The Animation of the 1919 German Fleet Scuttle in Scapa Flow

[@donbow450]

Funfact: The order to sink the ships was "Paragraph 11". In kind of a running gag Paragraph 11 in German student fraternities always states "It has to be boozed on". The word for boozing is "saufen" and in the form of "absaufen" means also sinking or drown

[@jamesm3471]

Those oh so crazy, lovable Germans! What will they sink of next?!

[@myparceltape1169]

Cleverly concealed message.

[@the10thman87]

The steel on those remaining ships is worth more than gold now. Any pre-1945 steel has no radioactive isotopes. Very rare, very expensive.

[@Grafknar]

Yes, and sadly word has gotten out in Indonesia. War graves are being pillaged. The remains of HMS Exeter for one is all but gone.

[@JackTheNoober]

What makes it so special not having any radioactive isotopes? Does it make the steel stronger or something?

[@scrappydude1]

Form the Wikipedia page Low-background steel, also known as pre-war steel, is any steel produced prior to the detonation of the first nuclear bombs in the 1940s and 1950s. Typically sourced from shipwrecks and other steel artifacts of this era, it is often used for modern particle detectors because more modern steel is contaminated with traces of nuclear fallout.[1] Since the cessation of atmospheric nuclear testing, background radiation has decreased to very near natural levels,[2] making special low-background steel no longer necessary for most radiation-sensitive applications, as brand-new steel now has a low enough radioactive signature that it can generally be used in such applications.[3] However, some demand remains for the most radiation-sensitive applications, such as Geiger counters and sensing equipment aboard spacecraft, and World War II-era shipwrecks near in the Java Sea and western South China Sea are often illegally scavenged for low-background steel.[4]

[@Brett733]

ya but its nowhere near the price of Gold.

[@SuperNevile]

That's why the German fleet is protected under 'The Protection of Wrecks Act, 1973'

[@xordus]

wow, this should really be on tv. It's hard to believe I just stumbled onto something so well-made. I hope the views at some point match the quality

[@Dreyer1916]

Matt, thank you for the kind comments. Anything you can do to share this on your FB or Twitter would be great. It's quite tough getting traction for an important historical event which has largely been forgotten.

[@ernestbrown9660]

@@Dreyer1916 I've heard that the remaining wrecks are harvested for their radiation-free metal content for space and other applications, is that true?

[@Dreyer1916]

@@ernestbrown9660 The wrecks that remain (seven) are now protected from any salvage but diving itself is harming them. We won't have them with us for very much longer. The steel was very valued after 1945 because it was non irradiated but most of the real salvage was done in the 20s and 30s.

[@ernestbrown9660]

@@Dreyer1916 Thanks for the reply and the excellent documentary! I've always been fascinated by the naval history of WWI and this is the best coverage of the scuttling and salvage that I've found.

[@Dreyer1916]

@@ernestbrown9660 You're very welcome. It was a pleasure making it and it's even more pleasing to finally see that it's finally starting to gather steam and reach more people.

[@harrylor66]

Simply the best documentary over the scuttling of the german High Seas Fleet ever, excellent! Congratulations and greetings from Germany

[@Dreyer1916]

Danke!

[@harrylor66]

@@Dreyer1916 :-)

[@michaelmorgan9824]

Harrylor66 I agree excellent!!

[@tylersoto7465]

True , seeing all those beautiful naval ships sinking is pulling on my heartstrings sinking all that potential useful ships going to waste , the British or america should of at taking those ships for themselves instead of sinking dam lol

[@thelvadam2884]

@@tylersoto7465 no they should have left our ships alone ....

[@andyturton6366]

Brilliant. I was becoming frustrated that the loss of life was not mentioned, but you made a strong point of it at the end. Illustrating that the sailors at home in Germany wanted peace through revolution, much as many troops in the trenches through fraternization, is a much neglected fact that I was delighted that you showed. Kudos.

[@Dreyer1916]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@JHorsti]

Yet again, a fantastic animation and narration. Greetings from Emden!

[@Dreyer1916]

Danke nochmals!

[@AsFewFalseThingsAsPossible]

Watching this in New Zealand, exactly 100 years since the scuttling was going on...great job on this video.

[@kevinrby1982]

Excellent job Mr. Jellicoe. I am a Public School Special Education Teacher in Watertown Massachusetts. I have always had a passion for naval history. In the last few years I have shared that passion with my students through the creation of a model ship club, geared towards following multistep directions, organization, and practicing cooperative social skills for students with autism. Today I took those students on a field trip to the USS Constitution. Fortunately, before my work day began I viewed your documentary. You can only imagine how excited those students became when I told them about the Stromness Public Schools front row seat to a remarkable episode of naval history. Or as one of my students put it, "the greatest field trip of all time!". Thanks again.

[@Dreyer1916]

I will remember your comment in two weeks when I am in Scapa for the Commemorations and talking to the student classes at Stromness school! If I ever get to Watertown, I shall know where to come. I lived on and off in the States for 15 or so years (NY, Baltimore and Miami) and often come back. So I may just appear one day! Many thanks for your very welcome comments.

