Death of a fleet: Responsibility for the scuttling of the German high seas fleet at Scapa Flow, June 21, 1919Show full item record
Title | Death of a fleet: Responsibility for the scuttling of the German high seas fleet at Scapa Flow, June 21, 1919 |
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Author | Shepherd, David N. |
Date | 1974 |
Genre | Dissertation |
Degree | Doctor of Philosophy |
Abstract | During World War I the German High Seas Fleet was relatively inactive due to the failure of the German Naval High Command to seek a definitive battle with the superior British Grand Fleet. This inactivity, as well as poor food, infrequent leave and stern discipline caused unrest among the enlisted men on board the German ships. In 1917 a minority of sailors staged hunger strikes and walkouts to protest existing conditions. The German naval authorities treated those leading the sailor's movement as traitors and meted out harsh punishments, which resulted in further discontent among the sailors. The situation finally exploded in October, 1918 when a clique of high ranking naval officers planned a desperate eleventh-hour battle against the British fleet. Rather than see their lives thrown away in the last days of the war, the sailors rose up and took over the German ships. The terms of the Armistice ending World War I specified that the finest German ships must be interned at the British naval base at Scapa Flow pending the outcome of the final peace treaty. German naval authorities selected Rear Admiral Ludwig von Reuter to lead the mutinous internment unit to Scapa Flow. Reuter preferred to sink the ships rather than submit to this degradation of the German fleet, but a peace-orientated government and the radicalism of the sailors prevented Reuter from ordering the immediate destruction of the ships. At Scapa Flow the British navy cooperated with Reuter in decreasing the power of the mutinous sailors and restoring his authority. With his position more firmly established, Reuter, on June 21, 1919, ordered the German vessels destroyed. He was influenced in the decision by Admiral Adolph von Trotha, Chief of the German Admiralty, who instructed Reuter that the German ships must never be surrendered. Rather than turn over the warships in compliance with the peace treaty, Reuter gave the command to sink them saying he believed that the war had been renewed. Reuter even blamed the British for the scuttling by claiming that British interference with his communications was the sole cause of the sinking. The Allied Powers sitting in Paris held the German government as a whole responsible for the incident and demanded further reparations as a penalty for this breach of the Armistice. Even though the Allies agreed on what Germany must pay in naval reparations there was much bickering over a division of the spoils. After considerable discussion the British Admiralty's opinion prevailed; the greater part of what was left of the German fleet would be destroyed rather than divided among the Allies. The scuttling of the High Seas Fleet at Scapa Flow destroyed both the German navy and future German naval ambitions. Never again would Germany seek to become the supreme naval power. |
Link | https://repository.tcu.edu/handle/116099117/33547 |
Department | History |
Advisor | Tucker, Spencer C. |
This item appears in the following Collection(s)
- Doctoral Dissertations [1485]
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