and its "own" city, was disbanded in a short time, the ships distributed among the victorious powers, officers and crews scattered in all directions.