Reichsmarineamt
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The Reichsmarineamt or RMA was the name of the German Navy Office prior to World War I; the current equivalent is the Marineamt. Formed to oversee the Kaiserliche Marine in 1889, it achieved considerable success in the early years of the 20th Century under Admiral Tirpitz.
The technical department of the RMA became a nucleus of highly qualified specialists responsible for the design and production of military vessels. During this period the RMA produced a number of innovative prototype gun and ship designs. Isolation from other naval powers led to innovation but also to failure to incorporate important elements such as centralised fire control, which hampered the German fleet at the Battle of Jutland.
According to one former member, the original technical career path required a Master's Degree in engineering, four years' service in the Kaiserliche Marine including sea and shipyard service, an examination, three years' service as an assistant engineer, then a second examination including a ship design project. Failure at this last stage had no chance of readmission. On passing the examination, and after a few more years of experience, the candidate could be admitted as a ship designer.
After the First World War the fleet was severely reduced under the Treaty of Versailles and the RMA was dissolved in 1919. There was no official naval department between 1919 and 1935. The Kaiserliche Marine became the Reichsmarine in 1919 and the Kriegsmarine in 1935.
The present equivalent body is the Marineamt, part of the German navy office, now the Deutsche Marine.
