Following the conclusion of World War I, the German High Seas Fleet was interned at Scapa Flow, a strategic anchorage in the Orkney Islands, Scotland. The internment was a result of the Armistice and led to the eventual signing of the Treaty of Versailles. Admiral Ludwig von Reuter, commanding the German fleet, perceived the political climate as precarious, fearing that the ships would not be returned to Germany but instead handed over to the victorious Allied powers. Therefore, he devised a plan to scuttle the fleet as a form of protest and to prevent the ships from being salvaged for use by the Allies.

On the morning of June 21, 1919, the scuttling operation commenced. Within hours, 52 of the 74 interned ships sank in the cold waters of Scapa Flow. The sailors attempted to free the vessels, but their efforts were in vain. In this chaotic scene, nine German sailors tragically lost their lives during the operation, marking the end of combat-related deaths related to World War I. The scuttling of the fleet sent ripples through military and political circles worldwide, highlighting the tensions and unresolved issues arising from the treaty negotiations.

This decisive act not only drew attention to the post-war struggles of Germany but also led to significant salvage operations that continued for years thereafter, with many vessels ultimately being raised and repurposed. The scuttling operation underlines the complexities and unresolved animosities that often linger after conflicts, as well as the role that sea power played in naval warfare of the time.