The decision was made on 14 June 1848 by the Frankfurt Parliament,[1] which is considered by the modern German Navy as its birthday.

This had changed by the late 1830s, as the Kings of the Netherlands and Great Britain ceased to be members of the German Confederation, and in early 1848 Denmark also turned against Germany in the First Schleswig War.

Only two days later, the parliament decided to spend six million Reichsthaler on a navy to be under the command of Prince Adalbert of Prussia.

Until 1852, the fleet had The ships became the property of the re-established German Confederation, via the Bundeszentralkommission of 1849-1851 that dealt with the tasks of the former Central Power of the Imperial Regent.

The "Verfassung des Deutschen Reichs", article III § 19, states: Media related to Reichsflotte at Wikimedia Commons