Following the German defeat in World War I, the German navy, reorganized as the Reichsmarine, was permitted to retain eight pre-dreadnought battleships, two of which would be in reserve, for coastal defense.
The German navy was permitted to retain eight pre-dreadnought battleships, two of which would be in reserve, for coastal defense. This was following the German defeat in World War I. The German navy was reorganized as the Reichsmarine.