Summary

Black and white postcard depicting the coastline of Scapa Flow (here called 'Scape Flow') in Norway. Scapa Flow was an important unfortified naval base during both World Wars for the British Grand Fleet.

During World War I, vessels from the fleet made sweeps in search of the enemy. In 1916, the British Grand Fleet left from there to fight in the Battle of Jutland. After the armistice, seventy-four 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 mid 1919, Rear Admiral von Reuter, the German Officer in command at Scapa Flow, knew that Germany would have to accept surrender terms. When the main part of the British Fleet left the flow for exercises he gave the order for the German fleet to be scuttled. Today eight scuttled ships still remain in the Flow.

Description of Content

Coastal scene of low mountain range seen across water. Some houses are depicted at the coast, which seem to be part of the unfortified British naval base in that area.

Physical Description

Black and white postcard. It shows some signs of wear at the corners and on the image.

Significance

This black and white postcard, dating circa 1914, is one of a postcard series. It provides an invaluable pictorial record of the military bases of World War I. These postcards functioned as a reference to and sometimes collector's item of military history around the time of the Great War.

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