High Seas Fleet

The main battle fleet of the Imperial German Navy in the First World War, named Hochseeflotte and based at Wilhelmshaven and Kiel. Built up under Tirpitz’s naval laws to challenge British dominance, it fought the Grand Fleet at Jutland, 31 May to 1 June 1916, under Admiral Reinhard Scheer, then largely avoided fleet action behind the British blockade. After the Armistice most of its capital ships were interned at Scapa Flow, where Rear Admiral Ludwig von Reuter scuttled 52 of the 74 vessels on 21 June 1919.