Franken, Eduard Eduard von Knorr

Admiral der Kaiserlichen Marine. Biografie und Lebenserinnerungen

Eduard von Knorr was one of the most influential figures in the Imperial Navy until 1899. He joined the Prussian Navy at the age of 15 and played a crucial role in the development of the Navy of the North German Confederation and the Imperial Navy, including the naval laws of Grand Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz. A passionate seaman with years of experience in shipboard service and shore commands, Knorr reached the highest position of Admiral of the Fleet. Despite his retirement following a power struggle with Tirpitz in 1899, he left a lasting mark. Knorr's impressive career included deployments as a ship's commander in the Franco-Prussian War off Cuba, as well as in West Africa, East Africa and the South Seas, where Germany sought to acquire colonies in competition with England and France. In his memoirs, he sheds light on the political situation there and his efforts to achieve positive results for the German Empire. Knorr describes in detail his various experiences with Generals Albrecht von Stosch and his successor Georg Leo von Caprivi, as well as his relationship with Kaiser Wilhelm II.