[@arlanda98]

Finally! It's here guys! The long awaited sequel

[@Dreyer1916]

Thank you Speedbird. The next one will be focussed on the 1914-1918 submarine war. A complex story to put it mildly! It's a couple of years' distant.

[@arlanda98]

@@Dreyer1916 Ah, the submarines! Those part of WWI were rarely brought up as they were overshadowed by Jutland and the future Wolfpacks, so i'm interested of what i'm going to learn when that was released. I'm more than happy to be watching a very great video made by the descendant of the famous admiral. Keep up the good work!

[@josephsheepmysterjsmy1393]

@Speedbird Airways Submarines Didn’t Face That Much Combat In World War One Because They Where Under - Developed When It Began .

[@lawrencelewis2592]

The best thing I've seen about the German fleet at Scapa Flow. Covers all aspects of it.

[@Dreyer1916]

Very pleased you enjoyed it.

[@pablopeter4821]

This documentary pays tribute to the German sailors who honorably fought for their country.

[@alexanderd8740]

they shelled civilians, hardly honorable

[@johncarlson6691]

@@alexanderd8740 000000000

[@tylersoto7465]

True , seeing all those beautiful naval ships sinking is pulling on my heartstrings sinking all that potential useful ships going to waste , the British or america should of at taking those ships for themselves instead of sinking dam lol

[@barrettcarr1413]

True but not very often

[@sacredwar]

@@alexanderd8740 every navy did that

[@WorldPeace-AdamNeira]

Excellent documentary. Thank you for posting it here. HT Gray Connolly, Sydney, Australia.

[@cmonkey63]

An amazing doco. I'm scanning every photo for my grandfather (opa) who would have been in his early 20s at the time.

[@talcoge67]

You did a great job on this documentary, including the narration. In most situations during war time it seamed like the Navy and the Air-Force on both sides, took better care of each other when captured unlike ground troops. i thought I read somewhere the Germans purchased back a-lot of that scrap metal and used it to build ships that were used during WWII.

[@Dreyer1916]

Supposedly the Graf Spee was built from recovered metal...making it the only ship to be scuttled twice.

[@NicWalker627]

This was amazing. I want more of these elaborate, calculated, and brilliant documentaries.

[@direktorpresident]

I was astonished to learn that bits of these battleships are now outside the Solar System. Pre-nuclear steel was used to make components for Voyager spacecraft. Funny old world.

[@5000mahmud]

Well thats a delight to hear, it’s amazing to think a piece of an old battleship is currently in interstellar space, millions of miles away from its home.

[@yxx_chris_xxy]

Are you saying Cox' steel has passed Uranus?

[@direktorpresident]

@@yxx_chris_xxy Clearly, you are familiar with the concept

[@viciousoptimist3542]

​@@yxx_chris_xxynow, that is amusing in both context and phrasing.

[@Kris-qy7hh]

Excellently done! So very well animated, put together and researched! Great quality video!

[@POZZA691]

surely this needs to be made into a full length movie. What a great story

[@craigpennington1251]

Outstanding documentary and this history should be taught in schools. Not a word of this at any school I've attended. But where does one comment on such an event as this? So much as this event is, it's hard to pinpoint just one part of it. It's a triumph and an overall sad tragedy in one event.

[@ProjectFairmont]

Excellent presentation about a relatively unknown element of WWI.

[@christiangroklaus4482]

Much respect for this brilliant film. Best regards from Wilhelmshaven.

[@nicolapirro6353]

Really the best documentary about.. very good narration , historicaly impecable .thanks

[@Napalmratte]

It has been a while since your last video! Astonishing quality content!

[@Dreyer1916]

Thank you. Book is on Amazon, the site is up an running.

[@johnmilonas9143]

As long as history is retold it is not forgotten. Brilliant retelling. Thank you.

[@Dreyer1916]

Appreciate the support, thank you

[@51WCDodge]

A lot of small arms from the High Seas Fleet are now on display at Firepower the RN musuem at Portsmouth.

[@iorek4149]

100 years ago to day. The German Navy retained it's honour by scuttling it's fleet. A brave and correct decision.

[@piotrd.4850]

They shelled civilian cities to lure British Navy to battle, torpeoded civilian vessels, escaped from single battle to which they were equipped at great expense of own nation, then refused to sail to battle again when land forces were bleeding dry. Honourable indeed...

[@josephsheepmysterjsmy1393]

*ahem

[@josephsheepmysterjsmy1393]

I am literally sinking right now!

[@bigstickparty7536]

Unfortunately the British robbed us of the ability to see the wrecks of any German Battlecrusiers and and every class of battleships except the Koenig class. The present has been denied access to the past by the past.

[@wonderfalg]

Fun fact. German citizens still pay for this fleet. In 1902 a new tax on sparkling wine was introduced to finance the imperial german fleet (Schaumweinsteuer). This tax has still to be payed nowadays.

[@fishfuxors]

Well done and God bless sailors past, present and future!

[@alivewithpassion]

Your channel and videos were suggested to me in Feb. 2023. Sad that the algorithm suggested it so many years after. I hope this message finds you well. I want to let you know that your videos are wonderful and their story telling. Please make more history videos, it seems you’ve stopped making them. Hopefully you’ll make some more! I was trying to find links to the website but I don’t see any posted. Thank you for posting these amazing videos.

