The Central Powers in the Adriatic, 1914-1918: War in a Narrow Sea

(Hardback)

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The naval side of the First World War in the Adriatic provides a classic case study in narrow sea warfare. This is the story of the Austro-Hungarian KuK Navy's contribution to the Central Powers' considerable effort in the region. This finely balanced, well-handled navy successfully helped to defend Austria's Adriatic base of power--the Pola-Trieste-Fiume triangle--in the north, to protect the vital sea lane to Cattaro and the south, and to support the army from the sea--all against major odds. Its forces also contributed significantly to the U-boat war. During initial stages of the conflict, the French were the enemy at sea. Later, Italy switched allegiances, joining the Entente against her former allies. Because the KuK Kriegsmarine was no match for the Italians and the French combined, the battle fleet was thereafter kept in being at Pola, holding the Allies in check. Nonetheless, the Adriatic became an Austrian lake. Using aircraft, U-boats, torpedoes, and mines, the KuK worked toward reducing the odds against it. However, the impasse would continue until the armistice, ruling out a Mahanian showdown in the Adriatic. Koburger provides important geostrategic points of comparison and valuable lessons for other conflicts, even today.

Reviews

.,."a succinct and useful book without pretensions....special interest to former and current "naval persons.""-German Studies Review
.,."an admirable little handbook, useful both as an introduction to that facet of the war and as a convenient quick reference to the highlights."-International Journal of Maritime History
...a succinct and useful book without pretensions....special interest to former and current "naval persons."-German Studies Review
...an admirable little handbook, useful both as an introduction to that facet of the war and as a convenient quick reference to the highlights.-International Journal of Maritime History
Koburger does an outstanding job of outlining the geographical setting of the campaign, and is very strong on personalities and political developments....a valuable--indeed the only--treatment of this very neglected maritime campaign that had enormous geopolitical influence.-The New York Military Affairs Symposium Newsletter
..."a succinct and useful book without pretensions....special interest to former and current "naval persons.""-German Studies Review
..."an admirable little handbook, useful both as an introduction to that facet of the war and as a convenient quick reference to the highlights."-International Journal of Maritime History
"Koburger does an outstanding job of outlining the geographical setting of the campaign, and is very strong on personalities and political developments....a valuable--indeed the only--treatment of this very neglected maritime campaign that had enormous geopolitical influence."-The New York Military Affairs Symposium Newsletter

Author Bio

CHARLES W. KOBURGER, JR. retired from the U.S. Coast Guard as a reservist with the rank of Captain after 20 years of active duty and is now an independent consultant on maritime affairs, writing naval history as a second effort./e He has published widely on naval and other maritime subjects on both sides of the Atlantic.