Imperial German Navy (Joan of What?)

The Imperial German Navy (: Reichsmarine) is the of  and is one of the three branches of the , the German Armed Forces. The German Navy was originally known as the Kaiserliche Marine from its foundation in 1871 until 1935, when under the government of the name was officially changed to Reichsmarine. By the Reichsmarine had become the most powerful European naval force, and is also the second-largest today after the. It is deeply integrated into the NATO alliance. Its missions include projecting naval power and assisting Germany's allies in conflicts, as well as to protect Germany's territorial waters, maritime infrastructure and sea lines of communication. The Reichsmarine actively participates in peacekeeping operations, and renders humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.