WILHELMSHAVEN, a town in the Prussian province of Hanover and the chief German naval station on the North sea; as such it played an important part in the World War. It is situated on the north-west shore of the Jade Busen. Pop. (1933) 27,861. The ground on which it stands (4 sq.m.) was purchased by Prussia from the grand-duke of Oldenburg in 1853, when the Prussian navy was being formed. The construction of the harbour and town began in 1855, and the former was opened in 1869. Though reckoned a part of the Prussian province of Hanover it is completely surrounded on the landward side by Oldenburg territory. The harbour consists of three large basins
and seven smaller ones as well as a basin for shipbuilding. There are six dry-docks. The harbour has three entries and locks are 26o metres long and 4o metres wide, with a depth of from 6i to o metres at the quays. The establishment is defended by strong fortifications. The commercial harbour lies at the east end of the Ems-Jade canal. Wilhelmshaven exports agricultural produce and imports coal and timber.