Editing German Navy (section)

==History==
{{Further|Naval history of World War II}}
German Naval history has its roots in the naval history of the [[Holy Roman Empire]], to which the [[Naval history of the Netherlands|Dutch Navy]] and even the [[Spanish Navy]] once belonged. Proper German language early maritime history is represented by the [[Hanseatic League]] and the [[Brandenburg Navy]], later [[Prussian Navy]].
 
The modern German Navy traces its roots back to the ''[[Reichsflotte]]'' (Imperial Fleet) of the [[Revolutions of 1848|revolutionary era of 1848–52]]. The ''Reichsflotte'' was the first German navy to sail under the [[Flag of Germany|black-red-gold]] flag. Founded on 14 June 1848 by the orders of the democratically elected [[Frankfurt Parliament]], the ''Reichsflotte''<nowiki/>'s brief existence ended with the failure of the revolution and it was disbanded on 2 April 1852; thus, the modern day navy celebrates its birthday on 14 June.

The small [[Prussian Navy]] evolved in 1867 into the [[North German Federal Navy]], which was mainly for coast defence. It became the [[Imperial German Navy]] in 1871. From 1919 to 1935, only a small ''[[Reichsmarine]]'' was permitted. Under [[Nazi Germany]], it was transformed into the ''[[Kriegsmarine]]'', which was disbanded in 1945 after the [[end of World War II in Europe]].

[[File:Bundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F048237-0002, Kiel, Segelschiff "Gorch Fock", Matrose.jpg|thumb|200px|A sailor of the West German navy during the 1970s]]

Between May 1945 and 1956, the [[German Mine Sweeping Administration]] and its successor organizations, made up of former ''Kriegsmarine'' members, became something of a transition stage for the German navy, allowing the future ''Marine'' to draw on recently experienced personnel upon its formation. Also, from 1949 to 1952 the [[United States Navy]] maintained the [[Naval Historical Team]] in Bremerhaven. This group of former ''Kriegsmarine'' officers acting as historical and tactical consultants to the Americans, was significant in establishing a German element in the NATO senior naval staff. In 1956, with [[West Germany]]'s accession to NATO, the ''Bundesmarine'' (Federal Navy), as the navy was known colloquially, was formally established. In the same year the East German ''Volkspolizei See'' (literally People's Police Sea) became the ''Volksmarine'' (People's Navy). During the Cold War all of the German Navy's combat vessels were assigned to [[NATO]]'s [[Allied Forces Baltic Approaches]]'s naval command [[Allied Forces Baltic Approaches#Commander.2C Allied Naval Forces Baltic Approaches|NAVBALTAP]].

With the accession of former [[East Germany]]'s states to the Federal Republic of Germany in 1990 the ''[[Volksmarine]]'' along with the whole [[National People's Army]] became part of the ''Bundeswehr''. Since 1995 the name ''German Navy'' is used in international context, while the official name since 1956 remains ''Marine'' without any additions. As of August 2024, the strength of the navy is 15,531 men and women.<ref name="bundeswehr"/>

A number of naval forces have operated in different periods. See
* ''[[Preußische Marine]]'' (Prussian Navy), 1701–1867
* ''[[Reichsflotte]]'' (Fleet of the Realm), 1848–52
* [[North German Federal Navy]], 1867–71
* [[Imperial German Navy]] (''Kaiserliche Marine''), 1871–1919
* ''[[Reichsmarine]]'', 1919–35
* ''[[Kriegsmarine]]'', 1935–45
* [[German Mine Sweeping Administration]], 1945–48
* ''[[Volksmarine]]'', the navy of [[East Germany]] (GDR) 1956–90
* ''Marine'', 1956–present (''Bundesmarine'', colloquially)