Homepage Renate and Klaus Kuhl - Sailors' revolt in Kiel
Virtual Sightseeing Tour "Kiel Mutiny" Nov. 1918
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No. 04: At 4 November 1918 around 10 a.m. workers of the Torpedowerkstatt Friedrichsort and the Germania ship yard in Gaarden down tools
Julius Bredenbek describes the atmosphere within the workforce
(interview 1983): " In general one can probably say, it was
a mood being quite near to despair. People felt the end of the
war coming. However they didn't know whether they were coming
or going and there were different groups. In some factories there
were already workers' councils, founded on their own, without
any legal basis, just because of the strength of the organisation;
which partly got to work with very great revolutionary pathos.
In other factories there were also workers' councils, which were
however more interested, necessary things, problems in food supply
etc. largely to co-manage. One couldn't say there was a uniform
atmosphere.
That changed when the sailors refused to obey orders. This then
led to the collapse as we know. Then a general solidarity of the
whole workforce in Kiel could be noted: in larger companies firstly
the tools were downed. They declared solidarity. Workers' and
soldiers' councils found themselves at meetings for talks in the
union house."
Amonst the most consequent staffs were at that time those from
the Torpedowerkstatt and the Germania
ship yard, where the USPD had a strong position. They already
downed tools before the decision of the workers' representatives
assembly (Vertrauensmännerversammlung). Soon there was general
strike all over Kiel.
| Torpedowerkstatt, present day map | Torpedowerkstatt, former map |
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Größere Kartenansicht |
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| A city map from xxxx (in progress). | |
| Present day view | Former view |
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| MaK (at this place the Torpedowerkstatt was located) Nov. 2009, Foto K. Kuhl | |
| Germania shipyard, present day map | Germania shipyard, former map |
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Größere Kartenansicht |
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| Part of a town map 1910 (Stadtarchiv). | |
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| Photo: View at the Germania shipyard-area from ZOB 2011 (Kuhl) | Photo Germania shipyard(town archive) |
More expalanations of the events:
In progress ...
The virtual sightseeing tour at a glance:
- Holtenau viaduct and locks >>
- Large drillground (Großer Exerzierplatz) >>
- Karlstraße / Langer Segen >>
- Torpedo workshop Friedrichsort, Germania shipyard Kiel-Gaarden >>
- Barracks (Kasernen) in Kiel-Wik >>
- Marinestation Ostsee >>
- Arrestanstalt (military prison >>
- Trade union house (Gewerkschaftshaus) >>
- Town hall (Rathaus) >>
- "Schloßhof" >>
- Station (Bahnhof) >>
- Graves of the killed revolutionaries and soldiers >>
Real, guided tours on this subject are offered by:
- Geo-Step-by-Step >>
- Ernst Mühlenbrink, via Society for Kiel's Town History
(Gesellschaft für Kieler Stadtgeschichte) >>
- AKENS, Asche Arbeitskreis >>
Last modified: 13 Nov. 2011
| Sailors' Revolt / Kiel Mutiny November 1918 - here you'll find the following further information:
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