Eduard von Capelle | |
|---|---|
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| Born | 10 October 1855 Celle, Lower Saxony, Kingdom of Hanover |
| Died | 23 February 1931 (aged 75) Wiesbaden, Hesse, Germany |
| Allegiance |  German Empire |
| Service |  Imperial German Navy |
| Years of service | 1872–1918 |
| Rank | Admiral |
Eduard von Capelle (10 October 1855 – 23 February 1931) was a German Imperial Navy officer from Celle. He joined the Imperial German Navy in 1872, serving in various roles, including as an executive officer of the battleship SMS Weissenburg and chief of the administrative department in the Reichsmarineamt (Imperial Naval Office). Working closely with Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz, he was primarily responsible for drafting the Flottengesetze (German Naval Laws), and was promoted to admiral in 1913. He was supportive of Germany's entry into war during July Crisis of 1914.
Capelle was recalled from his post in March 1916 to replace Tirpitz as the State Secretary of the Imperial Navy Office, and oversaw the German naval war during the latter three years of World War I. Initially against unrestricted submarine warfare, he was persuaded to support it; the continuation of this policy caused the United States to declare war on Germany. Nevertheless, he maintained his belief in the supremacy of battleships and argued against halting their construction. Facing opposition from those who saw him as too much of a conservative in naval affairs, he was asked by Kaiser Wilhelm II to resign, which he did in October 1918. He resided in Wiesbaden until his death on 23 February 1931.