German aircraft carriers had, so to speak, no! During World War II, although Germany swept thousands of troops on land, at sea, their aircraft carrier story was a bit like a tragic comedy. The aircraft carrier Count Zeppelin of the German Navy, the name sounds like it is going to a noble ball, but its career is more like an unfinished party at sea. Construction of this aircraft carrier began in 1936, but it did not officially enter service until the end of the war. Imagine a night of partying and only to end up with no guests and sigh at the empty dance floor.
As for why Germany did not have aircraft carriers, the answer to this question may be longer than the deck of the Count Zeppelin. First of all, German naval strategists were skeptical of aircraft carriers as new ships, preferring traditional battleships and submarines. It's like in the era of smartphones, there are still people who insist on using flip phones, and always feel that new gadgets are unreliable. Second, Germany's maritime strategy at the beginning of World War II was mainly "breaking the engagement at sea", that is, fighting guerrilla warfare, a tactic that did not require large targets such as aircraft carriers. Moreover, Germany had limited resources, and they had to put their limited steel and fuel to good use instead of building a huge sea airfield.
Post-war Germany was like a hangover after a carnival, and they obviously stayed away from such extravagant toys as aircraft carriers. Germany became a peaceful country, and its military strategy also shifted to a defensive character. During the Cold War, Germany, as part of NATO, had the main task of its navy to protect the Baltic and North Seas, and aircraft carriers were not needed for these tasks. Moreover, Germany's geographical location is not very suitable for aircraft carrier activities, after all, you can't let an aircraft carrier sail on the Rhine.
The modern German Navy, although it has a modern fleet, aircraft carriers are still not on their equipment list. It's like the German love of luxury sports cars, but there is always a practical family car parked at home. The German Navy's modern ships, such as the F125 frigates, may not be as cool as aircraft carriers in terms of functionality, but they are as reliable, practical, and relatively low-maintenance as German-made cars.
In general, Germany does not have aircraft carriers, and there are both historical reasons behind this, as well as strategic and economic considerations. The story of the German Navy teaches us that sometimes, bigger is not better, but what suits you best. Just like the Germans love beer, they may prefer small, beautiful ships to sea giants that require a lot of maintenance and resources. In this uncertain world, the German Navy is like the one who always chooses the safest plan, they may not throw the biggest party at sea, but they can always provide the most reliable support when needed.
**10,000 Fans Incentive Plan