Ludwig von Reuter: The Man Who Sank a Navy
Another in my continuing series on the history of Orkney. I have enjoyed The Grand Scuttle (1982, 2014) by Dan van der Vat which goes into some detail of the build-up and pivotal role the naval arms race caused in pulling Great Britain into what was then called The Great War. Van der Vat is very kind to the British Admirals Jellicoe and Beatty – especially Beatty who made grave errors during The Battle of Jutland (or Battle of Skagerrak as it is known in Germany), the greatest all-battleship action in any war. I will not discuss that here, there are plenty of historians covering what was essentially a “score-draw.”??
Instead, I will remain parochial and focus on the scuttling of the German High Seas Fleet at Scapa Flow on June 21, 1919, which stands as a pivotal event in naval history, symbolising the crushing of Germany's maritime ambitions and those of the by then abdicated Kaiser. I will include some aspects new to me which might help understanding the broader context, including the influence of the Workers' and Soldiers' Councils and Rear-Admiral Ludwig von Reuter's command decisions to provide a comprehensive view of the events leading to the scuttle and its aftermath.?
The German High Seas Fleet as part of the Armistice conditions was to be held in “a neutral port or failing that an allied port.” The Allies; Britain, France, Italy and USA, (Russia having been beaten by November 1918), made little effort in finding neutral ports and essentially forced the fleet to enter Britain’s Grand Fleet harbour of Scapa Flow, Orkney. This was not a surrender, and the sailors were not to be treated as prisoners of war, but really they were bargaining tokens in the protracted Armistice talks being held in France.??
Rear Admiral Ludwig von Reuter assumed command of the 74 vessels of the soon to be interned fleet under arduous conditions and at short notice. He had commanded a battlecruiser division at Jutland and was highly respected by officers and crew. The first choice had been delayed in the arrangements with the Royal Navy and dutifully Reuter took what he imagined was a temporary command.??
Rear-Admiral von Reuter's Command and Challenges?
One of the reasons for Germany asking for peace terms in 1918 was in fact the naval mutiny in Wilhelmshaven, similar to the events starting the Russian Revolution. It is with this background that morale among the crews was notably low, exacerbated by prolonged inactivity since the Battle of Jutland in June 1916 and the hardships endured due to wartime blockades. The sailors had faced long periods of idleness, limited rations, and the psychological toll of impending defeat. These factors contributed to a sense of disillusionment and unrest within the ranks.??
The internal dynamics of the fleet were further complicated by the presence of the Workers' and Soldiers' Councils, revolutionary bodies that emerged during the German Revolution of 1918-1919. These councils, established in the wake of widespread mutinies and political upheaval, sought to represent the interests of ordinary sailors and soldiers, often challenging traditional military hierarchies. Onboard the ships, these councils wielded significant influence, frequently countermanding officers' orders and asserting control over daily operations. This shift in authority created a tense environment, as traditional naval discipline clashed with the councils' democratic ideals.??
The High Seas Fleet was very well built to modern standards as can be seen in the difference in casualty rates of German to British losses at Jutland. These ships were built to command the North Sea with the battle tactics of hit and run against the Royal Navy, taking ever larger lumps out of it. This was a strategy laid down by Admiral Turpitz in the 1880’s and very nearly successful in 1916. However, this meant that the living accommodation was much smaller than the equivalent British vessels. Forced to remain aboard without port facilities to use at Scapa Flow meant internship was doubly arduous for the German crews who were not allowed shore leave. All food and supplies (apart from water, oil and coal) were supplied from Germany, newspapers being censored by the British.??
The Decision to Scuttle?
Amidst this backdrop of internal discord and external uncertainty, Admiral von Reuter faced the daunting task of maintaining cohesion within the fleet while navigating the complex political landscape. The protracted peace negotiations at the Paris Peace Conference left the fate of the interned ships in uncertain balance. Reports indicated that the Allies were divided on the disposition of the fleet: the French and Italians each desired a portion of the ships, while the British favoured their destruction to maintain their naval superiority. This lack of consensus, coupled with the ambiguous terms of the armistice, heightened von Reuter's concerns about the potential seizure of the fleet without Germany's consent.??
Scuttling of the fleet had always been an option from 1918 to which the Royal Navy was keen to prevent. In response to the armistice uncertainties, von Reuter increasingly contemplated the scuttling of the fleet as a means to prevent its appropriation by the Allies, however, he could not rely on the mutinous nature of some of his crews. It is debated if he communicated his intentions to his chief of staff as early as January 1919, his own memoirs are silent on the issue. By May 1919, with the terms of the Treaty of Versailles becoming clearer and increasingly unfavourable, von Reuter formalised his plans. He issued orders indicating that the fleet should be sunk if the Allies attempted to seize it without German government approval. This directive, known as "Paragraph Eleven," was disseminated to the fleet on June 18, 1919, setting the stage for the events that would follow.??
The Scuttling Event?
On the morning of June 21, 1919, the British fleet departed Scapa Flow for training exercises, leaving the interned German ships lightly guarded. Seizing this opportunity, von Reuter transmitted the order to scuttle at 11:20 AM. Von Reuter had the good fortune to be able to return many of the mutinous crews back to Germany a few days before, as part of a British request to reduce crews to a minimum. This was possibly for the Royal Navy to seize the ships, scheduled for 23rd June. The officers and crews, having been prepared for this moment, acted swiftly to execute the plan. Over the course of the day, 52 of the 74 interned vessels sank to the bottom of Scapa Flow. The scuttling was largely successful, though British forces managed to beach or tow some ships before they submerged completely.??
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One almost comical aspect of the day was that a party of schoolchildren from nearby Stromness were being taken around the Grand Fleet on an excursion that morning in the Flying Kestral. The book gives many first-hand accounts of how impressed they were with the huge grey, rusting monsters just before they started letting out screams of rushing air as watercocks were opened and compartments flooded. Some thought the spectacle had been put on especially for them!??
Unhappily, in the panic and frustration nine German sailors died in the scuttling, all shot by British sailors or marines. The final casualties of The Great War, June 21st 1919.??
Aftermath and Implications?
The scuttling of the fleet had profound implications for post-war naval dynamics and international relations. For Germany, the act was seen by some as a final gesture of defiance, preserving national honour by preventing the fleet's division among the Allies. However, it also meant the loss of valuable naval assets that could have been leveraged in future negotiations.?
For the Allies, the scuttling was met with a mixture of frustration and relief. While it thwarted plans to redistribute the ships, it also eliminated a potential source of tension among the Allied powers, each of whom had competing interests regarding the fleet's disposition. The event underscored the challenges of managing the complex aftermath of the war, highlighting issues of trust, communication, and the enforcement of armistice terms.?
The scuttling of the German High Seas Fleet remains a significant episode in naval history, reflecting the complexities of post-war negotiations, the challenges of maintaining discipline within a defeated military, and the lengths to which leaders will go to preserve national honour.??
In a postscript to the story, there is an interesting further history of the characters who went about salvaging the sunken ships. New and often dangerous techniques were developed – whole new story for a future post.??
Disclaimer: I am not an historian just an interested amateur who has read round the topic and thought others might be interested to learn more.
Reading:
The Grand Scuttle, Dan van der Vat
More on Battleships in general and excellent videographer https://www.youtube.com/@Drachinifel
Climate Advocate & part-time Consultant trading as Hi Consulting
3 周Fascinating read.