Scuppering at Scapa Trivia Quiz

Answer: Scotland

Scapa Flow, in the Orkney Islands, was the biggest British naval base in WWI and WWII. It was very well placed to prevent German ships moving from the North Sea into the Atlantic. It was closed in 1956.

Answer: It never said

It was never said exactly in the Armistice. The Germans wanted a neutral port but the British wanted them at Scapa Flow. It was a controversial point until the deadline when the ships were handed over to the British at the Firth of Forth. There they were told to go to Scapa Flow.

Answer: 74

Seventy-four ships in all were ordered to disarm and turn themselves over the the British.

Answer: Admiral Ludwig von Reuter

It was an armistice not a peace treaty, and the ships were still under German authority but under British command. This was also a task that Reuter was not very proud of and he saw it as humiliating for Germany. For example, he was ordered to take down the German flag.
(Another German admiral, Hipper, had refused to take command of the ships heading for internment in Britain).

Answer: June 21st, 1919

On that date several pleasure craft were about viewing the captured fleet. (The Treaty of Versailles was signed exactly one week later).

Answer: Paragraph eleven confirm

It was the signal to designated trusted senior officers to start scuttling their ships.

Answer: Messaging pennants

Radio was not in full use in the German Navy at the time.

Answer: Selected senior officers

The enlisted men were never told anything about what was going on (as after the naval mutiny of October and November 1918 they weren't considered fully trustworthy). As the officers opened valve after valve it became apparent what was happening and those who asked were told to prepare to abandon ship at any moment.

Answer: Yes

Reuter and a further 1,773 officers and men were taken prisoner. An attmept was made to put Reuter on trial for the 'destruction of British property' but the Treaty of Versailles wasn't signed till seven days later (28 June 1919) and the ships were still legally German property. British sailors boarded some of the German vessels, there were fights and nine men were killed.

Answer: He went home a hero

He came home to a hero's welcome. He was greeted by parades, he was awarded decorations, gave speeches, and was invited to dinner parties. He became a national hero. As far as can be ascertained Reuter took the decision to scuttle these very valuable ships entirely on his own initiative. He had a good instinct for what the 'folks back home' would like.