The German Emperor, despite having ships that were nearly equal to the British in terms of numbers and superior in gunnery, lacked confidence in his navy's ability to defeat the British. He struggled with the reality of his beloved battleships meeting a grim fate in battle, leaving him unsettled and unable to fully embrace the potential of his naval forces. The emotional turmoil he felt over the possible destruction of his fleet made him skeptical about their prospects against the British forces.

As the war progressed, Admiral Tirpitz, who had previously enjoyed the Emperor's favor, began to be seen as a liability due to his aggressive naval strategies aimed at engaging in combat. This shift in perception led to his exclusion from key decision-making circles within the German leadership. The internal conflict between strategic ambition and the fear of loss played a significant role in shaping Germany's naval policies during this period.