Rear Admiral from 1895, and having served in East Asia with a cruiser squadron during 1896-97, Tirpitz was appointed Secretary of State of the Imperial Navy Department in 1897.

• 在1895年成为海军少将之后，提尔皮茨于1896-1897年在东亚一支巡洋舰中队服役。1897年提尔皮茨被任命为帝国海军部的部长，这次任命标志着提尔皮茨与皇帝亲密合作关系的开始。