World War 1 commemorations - 2019

Scapa 100

As part of the Armistice agreement at the end of World War I, Germany had to surrender most of its Naval fleet. A total of 74 ships of the German High Seas Fleet arrived in Scapa Flow for internment. On 21 June 1919, under the mistaken belief that peace talks had failed, Rear Admiral Ludwig von Reuter gave the command to scuttle the entire fleet in the Flow. A total of 50 ships went to the seafloor and this remains the greatest loss of shipping ever recorded in a single day.

Over the course of the next 12 months several projects led by the Orkney community as well as international contributors will reveal the historical significance of the scuttling, mark its impact and continued legacy in Orkney. Commemorations will remember the 13 German lives lost as a result of the internment and scuttling, the graves of whom are cared for by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission at the Lyness Royal Navy Cemetery, Hoy.

Projects and Events will be added as they are confirmed.

Scapa 100 events can be viewed from the 'Related Links' section of this page.