[Wallace T.]

Kaiser Wilhelm II built a large navy, but it was of insufficient size to successfully challenge the British blockade of Germany. The German Navy sunk more ships during the Battle of Jutland, but that battle was a strategic defeat, for the goal of ending the blockade was not achieved. Hitler saw the navy primarily in the role of submarine warfare, in order to disrupt Allied supply lines between Britain, the U.S., and the Soviet Union. The Allies, though suffering some losses, thwarted the German attempt to disrupt seaborne commerce.

Historically, Germany and, before that Prussia, was a preeminent land power. German commerce has the rest of Europe as its primary customer. Since the end of World War II, Germany's overseas commerce has been protected by NATO. For all the design flaws noted, it appears that Germany is stepping up its game. Trump has asked other NATO members to increase their military spending, and the Germans may be doing just that.

[Little Ray]

If the Kaiser had not built that navy, the Brits might not have allied with the French and a whole new history of the world would be written...
Of course, the Germans would also have to have forgone invading Belgium, too!