The High Seas Fleet last Journey | Scapaflow 1919 - The Big Scuttle
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The High Seas Fleet last Journey

Days after the Armistice was signed, Admiral Beatty met with German naval representatives on his flagship, HMS Queen Elizabeth.

Admiral Meurer coming aboard. Author’s collection. Photo Suplied Central News.

Admiral Meurer coming aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth. Author’s collection. Photo Supplied Central News.


Hugo Meurer

Hugo Meurer

At midnight on November 16th Admiral von Meurer, the German representative left for Kiel with his orders. The High Seas Fleet was to be delivered into allied hands in Rosyth five days later.

74 ships were demanded by the allies.

 

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Crews frantically took off anything that could assist in the hostile use of the ships – torpedoes, munitions, firing mechanisms. Coal, water and provisions were loaded up for an anticipated 37-day internment.

Under the command of Rear Admiral Ludwig von Reuter, the man chosen by the Commander in Chief, Admiral Hipper to take these once proud ships into captivity, the great procession left home harbours.

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Britsh Airship_HSF last journey

Entering_Scapa_Flow

Scapa

They were met by more than 250 heavily armed allied ships. Cheering British sailors kept each ship under its guns, manning their guns and torpedo tubes.

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At sunset, Beatty announced that the German flag was to be hauled down and not to be raised again until he allowed it. For almost all German naval officers, it was a slap in the face that would never be forgotten.

 

 

 

ORGANIZATION OF THE INTERNED FLEET

Fleet Staff

Senior Officer: Konteradmiral Ludwig von Reuter
Chief of Staff: Fregattenkapitän Iwan von Oldekop
Admiral’s Staff Officer: Kapitänleutnant Lautenschlager
Flag-Lieutenant: Oberleutnant zur See Schillig
Squadron Paymaster: Stabszahlmeister Habicht
Naval Advocate: Marine-Krieggerichtsrat Lt. Loesch
Squadron Engineer: Marine-Ob.stabs-Ing.Faustmann (Markgraf)
Squadron Surgeon: Marine-Stabarzt. Dr. Lange (PrinzR. Luitpold)

 

Battleships

Baden: Korvettenkapitän Zirzow
Friedrich der Große: Korvettenkapitän von Wachter
Bayern: Kapitänleutnant
Meißner (or Hugo Dominik Bayern)
Große Kurfürst: Kapitänleutnant
Beer
Kronprinz Wilhelm: Kapitänleutnant Becker
Markgraf: Korvettenkapitän Schumann
König: Korvettenkapitän Junkermann
König Albert: Korvettenkapitän Böhmer
Prinzregent Luitpold: Kapitänleutnant von Reiche
Kaiser: Kapitänleutnant Wippern
Kaiserin: Korvettenkapitän Viertel

 

Battle-cruisers

Derfflinger: Korvettenkapitän Pastusczyck
Hindenburg: Korvettenkapitän Heyden
Von der Tan: Kapitänleutnant Wollanke
Moltke: Kapitänleutnant Erelinger
Seydlitz: Kapitänleutnant Brauer

 

Light Cruisers

Emden: Kapitänleutnant Ehlers
Brummer: Kapitänleutnant Prahl
Bremse: Oberleutnant zur See Schacke
Frankfurt: Kapitänleutnant Beesel
Köln: Kapitänleutnant Johann Heinemann
Dresden: Kapitänleutnant Fabricius
Nürnberg: Kapitänleutnant Georgi (SPELLING BERICHT)

 

Destroyers / Torpedo Boats

Leader, Torpedo Boats: Korvettenkapitän Hermann Cordes (S.138)
Flag Lieutenant: Kapitänleutnant Schniewind (S.138)
Squadron Engineer: Marine-Oberstabs.Ing.Halwe (H.145)
Squadron paymaster: Marine-Zahlm.d.Res. Horn (S.138)

 

I Torpedo Boat Flotilla

Leader: Kapitänleutnant Henrici (G.40)
G.38
G.39
G.40: Kapitänleutnant
Henrici
G.86
V.129

 

II Torpedo Boat Flotilla

Leader: Kapitänleutnant Menche (B.110)

B.109
B.110: Kapitänleutnant
Menche
B.111
B.112
G.101
G.102
G.103
G.100

 

III Torpedo Boat Flotilla

Leader: Kapitänleutnant Steiner (S.54)

S.53
S.54: Kapitänleutnant
Steiner
S.55
S.91/ G.91: Leutnant
Fritz von Twardowski
V.70
V.73
V.81
V.82

 

VI Torpedo Boat Flotilla

Leader: Kapitänleutnant Oskar Wehr (V.44)

Half-Leader XI Half Flotilla

Leader: Kapitänleutnant von Bonin (S.131)

S.49
S.50
S.131
S.132
V.43
V.44: Kapitänleutnant
Wehr
V.45
V.46
V.125
V.126
V.127
V.128

        

VII Torpedo Boat Flotilla

Leader: Korvettenkapitän Hermann Cordes (S.138)

Half-Leader XIII Half Flotilla
Kapitänleutnant Roslik (S.56)
Half-Leader XIII Half Flotilla
Kapitänleutnant Reimer (S.136)

G.89
G.92
H.145
S.56: Kapitänleutnant
Roslik
S.65
S.136: Kapitänleutnant
Reimer
S.137
S.138: Korvettenkapitän
Hermann Cordes
V.78
V.83

 

XVII Torpedo Boat Flotilla

Half-Leader: Kapitänleutnant Ganguin (V.80)

S.36
S.51
S.52
S.60
V.80: Kapitänleutnant
Ganguin

 

Source: Reuter pp.122-124