[@Dreyer1916]

Thanks for the kind comments. As much as anything else, the cost of the putting this together is a little prohibitive. I still would like to make one more (about the 1914-1918 submarine war on which I've almost finished writing). The website address is "Scapaflow1919.com".

[@mos1654]

This is one of the most outstanding videos on KZbin. Dan Snow - Look and humbly learn how history videos should be made. This film deserves an award. Please please continue. You have just 'raised' the bar.

[@kelvindodd5577]

Gob smacked. Thank you for bringing this history back to life.

[@Dreyer1916]

Very happy you enjoyed it.

[@rangefinder3538]

Superb.Thank you for the very best documentary I have seen on the subject.

[@leroyholm9075]

Outstanding documentary!

[@Dreyer1916]

Thank you very much

[@Del-Canada]

I learned so much more about the Scapa Flow incident than I have in all my fifty years previous. Reuter did the right thing. It's what I would have done.

[@N0rdman]

This is just as the documentary over the battle of Jutland absolute stellar work. the narrator perfect for the task. As a former naval officer, I salute thee.

[@Dreyer1916]

Means more to me that you are ex-Navy. Thank you.

[@vaughnedwards1724]

I understand why the germans scuttled their ships..

[@evemaniac]

because we are stuborn pricks and hardly give up ..it was the last hit they could score and it went pretty well.

[@noobster4779]

Well the choices were, when the armistice negotiations would broke down and war resume as the german navy assumed based on british newspapers, eather a last stand with no chance of victory and thousands of deaths in the british harbour, scuttleing and hoping they would go into captivity with little bloodsheet or simply surrender and give over all the ships to th now again british enemy. Option one was impossible considering the german sailors had initially meutinied do to a last ditch kamikaze order. The third option was basically a disgrace and betrayel of germany by giving their now again enemy the entire fleet without combat, which the prussian naval officers would never accept and the sailors were still german soldiers after all and wouldnt want to backstab their nation like that. So scuttleing it was. Scuttleing was their best decision. And well considering how the british treated the german sailors in Scapa Flow nobody would feel any sorry for fucking up the british (and emberassing them).

[@nigelthebriton54]

I read somewhere that a prominent British newspaper published a cartoon on the day after the High Seas Fleet had scuttled itself. It showed the two funnels of a battleship protruding above the waters, between two masts. A wire stretched between the masts, from which hung various articles of laundry. The caption under the cartoon, in a parody of Nelson's immortal signal on the threshold of the Battle of Trafalgar, read: "GERMANY EXPECTS EVERY MAN THIS DAY TO DO THE DIRTY".

[@Dreyer1916]

I think I have seen it. If I find it I'll let you know.

[@AFT_05G]

*R.İ.P* for these beautiful ships...

[@scrubbwhite291]

Absolutely astonishing documentary. Nicely narrated with fantastic still photos and superb historical commentary. The most complete video of the scuttling of High Seas Fleet I have ever seen. The irony of the waste of men and material leaves me speechless. This video has left a lasting impression on me. Many thanks to the producers.

[@Dreyer1916]

You're very welcome. All the participants are listed at the animation end.

[@Veldtian1]

Seriously awesome and venerative work to this amazing circumstance in a fast receding historic time, thanks man.

[@Dreyer1916]

My pleasure. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@daniellabra4186]

An impressive documentary. One of the best I've seen lately. You managed to develop a simple and short paragraph in history books into a full, humane and interesting story.

[@ryszardkoprowski1414]

Fantastic job indeed! I love such a documentary films - its not an animation anyway. Bravo! Thumbs waay up!

[@Olliemets]

Really stellar production and storytelling. Just beautifully done. Thank you for putting this together.

[@TonyLovell]

Great job, Nick! I love the animation of the battleship sinking with its cross-flooding (and anti-roll?) pipes being illustrated

[@Jabberstax]

This was brilliant. What a great little documentary. 👍

[@Dreyer1916]

super happy you enjoyed it. Thx

[@Jabberstax]

@@Dreyer1916 Keep it up. I'd happily watch more like this. I've learnt a lot.

[@barrettcarr1413]

By the Germans scuttling their own ships it saved the allies quite a few problems, especially the distribution of the ships

[@SamhainBe]

And preserved the honor of the German Navy!

[@adventussaxonum448]

@@SamhainBe salvaged it, after skulking in port for 1/2 of the war.

[@tylersoto7465]

True , but seeing all those beautiful naval ships sinking is pulling on my heartstrings sinking all that potential useful ships going to waste , the British or america should of at taking those ships for themselves instead of sinking dam lol 😬😭

[@thelvadam2884]

@@tylersoto7465 no they should have left our ships alone ....

[@gayprepperz6862]

I have always had a deep and abiding respect for the German"s of the High Seas Fleet. What they accomplished in less than half of the time that the British navy did in several hundred years is remarkable to say the least. The scuttling of the proud and worthy High Seas Fleet at Scapa Flow was an act of national honor. The German navy and Air Force are the arms of the German military machine that never surrendered their honor and chivalry in the way that the the soldiers of the Imperial German Army were forced to. In short, they did it with class, and I can't help but admire them. What is a flaw in American character ( my people) is the lack of memory of events, and the ensuing lessons of the traumatic upheavals of the times, that aren't as "ancient" as many of my co-Americans perceive. Therefore they take no heed to the past villainy of the past, and walk blind-eyed into the holocaust of the future, with no idea of the why, let alone the consequences.

