Alfred von Tirpitz
(© Bundesarchiv, Bild 134-B2595 / o. Ang.)
1949-1930
- Naval officer, last rank: Großadmiral (grand admiral)
- Co-founder of the DNVP (German National People’s Party)
- Member of the Reichstag
Tirpitz was and is known in Germany first and foremost for his role in building up the German navy’s fleet under Kaiser Wilhelm II. Together with the Kaiser, he pushed through the armament of the fleet from the turn of the century, alienating the United Kingdom more and more. In the end, he resigned in 1916 because he, the Kaiser, and the Chancellor could not find common ground regarding unrestricted submarine warfare. Together with Wolfgang Kapp, he founded the nationalist and völkisch German Fatherland Party in 1917, reacting to the Reichstag’s peace resolution. After the war, he founded the DNVP with other conservatives. From 1924 to 1928, he was a DNVP member of the Reichstag.