Scuttling of the German fleet in Scapa Flow
| Scuttling of the German fleet in Scapa Flow | |||||||
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| Part of the First World War | |||||||
 SMS Bayern sinking by the stern. SMS Baden can be seen at the far left. |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 United Kingdom
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 German Empire
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
 Sydney Fremantle
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 Ludwig von Reuter
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| Units involved | |||||||
| First Battle Squadron | High Seas Fleet | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| None | Most of the fleet scuttled; nine killed; 16 wounded | ||||||
The scuttling of the German fleet took place at the Royal Navy's base at Scapa Flow, in Scotland, after 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, the German commander, Admiral Ludwig 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. Many of the wrecks were salvaged over the next two decades and were towed away for scrapping. Those that remain are popular diving sites.
The signing of the Armistice on 11 November 1918, at Compiègne, France, effectively ended the First World War. The Allied powers agreed that Germany's U-boat fleet should be surrendered without the possibility of return, but were unable to agree upon a course of action regarding the German surface fleet. The Americans suggested that the ships be interned in a neutral port until a final decision was reached, but the two countries that were approached – Norway and Spain – both refused. Admiral Rosslyn Wemyss suggested that the fleet be interned at Scapa Flow with a skeleton crew of German sailors, and guarded in the interim by the Grand Fleet.
The terms were transmitted to Germany on 12 November 1918, instructing them to make the High Seas Fleet ready to sail by 18 November, or the Allies would occupy Heligoland.
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Wikipedia