[@Pandenhir]

Thanks for doing this! Its an amazing piece of work and research! My Great-Grandfahter served in the German navy at that time but I don't know on what ship nor is anyone left to ask, there is just one picture in my grandmother's belongings. Again many thanks!

[@Dreyer1916]

My pleasure. I am happy you enjoyed it. Is he wearing his sailor's hat in the photo?

[@Inkling777]

If that interests you, you might see if the German military archives could search for his name.

[@benjaminpeters6615]

My Great-Garndfather served on the Bayern class Batteleship SMS Baden

[@karinajasoneverly2724]

Really nice work. The best documentary on this I have ever seen by far. Thank you.

[@cannonfodder4376]

I remember you sending me a comment alerting me to the news of this new production and book months ago in the old video but I sadly forgot. I am ashamed to have not helped and contributed to the production of this wonderful film. None the less I intend to to show some support and order a book when I can. A fantastic piece of informative work good sir. I look forward to more of these things should they ever be made.

[@Dreyer1916]

Next one is in planning. But it WILL be a while! Thank you for a really lovely & supportive comment.

[@tomthx5804]

Lots of very good and rare pictures here, ones I have not seen before. Well done.

[@Dreyer1916]

Thank you. The German Navy gave me a lot of help as well as the Danish SeaWar Museum.

[@jamesalexander5623]

The Comments below set me straight. I thought I was watching something produced for Television by the BBC or the History Channel! .... Outstanding!

[@sincerelyyours7538]

Fabulous documentary! I wish this film had been available five years ago when I was researching this event for my book, A WW1 Adventure, The Life and Times or RNAS Bomber Pilot Donald E. Harkness. Capt Harkness was a Royal Naval pilot from New Zealand who won the DSC for destroying a zeppelin shed in Brussels in 1916. He was also my grandfather. The narration of this film by Admiral Jellicoe's grandson could not have been more perfect. I thank you for this very well executed documentary.

[@Dreyer1916]

Thank you for your very encouraging comments. Why don't we exchange books - I'l send you either my book on Jutland or Scapa in exchange for your own very well reviewed book? You can message me on FB if you'd like, Nick

[@sincerelyyours7538]

@@Dreyer1916 I would love that, but I'm afraid that due to repeated data losses I never opened a FB account. I can, however, send you an Connect invitation from my LinkedIn account. Will that suffice?

[@Dreyer1916]

@@sincerelyyours7538 Yes, let0s give it a try.

[@arthurblundell6128]

I read " the man who bought a navy" many years ago fascinating story of their salvage

[@oldredcoonhound2182]

This was one of the biggest collections of low background steel available up to the 60s

[@ThreenaddiesRexMegistus]

What a shameful waste! These men rightly belonged back home with their families and the ships would have been valuable assets. Interesting insight into class divisions in the Kriegsmarine and a beautiful presentation. And all because of a wish to further humiliate an enemy in a spiteful and unnecessary way.

[@BHuang92]

A shame that the Kriegsmarine was stripped down to near nothing just for spite. It doesn't help that the order to scuttle the ships actually help matters. After Scapa Flow and even during WW2, the Kriegsmarine would never again reach its peak of greatness.

[@zenhoflich1662]

@@BHuang92 the Kriegsmarine was a branch that existed in the interwar+WW2 period (1935-1945). This is the Imperial German Navy, or the Kaiserliche Marine

[@SVSky]

@Blind Bob Did the Germans start it? Or did the Serbians?

[@rhodesianwojak2095]

@@SVSky all anglos know is Germans bad

[@galicije83]

@@SVSky Why you think that small Serbia want WW1? Please enlight me!

[@bobcornford3637]

Very nicely done. A standard that very few will reach.

[@Dreyer1916]

Thank you, much appreciated even if there are a few mistakes here and there.

[@Inkling777]

Excellent and informative. Thanks! Those who would like to capture the spirit and sheer intensity of the naval conflict between Britain and Germany before WWI might read the classic 1903 sailing thriller, The Riddle of the Sands by Erskin Childers. It is set in the North Sea and Baltic waters of Germany.

[@barrettcarr1413]

And a very good movie

[@robertandrews6915]

Surpringly interesting. It wasn’t just a rerun of other shows, at least that I know of. Scapa flow one of my bucket list places but unfortunately there won’t be much left probably. It’s not too often that you can see and touch a major historical event

[@Dreyer1916]

Try and time a visit with the opening of the new Visitor Centre - planned, I believe, now for sometime next year, although that might now have been put back. Wonderful, magical place.

[@obamagate4887]

Germany bought a lot of the steel from their ships and built the famous U-boats that ended up sinking thousands of ships.

[@luisdestefano6056]

Most excellent video, narrated by the grandson of Sir John Jellicoe makes a very appreciated bonus. Two great navies fought galantly. Warm greetings from Argentina.

[@bluemaxcnc4749]

Outstanding Research, Thank You! Incredible story!

