‘Privateering and piracy’: Australian responses to commerce warfare fears from German naval planning to 1914

Despite the extensive German archival evidence, there is still some historical opinion that Germany did not constitute a threat to Australia in 1914. It was clear to both British and German military planners that an effective way to fight an enemy was to disrupt its trade and food supplies. The effect this would have on any war effort, particularly the civilian population, could be dire, thus influencing military outcomes. In addition to the plans for specific naval action against shipping and port infrastructure, the use of the merchant marine as auxiliary naval vessels to interdict supplies of raw materials and food to Britain was an integral part of German war scenarios in the Asia-Pacific region, which would have isolated Australia economically and militarily. Thus, the Royal Navy would be forced to dispatch warships from home waters to defend these essential economic interests and infrastructure in the Dominions.