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Pelican
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Historical

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On Armistice Day, the German Sailors’ Mutinies That Brought Down the Kaiser


Crew on SMS Hegoland were among the first to mutiny in 1918 - Photo attached.

In the US, today is Veteran’s Day, when we honor those who have served in the military. It coincides with Armistice Day, the anniversary of the signing of the armistice which ended World War I, on the 11th hour of the 11th day, of the 11th month of 1918, when the guns finally fell silent after four years of bloody conflict.

Today is a good time to recall the mutiny of the German High Seas Fleet, which played a significant role in the abdication of the Kaiser and in finally ending the war. Here is a revised repost from a few years ago about the naval mutinies of late 1918.

The fleet mutinies at Wilhelmshaven on October 29th and at Kiel on November 3, triggered the German revolution and swept aside the monarchy within a few days. The naval mutinies led directly to the end of the German Empire and to the establishment of the Weimar Republic.

As summarized by the History Channel: By the last week of October 1918, three of the Central Powers—Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire—were at least in talks with the Allies about reaching an armistice, while the fourth, Bulgaria, had already concluded one at the end of September.

With the end of the war seemingly in sight, the German naval command—led by the Admiralty’s chief of staff, Reinhardt Scheer—decided to launch a last-ditch effort against the British in the North Sea in a desperate attempt to restore the German navy’s prestige. In the words of Reinhardt Scheer, chief of staff of the German Admiralty, “An honorable battle by the fleet—even if it should be a fight to the death—will sow the seed of a new German fleet of the future. There can be no future for a fleet fettered by a dishonorable peace.” Choosing not to inform the chancellor, Max von Baden, of its plans, the German Admiralty issued the order to leave port on October 28.

The sailors themselves, however, believing the attack to be a suicide mission, would have none of it. Though the order was given five times, each time they resisted. In total, 1,000 mutineers were arrested, leaving the Imperial Fleet immobilized. By October 30, the resistance had engulfed the German naval base at Kiel, where sailors and industrial workers alike took part in the rebellion.

Within a week, it had spread across the country, with revolts in Hamburg, Bremen and Lubeck on November 4 and 5 and in Munich two days later. This widespread discontent led Socialist members of the German Reichstag, or parliament, to declare the country a republic on November 9, followed swiftly by Kaiser Wilhelm’s abdication on November 10, and finally, on November 11, by the end of the First World War.

See, which contains links:
http://www.oldsaltblog.com/2020/11/on-a ... more-56405
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HMS Pelican 1938 - 1958 GGCV L86 U86 F86 What I Have I Hold ~ A wonderful bird is the Pelican its beak can hold more than its belly can.
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Pelican
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Re: Historical

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Devonport divers help solve WW1 U-boat mystery

https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-l ... boat-wreck
HMS Pelican 1938 - 1958 GGCV L86 U86 F86 What I Have I Hold ~ A wonderful bird is the Pelican its beak can hold more than its belly can.
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Pelican
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Scuttling the German High Seas Fleet at Scapa Flow, 102 Years Ago Today 21st June

Following the Armistice of November 11, 1918, which ended fighting on land, sea, and air in World War I, the German High Seas Fleet of 74 ships was interned at Scapa Flow, in the Orkney Islands of Scotland. While the armistice ended the fighting, it would still take six months of Allied negotiations at the Paris Peace Conference to conclude the peace treaty. Part of the haggling over terms of the treaty involved how to divide up the ships of the German fleet amongst the victors.

On the morning of June 21, 1919, German Admiral Erich Raeder, in command of the interned ships, sent out a flag signal, “To all Commanding Officers and the Leader of the Torpedo Boats. Paragraph Eleven of today’s date. Acknowledge. Chief of the Interned Squadron.” The signal was repeated by semaphore and searchlights.

Continues at:
http://www.oldsaltblog.com/2021/06/scut ... more-57755
HMS Pelican 1938 - 1958 GGCV L86 U86 F86 What I Have I Hold ~ A wonderful bird is the Pelican its beak can hold more than its belly can.
Brian James
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Re: Historical

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The surrendered Deutschland Class U-Boat SMS U-151, pictured at St Nazaire c 1920, her deck guns had already been removed. constructed by Reiherstieg Schiffswerfte & Maschinenfabrik at Hamburg and launched on April 4th 1917. From 1917 until the Armistice in November 1918 she was part of the U-Kreuzer Flotilla, and was responsible for 34 ships sunk (88,395 tons) and 7 ships damaged (14,292 tons)...U-151 was originally one of seven Deutschland Class U-Boats designed to carry cargo between the United States and Germany in 1916. Five of the Submarine freighters were converted into long-range Cruiser U-boats (U-kreuzers) equipped with two 5.9 inch SK L/45 deck guns and 2 X 20 inch bow torpedo tubes with a load of 18 torpedoes,including U-151 which was originally to have been named Oldenburg. The Type U 151 Class were the largest U-boats of World War I.
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Brian James
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Re: Historical

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Modular building techniques pictured being used in the construction of Type XXI U-Boats at Deschimag Shipyard, Bremen in April 1944..*Note the installation of a diesel engine in section III of a Submarine, during construction, with specialized rail carts used to transport hull sections and engines within the Shipyard.
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designeraccd
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A very nice view of part of the HSF at Wilhelmshaven pre internment of the Fleet in 1918. HELGOLAND is closest to camera, but further down the pier one can make out DERFFLINGER! The w i d e l y splayed tripod gives her away. :D DFO
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designeraccd
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Strictly speaking this was not a German battlecruiser when this photo was taken. It shows the x-GOEBEN approaching Sevastopol in 1918. :) DFO
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Brian James
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SMS Prince Regent Luitpold, last of the scuttled Grand Fleet, towed upside down from Scapa to the Scrap Yard...https://www.britishpathe.com/video/once ... scapa+flow
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The Kreigsmarine 1st U-Boat Flotilla (Weddigen Flotilla) pictured with Submarine Tender Saar on a visit to Hietalahti Dockyard, Helsinki in August 1937.
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Brian James
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Re: Historical

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Norddeutscher Lloyd Line passenger Ship Hansestadt Danzig pictured at Helsinki in 1938. In August 1939, Hansestadt Danzig was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine and converted her into a Minelayer..On July 9th 1941, Hansestadt Danzig, together with the Minelayers Preussen and Tannenberg, struck a Swedish minefield east of the southern tip of Öland and sank near the village of Gräsgård. The minefield had been created by the Swedish Navy at the German request to block Soviet ships from passing near Öland. The Swedish Navy had informed the Oberkommando der Marine (OKM) of the location of the minefield, but the OKM did not pass on the information. Furthermore, the Swedish Navy had stationed its own Minesweeper HSwMS Sandön in front of the minefield to warn incoming ships. Despite this warning, the German unit commander allowed his ships to continue sailing, and they were caught in the minefield in this way. The Preussen and the Tannenberg also ran into mines and sank. Nine crew members died in the sinking of the Hansestadt Danzig.
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