[@ianlast8702]

A brilliantly well done video, thank you for putting that together

[@mechanicalmusic]

Told compassionately without judgement.

[@fivizzano]

EXCEPTIONALLY WELL MADE ! THIS SHOULD BE ON NETFLIX AS A SERIES OF DOCUMENTARIES !!! EXCELLENT !!! NETFLIX ARE YOU LISTENING ?????

[@Dreyer1916]

PAOLO RICCI lei ingrazio (is that right?)

[@AndyLeMaitre]

Absolutely brilliant, I was spellbound.

[@mikeread5132]

Fab documentary, Nicholas - thanks. Good luck with your dad's bio "George Jellicoe: SAS and SBS Commander".

[@Dreyer1916]

Thank you. I've certainly enjoyed the journey discovering his life.

[@Dreyer1916]

Hope you have had a chance to look at the final results of the book.

[@CNCTEMATIC]

A testament to the tragedy of war. Such a huge amount of money spent and millions of hours of toil worked to build mammoths ultimately destroyed deliberately. Militarists walked away hugely wealthy, while the majority end up poorer.

[@Dreyer1916]

Agreed. A strange ending to the twentieth century's first major arms race.

[@kingtigertank72]

Very Grateful, Extremely well researched, very best documentary of prior, during and after events of the scutling, many info i didnt know before this. THANK YOU

[@Dreyer1916]

Incredibly motivating comments, thank you. It's wonderful to hear feedback like this after a lot of work by the team!

[@kingtigertank72]

@@Dreyer1916 My pleasure, keep it up. Dont know if you can do one on history, photos or possible videos of underwater torpedo tubes on battleships. Havent seen a one yet on this elusive topic

[@simonkevnorris]

An interesting video. I knew the fleet was scuttled but knew nothing of the salvage operation. While that may have been the last direct death from the war I'm sure that there were people during of their wounds after that date.

[@malcolmcartlidge3743]

Never realized the story behind Scapa Flow, thanks for bringing it to life, first rate effort, perfect narration. Thanks from an expat Brit in Sydney.

[@Dreyer1916]

When is Bondi re-opening? Used to enjoy going to Iceberg's when I was in Sydney for the Hobart.

[@malcolmcartlidge3743]

@@Dreyer1916 ye gods man, an iceberg?, you nuts? Only 25c today, freezing. People are already asking for the restrictions to be lifted, will be decided in mid to late May. All signs good as of today, I'd say that come winter here you and your 'frightened turtle' be able to swim again. Best wishes mate.

[@allanfifield8256]

Outstanding! Professional Grade!

[@Aquarius1715]

Your videos are of such superb quality. You take on the material in such a professional yet presentable way. Well done sir!

[@Dreyer1916]

Thank you. Greatly appreciate your comments. It's always hard work to get it working precisely. All I can say is that the team is excellent!

[@TDavis-ml6kl]

"The undefeated navy

[@jameslinklater7180]

Excellent piece of work Nick, really pleased to see all your plans come to fruition.

[@Dreyer1916]

That's very kind. Thank you.

[@granskare]

well, this gave the Scots many jobs.

[@renatocamurca2713]

An outstanding animation. Of all the German ships surrendered in History, the "Prinz Eugen" would also have an inglorious but apotheotic end twenty seven years later.

[@mamavswild]

Proud of you, Reuter! You did good.

[@babus6457]

An excellent documentary. I have been at anchor in Scapa in an RN ship - just a couple of days was enough! Have also dived some of the wrecks there. The locals, I believe, dived there too, collecting the steam coal from the German bunkers in baskets to warm their homes. We also lived in a converted rope wall in North Queensferry in the late 80's. One of the older gentlemen in the end cottage remembered the ships being broken up in the dry docks in Rosyth dockyard. He said the smell of the rotting sea life that had taken hold on the hull as they dried out was terrible and carried far on the wind.

[@Dreyer1916]

Extraordinary memories to have. The methane inside the wrecks when they were opened up underwater was not only overpowering and nauseous but also highly volatile. The salvers were lucky not to have had more fatalities than they did. I was on a survey ship a few years ago: we did 10 days combing up and down the flow doing a multi beam scan. I would not have lasted the 7 months!

[@ralphbernhard1757]

The often stated "naval arms race" being a cause for WW1 is a misconception. Historians pin their flag on the date "1906", saying that here is where that "history" started. Actually, the naval arms race started in 1871, with an unsuccessful attempted blockade of northern German ports during the Franco-Prussian War by the French navy. The "cause" was therefore the intention of German leaders to protect German citizens from the threat of blockade. Blockading an enemy, was one of the favorite means of economic warfare at the time. It therefore "started" with a German-French naval arms race, and expanded to a German - French/Russian arms race after France and Russia formed an alliance (Entente Cordial). When GB joined the Tripple Entente, this "naval arms race" was already in full swing. Obviously, German leaders then had to protect German ports from a potential blockade of THREE navies. British, Russian, and French. In other words, the German naval re-armament was an "effect" of previous actions (causality). Not a "cause" but an "effect" of previous events. The German leaders reacted to a potential threat (blockade). A confusion of "cause and effect", by simply pinning a "starting date" randomly on a timeline. "History" is being "sold" to us the wrong way, and it is easy to confuse people. Also, study the design parameters of the German ships built up to WW1. Note that they were close range, coast defence vessels without any global reach (naval bases, or international logistics in the form of alliances). The threat to the RN and the British Empire was the typical fear mongering by arms manufacturers, vying for funds for their particular industry. Cause and effect. No cause, no effect. The root cause of German Naval armament was the alliance system, and the widespread use of navies as tools of blockade and for coastal bombardment (Google "Copenhagenizing", a fear as present in the minds of the people who lived at the time, as mass-bombardment was in the 1930s, and as the fear of nukes in the Cold War). en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Copenhagen_(1807) As a general rule, would you say that if a threat to a population develops (any population), that leaders are not allowed to respond to it?

