Blog Post

The German fleet scuttles in Scapa Flow

  • by Brian Alexander
  • 21 Jun, 2019

This day 100 years ago 74 ships of the German High Seas Fleet (Hochseeflotte) scuttled, in Scapa Flow, on the orders of their commander Rear Admiral (Konteradmiral) Ludwig von Reuter.

The scuttling of the German fleet took place at the Royal Navy's base at Scapa Flow, in Orkney, after the First World War. The High Seas Fleet was interned there under the terms of the Armistice whilst negotiations took place over the fate of the ships. Fearing that all of the ships would be seized and divided amongst the allied powers Rear Admiral Von Reuter decided to scuttle the fleet.

The scuttling was carried out on 21 June 1919. Intervening British guard ships were able to beach a number of the ships, but 52 of the 74 interned vessels sank. Nine German sailors were shot and killed and sixteen wounded by the Royal Navy in the confusion that day. Many of the wrecks were salvaged over the next two decades and were towed away for scrapping Those that remain are popular diving sites.

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