Germany

The German High Seas Fleet was the product of the Kaiser's desire to walk on the world stage in the way that the British Empire was able to do. Technologically its ships were very fine designs but it brought Germany into a deadly naval arms race with Britain.

By the outbreak of hostilities in 1914 it had lost this naval race and all but guaranteed that Britain would enter the war on the side of France and Russia. In the long run it would prove to be the decisive factor leading to her defeat.