[@ralphbernhard1757]

@Southeastern777 To answer your question about hindsight. My comment has nothing to do with hindsight, but how history actually unflolded, step by step, according to the logic of the times. If you read it together with the other comment (the one about "not being allowed to build ships") it becomes clear that German leaders built a navy because they were threatened by neighbors who were also building ships concurrently, and that these were used at the time to blockade or for bombardment (actual events at the time). The construction of a navy was therefore a defense measure (at the time of implementation) not an offensive one. I think that is what you meant.

[@ralphbernhard1757]

@Southeastern777 OK, thanks and cheers. Entirely agreed.

[@crankycanuck2066]

Amazing history told in spectacular fashion. Thank you for creating and sharing

[@Thirdbase9]

Too bad there isn't a documentary history channel for you to air films on.

[@Jon.A.Scholt]

I had no idea that Adm. Jellicoe's son was the one who made and narrated this; pretty awesome.

[@Dreyer1916]

Nice of you to say that...I'm John Jellicoe's grandson.

[@adventussaxonum448]

@@Dreyer1916 My grandfather served as a boy seaman on his flagship, HMS Iron Duke, at Jutland.

[@Dreyer1916]

@@adventussaxonum448 Did he leave some written memories of those days. It would be lovely to read them if he did.

[@adventussaxonum448]

@@Dreyer1916 Don't think so. He lost the ends of three of his fingers at Jutland (a bit rough when you're 16) and wasn't much of a writing man. He always spoke well of your grandfather, though.

[@lkvideos7181]

This breaks my heart. What a waste. But it was the right decision. The German Navy retarined it's honour with that act.

[@mylesgarcia4625]

SUPERB! What a GREAT documentary. Did NOT know about this chapter of the Great War (or its aftermath). What great details you have enumerated. Thank you!!

[@Dreyer1916]

The fact that you were able to learn something about a forgotten piece of history makes me happy. Thank you for your comment.

[@Will_CH1]

That was a tragic ending for the german sailors. Particularly for those who were shot.

[@DonMeaker]

Unasked- What did they do that made them the ones who got shot. Ask, how many Allied POWs the Germans shot during WWI and WWII with less provocation, to include the 50 murdered after the "Great Escape".

[@perkunas8651]

Will Challenge It was a war crime. Nothing less.

[@DonMeaker]

@@perkunas8651 The British sailors who remained on board their ships were ordered to fire upon the men in the lifeboats as they had broken the terms of the armistice and their actions were thus interpreted as an act of war, effectively making them “fair game”.

[@Will_CH1]

@@DonMeakerThis incident predates the second world war and the existence of Nazis. Those examples of yours are irrelevant. These were men who had surrendered their ships and were not fighting. They were abandoning sinking ships and were shot. I don't care whose side they were on, the war was over, they were prisoners and were shot. I can't see a justification for killing. Perhaps arresting the officers responsible and trying them would have been the proper process.

[@Will_CH1]

@@perkunas8651 Unfortunately, despite my Angalo heritage, I have to agree with you.

[@danielgdrever]

Just popped up in my suggested. My great gran along with her sisters were on the Flying Kestrel. She did a few interviews about it throughout her life and the story has passed down to us so this is a very interesting visual to go along with it.

[@Dreyer1916]

Would love to see any copy you have of her interviews. I could only find three or four in the library in Kirkwall.

[@danielgdrever]

@@Dreyer1916 You'll likely have come across her then. She was Margaret although only known as Peggie or Peggy (different publications have different spellings) Gibson. There are a few pieces that were in the Orcadian and there are tapes of her telling the story that were recorded by family members which they keep meaning to dig out to be converted and I also believe there was at least one documentary she was interviewed in but I've never seen it. There are quite a few things that pop up online about her if you google her name and the scuttling of the German Fleet.

[@Dreyer1916]

@@danielgdrever In fact I quoted at length from her interviews. In my book I actually say they got the name wrong by calling her Margaret (my mistake!). I'll see if I can find the documentary. It might have been the one with Ludo Kennedy.

[@josephinejones7270]

Nick - please note that [6 minutes in] - they didn't set out for"England" - the UK as they headed for Rosyth & then Orkney....

[@Dreyer1916]

Noted. At the time they set out, few knew where they were headed. Certainly not Scapa Flow. The submarine force headed towards Harwich; the surface Fleet to Rosyth. Certainly did not want to say to the "United Kingdom" or "Great Britain". I take your point, however.

