Why were German surface warships used mainly for commerce raiding?

German surface warships were used for commerce raiding primarily because Germany’s naval strategy was constrained by its position as a dominant land-based power in continental Europe. Rather than seeking a direct confrontation with the superior British fleet, the German Navy’s goals were to protect its own coasts, support land and air operations, and disrupt Allied sea communications.1

Commerce raiding—targeting unescorted merchant ships—allowed the German surface fleet to strike at the Allies' vital supply lines while avoiding the risks of a decisive fleet engagement, which Germany was ill-equipped to win. This approach was part of a broader strategy that relied heavily on submarines (U-boats) as the primary naval weapon to attack Allied shipping. By deploying armed merchant raiders and capital ships like the Admiral Scheer, Scharnhorst, and Bismarck to roam the oceans, Germany sought to inflict significant economic damage and force the British to divert resources to protect their trade routes.12