Folios 322-326: CB number 01453 O.X.O, Copy number 7, 1917 Mutiny of the German Fleet,...

Folios 322-326: CB number 01453 O.X.O, Copy number 7, 1917 Mutiny of the German Fleet, June 1918.

Folio 323: Cover sheet, 1917 Mutiny of the German Fleet.

Folio 324: 1917 Mutiny of the German Fleet. Able Seaman Jean Schmitt, is from Lorraine and professes sympathy for France. Primary causes of discontent were the insufficiencies of the rations and attitude of the officers. In May 1917 many ratings on the Kaiserin refused to operate the ship. Order was restored but the men remained dissatisfied. The ringleaders contacted certain members of the Independent Social Democratic Party in the Reichstag including Haase and Dittmann. A proposed mutiny was to occur simultaneously with a general strike on shore in favour of peace. The ships were to go to a neutral harbour in Sweden or elsewhere for internment.

Folios 324-325: Events on board 'Prinzregent Luitpold'. On 3 August 1917 the ratings refused to proceed to sea until grievances as to food and other matters were remedied. 800 of the crew walked ashore for a meeting. Forty or fifty delegates from various ships were arrested at a secret meeting. A 'free speech meeting' was held on board at which the officers were present. Captain von Hornhardt, the executive officer and paymaster were relieved, about 100 of crew sentenced to 100 days imprisonment and 10 ringleaders to 10-15 years. It was stated that Stoker Kurbys, the chief ringleader was shot.

Folio 325: Events on board 'Kaiserin'. On 4 August a general outbreak occurred in the rest of the fleet at Wilhelmshaven in sympathy with mutineers of the Prinzregent Luitpold. At noon the crew of the Kaiserin refused to send for their food or to relieve watch. The ship proceeded to Brunsbuttel where there were better food was provided and events arranged to return the crew to docility. The informant Schmitt was arrested and sentenced to five month imprisonment along with other ringleaders.

Folios 325-326: Other Ships of 4th Battle Squadron (Wilhelmshaven). Konig Albert: On night of 25 July, Captain Thorbecke was stabbed while returning to his ship. The crew of his motor boat were arrested but nothing could be proven. His body was picked up several days later and the affair hushed up. Kaiser: This ship was least affected. Friedrich Der Grosse: On 4 August a 'free speech meeting' was held.

Folio 326: 3rd Battle Squadron (Wilhelmshaven). Similar outbreaks occurred on the Markgraf and Kronprinz but on a minor scale.

Folio 326: 1st Battle Squadron (Kiel). Westfalen: On 17 August at Kiel, the crew refused to continue coaling work. Ostfriesland and Thuringen: Minor outbreaks occurred on these two ships. Rheinland: There was discontent similar to the above.

Folio 326: Light Cruisers (Wilhelmshaven). About 5 August a considerable number of the crews of the light cruiser Pillau and the minelayer cruiser Bremse remained ashore and refused to carry out their duties.

Folios 326-327: General Results of the Mutiny. Improvements in rations are shown in a table entitled Scale of Rations in German Fleet comparing before and after the mutiny. As a precaution against further outbreaks, older crew are being drafted away and replaced by younger recruits. The informant and others were sent to the Naval Corp in Flanders on the completion of their imprisonment. During a trench raid, the informant deserted to the Belgiums.

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