[@sirmalus5153]

They set sail for what they would have called England, rightly or wrongly. It all depends on the thinking of the times, not modern attitudes to what country belongs in the UK. Most people think Wales is part of England, if they've even heard of Wales in the first place. As for calling a Cornishman English...don't start.

[@DonMeaker]

@@sirmalus5153 If one sails from Cherburg (or Cherbourg) to Liberty Island, one might say they are going to the United States, or to New York, or to New Jersey. It is common to refer to a part to represent the whole.

[@vidcrit1187]

@@Dreyer1916 Neither Scapa Flow nor Rosyth are in England. Rosyth is in fact just across the Forth of Forth from SCOTLANDs capital city of Edinburgh. No excuses - you got it badly wrong - Scotland and England are two different countries.

[@Dreyer1916]

@@vidcrit1187 Yes, do know that. I go regularly to Scapa Flow (I've been 6 or 7 times in the last two years). Please try not to be insulting unless you've actually read the literature or even the newspapers of the time. Otherwise I welcome you to try and build something like this. Always easy to stand on the outside criticising. Oh and by the way, it has been corrected in all versions which don't mean you lose everything in terms of comments or history.

[@wayne.thomson-qe1pf]

Coming from a navy family wow this is absolutely fantastic history about the German navy in World war I or really I should say the Great war. You alone have really bought history back to us all and we shall never forget the history of what our forefathers did it doesn't matter what side of the fence they fort on what does Matter is the history of how World war 1 actually ended for both sides but especially for the German navy who surrendered at Scarborough flow. Your story was totally awesome thank you.Ps also I noticed that the names of the German navy sailors that were buried in 1919 at Scarborough flow cemetery were misspelt but now they have been corrected so it just goes to show you that we are still learning more history.

[@Dreyer1916]

Really happy that you feel this way. Scarborough's history is very special regarding the coastal raids by the battle cruisers in ww1.

[@flexusmaximus4701]

The most rational move was the mutiny of the high seas fleet. Being told to go sacrifice yourself for a war already lost, to get better terms, was madness.

[@deeznoots6241]

Flexus Maximus as a history buff i kind of would have liked to have seen the outcome of the Grand fleet obliterating the High seas fleet in 1918 but yeah it definitely was a pointless move that would have wasted lives and probably worsened the Germans negotiating position.

[@ammoalamo6485]

@@deeznoots6241 Assuming facts not there: assuming the German High Seas Fleet of 1918 were in as good a condition in men, morale, and materiel as the British Grand Fleet, there is no guarantee that the Brits would have fared any better in 1918 than they did at Jutland. Hopefully their ships would have quit blowing up from poor design, but at Jutland the Brits lost more ships than the Germans - would a repeat of Jutland been any different? The German ships were known to hit what they aimed at; the Brits were somewhat less accurate in their fire during battle. As a last great battle for all the marbles, the Germans might have savaged the Grand Fleet enough to be called the winner, though only if numbers and conditions of ships were somewhat even at the start of the battle, and even in men and their morale also. Thankfully, all those potential deaths were averted by the good sense of the German sailors.

[@deeznoots6241]

Ammo Alamo lmao, in men maybe, but morale is absolutely fucking hilarious, the German fleet literally mutinied when the high command tried to send them out for a final battle before peace negotiations, the sailors of the fleet were so fucking done with the war they would form the core of the 1918 German revolution that deposed the Kaiser, and as far as materiel goes the Royal navy holds a decisive advantage due to having much greater numbers of Dreadnoughts that are better armed overall than the German ships(in Jutland for example the German fleet still brought its predreadnoughts along just to make up the numbers). The explosions of the battlecruisers was due to poor ammunition handling practices in the battlecruiser squadron commanded by Beatty(because Beatty was a fucking moron), with the ammunition practices stopped after Jutland the tendency to explosion is ended easily(hell even in Jutland the newer battlecruisers in the squadron took a lot of hits without exploding because they hadn’t adopted the practices). Also the actual main engagement of Jutland was a decisive British victory, with the grand fleet battleships easily dominating the German battleline which twice in the battle ran away from the British battleline due to being outmaneuvred. As far as accuracy goes the Germans only had that advantage at the start of the battlecruiser action, later in the battlecruiser action and throughout the entirety of the Battleship action the British were decisively more accurate than the Germans with the HMS Iron Duke managing a hit rate completely unmatched in battle until radar guided gunnery in ww2. In October 1918 it is 46 British capital ships in the Grand fleet versus 23 German capital ships, an outright 2 to 1 advantage with a third of the Grand fleets ships equipped with 15 inch guns while a grand total of 2 of the German ships can match that firepower with their own 15 inch guns. Oh and as far as escort ships go the Royal navy have more than a 2:1 advantage in destroyers and light cruisers and with 3 carriers to the 0 from the Germans also have the only airpower in a potential 1918 battle

[@trashlag]

One of those ships that escorted the High Seas Fleet into the Firth of Forth is the U.S.S. Texas, which is berthed just down the road from where I am now in Texas. Magnificent ship.

[@anatolib.suvarov6621]

Honorable men, in an untenable situation, did the only thing they possibly could, and in so doing, restored, and saved their sacred honor. God Bless all honorable military veterans, regardless of nationality.

