Part 5/8:
On August 9, 1890, British flags were lowered for the final time, marking Heligoland's shift to German control as Kaiser Wilhelm II landed the next day to claim the island. The spa resort days were quickly overshadowed as Heligoland transformed into a fortified naval base intended to support the German Navy.
Despite its geopolitical importance during World War I, Heligoland’s military infrastructure saw limited use and was not pivotal in the war’s outcomes. British military leaders contemplated an assault on it, but plans were ultimately scrapped.