On 21 June 1919, 72 warships of the German fleet were scuttled in Scapa Flow, Orkney.
Scapa Flow formed an important northern base for the British fleets in both world wars. After the armistice, 74 ships of the German High Seas Fleet were ordered into Scapa Flow to be interned. They arrived in November 1918, and stayed there for 10 months. By June, Rear Admiral von Reuter, the German Officer in command at Scapa Flow, knew that Germany would have to accept surrender terms, and he gave the order for the fleet to be scuttled.