[@bruceburns1672]

And I'm sure they were so proud of themselves and their arrogant pride when their arrogance created WW2 which created the situation where all their cities were wiped off the surface of the earth and their all their young men slaughtered and their woman raped , this happened because of their arrogant pride , a stupid people , a race of extremists .

[@Dr.Pepper001]

@@bruceburns1672 -- Thanks, I could not have expressed the truth about the Germans any better. Why are people saying the Germans were so honorable? I call bullshit!!!

[@wolfsoldner9029]

@@Dr.Pepper001 Fuck you stupid idiot !

[@wolfsoldner9029]

@@bruceburns1672 You dumb bastard !

[@bruceburns1672]

Rule Britannia Britannia Rules the waves , we shall never never be slaves , Glory to the Empire .

[@fatdad64able]

My grandpa, born 1896, served on SMS KÖNIG. Lost part of his hearing during Skagerrakschlacht (Battle of Jutland). I have a photography of the ship I haven't seen anywhere else. I also have a picture of him and comrades in basic (infantry-?) training. They are all wearing almost white denim suits, not the uniform of a sailor. I was only ten, when he died in 1974. I had no clue how historically important this particular ship had been (flagship, the sailor uprising, the scuttling in Scapa flow, where she capsized and now lies about 80 or 90 metres deep on the bottom of the sound. In the name of my late grandfather, Ferdinand Mürriger sen., I thank you for giving him back honour. Much obliged Sir. :')

[@Dreyer1916]

Anton, mein Großvater war der Befehlshaber der Britische Flotte im Skagerrakschlacht und sein Fahneschiff war Iron Duke. Die beide (Iron Duke und König) hatte zusammengeschlagt nach 18:30 abends 31.5. Wir sollten zusammen sprechen. Können Sie mich Ihre e-mail schicken oder mich auf FB kontaktieren?

[@fatdad64able]

@@Dreyer1916 I have to tell you though, that from what I know he was just a stoker on SMS KÖNIG. My apologies for being too stupid to find more appropriate means to contact you. FB and I apparently have a problem with one another. I remember finding the framed photography of the ship and I put it up in my room. I didnt understand how much it meant to him being only somewhere between 7 and 10 years old. He came by frequently to look at the picture and one time he sang a song and I noticed his blue eyes filling with tears. I was feeling uneasy, standing there listening to him sing and I couldn't understand why my eyes were filling up with tears as well. This is about the most emotional moment me and grandpa shared. He was rather strict man.....and a little senile already. "Merry Christmas Opa!" Him: "??? Go see your grandmother, I don't have any money!" Would be a typical conversation.

[@Dreyer1916]

@@fatdad64able Sie können mich kontaktieren durch mein website "Jutland1916.com". Go to "sharing" and then to "submit stories". I will receive the e mail. Then we can talk directly to each other.

[@ant4812]

"Cox's Navy" - good book.

[@Dreyer1916]

If you enjoyed it, you might also enjoy mine: The Last Days of the High Seas Fleet. On Amazon.

[@SanDiegoPsychology]

Wonderful work! After reading so much about this it's fantastic to see it all brought to life.

[@Dreyer1916]

Happy you enjoyed it

[@johngordon1576]

The scuttled High Seas Fleet remains one of the world's major sources of ''low background steel' ie. steels uncontaminated by cobalt 60 resultant on atmospheric nuclear weapons testing in the 1940's and 50's. In a number of industries low background steel is safety critical : en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low-background_steel

[@ekris4817]

Excellent documentary! Kudos and thank you!

[@Dreyer1916]

Very many thanks. Much appreciated.

[@reginaldmcnab3265]

The German soldier Resolute as alway!

[@parrotraiser6541]

The books describing the detailed stories of the salvage operation are quite gripping. One of the hulls was being towed towards a bridge (possibly the Forth) when it got out of control, and went under the bridge at an angle, occupying most of the width of that span. The tugs had to slip the cables, rush to the other side and pick it up again. Not many ships have done that out of control, upside down, and backwards.

[@raymanghan2431]

Very absorbing to find out about the subsequent titanic salvaging operations that took place. There must be a mine of information labout this topic and whether or not any fortunes were made from salvage. Were any of the ships saved for active service against the Germans in the Second World War? As an aside, the film Whiskey (Snapps) Galore comes to mind and I wonder if any of the Islanders made a bit of coin. Anyway as a Brit I feel the Germans made the right choice for their country and Fatherland as I would like to think the Royal Navy would have done the same in a similar position.

[@Wombat1916]

Ray Manghan Years ago now, I read a book on the raising of the High Seas Fleet. All that were raised were scrapped (that was all they were fit for by then!). Several were left on the bottom: IIRC raising them was unlikely to have succeeded and of course now they have been part demolished in situ. The Derfflinger was raised in 1939 and spent the war upside down in a cove in Scapa, being towed away after the war!

[@mikeryan3701]

Whisky Galore, not Whiskey Galore. The stuff produced in Scotland is called Whisky.

[@raymanghan2431]

@@mikeryan3701 Thanks Mike. Slàinte mhath

[@MrJsd10]

What a captivating well informed video.thank you for posting

[@Dreyer1916]

You're very welcome. Glad you enjoyed it.