Time Line Sailors' Mutiny (Sailors' Revolt) in Kiel, Germany 1918
Sailors
and workers |
Government and military |
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Documents |
Incidents |
Day |
Incidents |
Documents |
29.9. |
The Supreme Command (Oberste Heeresleitung, OHL) demands from the Imperial Government the Entente to be requested for an immediate cease fire. | |||
29.
and 30. 10. |
The admiralty starts from Wilhelmshaven without authority an attack against England, aiming to sink the own fleet in a last heroic gesture. Refusals to obey orders, mutinies and sabotage by sailors from the I. and III. squadron prevent the sailing of the fleet. | Originator of the plan were Kapitän
z.S. v. Levetzow and Konteradmiral v. Trotha, chief of staff at the
high sea fleet. Trotha wrote: "The fleet looks forward to and views
such a final fight as highest goal... even if it will be a death fight
... (from there) will ... a new German future fleet ascend; an by disgraceful
peace enchained fleet the future is broken." (Translated by KK) Commentary (pdf, 50 kB) >> |
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Th,
31.10 |
The fleet commander redeploys the III. squadron to Kiel. Moving through the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Kanal (now Kiel canal) 47 putative ringleaders of the "Markgraf" are arrested and brought from Holtenau (end of the canal in Kiel) to different military prisons in Kiel. The ships containing above 5000 personnel arrive in Kiel during the night to 1 November. | |||
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Shore
leave for the ships' crews. In the evening meeting of ca. 250 sailors
from the III. squadron in the union house in the Fährstraße
(nowadays renamed to Legienstraße). Delegations demand in vain
the release of their imprisoned comrades from the ships' commanders. |
Fr,
1.11. |
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Police report (German; from VIMU.info) >> |
In
the evening around 19 hrs. ca. 500 to 600 sailors and some civilians
gather at the large drill ground in the Viehburger Gehoelz
in a demonstration. Only the sailor Karl Artelt (Unabhängige Sozialdemokratische
Partei Deutschlands - USPD -) as a contributor moves beyond the demand
for immediate release of the imprisoned, calls for the "overpowering
of the militarism and the overthrow of the ruling class" and seeks
to join hands with the shop stewards of the USPD. During this night
the first leaflets are printed. |
Sa,
2.11. |
The government in Berlin gets knowledge from the incidents in the navy. | |
Su, 3.11. |
Morning: On board the 'Markgraf' 57 more sailors and stokers are rounded up. But they can only be brought to Fort Herwarth after "Zureden (beseeching)" the crew. | |||
| 10:00 Conference of high ranking
marine officers in the Stationsgebäude of Kiel. Conclusion to raise
town alarm around 16 hrs., to prevent sailors from attending
a meeting scheduled at 17 hrs. Telegram from Gouverneur Souchon to the Imperial Navy Authority (Reichsmarineamt) including a report and the request: "... at any cost, send a distinguished socialdemocratic parliamentarian here, to talk about prevention of revolution and revolt." |
 Marine Station Ostsee |
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15:30-16:00 Town
alarm without impact among the sailors; ca. 17
hrs. meeting of about 5000 to 6000 attendees (4/5 sailors)
at the Großer Exerzierplatz (large drill ground) with
the main speakers Gustav Garbe (union chairman Kiel) and Karl Artelt
(USPD). A demonstration to the Arrestanstalt
(military prison) in the Feldstraße starts: via Rondeel, Sophienblatt,
station (a woman gets under a tram and dies), Holstenstraße, Markt,
Dänische Straße into the Brunswiker Straße. |
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ca. 19:00 Armed
clash between demonstrators and a patrol at the corner in the
Karlstraße: 7 dead and 29 injured, out of these two die later
on. |
The authorities still believe they can manage the situation. | |||
Morning: Armed
sailors move from barrack to barrack, partly to the place where the
incident took place in the Karlstraße, partly aimless through
the town. The III. squadron except the "König", who has has been docked already, sets sail to Travemünde, hoping the flashpoint could be removed that way. The crews do not take part in casting off. This has to be done by ensigns and deck officers. Ca. 1000 sailors remain on shore. |
Mo,
4.11. |
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Virtual tour >>
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10:00 Workers of
the Germania ship yard and from the torpedo workshop in Kiel-Friedrichsort
down tools. Meeting of shop stewards in the union house. |
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13:00 Sailors
in a large barracks compound in a Northern district of Kiel refuse
obedience: After a Division inspection of the commander spontanous
demonstrations take place. Upon Karl Artelt's initiative the first soldier's council is set up. Sailors, among them Karl Artelt, hand over 6 demands to the commander. Soon many more soldiers' councils are set up. |
13:30 Town commander and master of military police admit,
that they no longer control the situation. Gouverneur Souchon announces,
the wishes of the troups have to be reported to him instantly. Karl Artelt and other sailors go by car to the Gouverneur. On the car they carry a large red flag. |
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Virtual tour >> |
15:00 First
negotiations of the Gouverneur with sailors and representatives from
the SPD and the USPD. Their demands were communicated to all
navy units in Kiel by the Gouverneur at around 17 hrs. After a „triumphal
procession" from the Wik to the navy prisons in the in the Feldstraße
several thousand sailors receive their released comrades. |
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Virtual tour >>
Minutes of the negotiations (German; from VIMU.info) >> Virtual tour >> |
From 20 hrs. meeting
of sailors and workers representatives in the union house leading to
the establishment of a soldier's and a worker's council during the night.
Establishment of the „14 items of Kiel". At the same evening
negotiations were held between Haußmann, Noske, high ranking officers
and sailors in the station building. |
19.30 The envoys from the Empire Government in Berlin, state secretary Haußmann and SPD member of Parliament Noske arrive at the central station in Kiel. | ||
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At sunset the
war ships in the harbour do not hoist the war flag but red flags. |
Tu
5.11. |
Only on board the "König" the commander had hoisted the war flag. Two officers and the commander defend the flag in a shoot out. Only after they are wounded severely, the red flag is hoisted. The officers die, the commander survives. | |
Virtual tour >> |
General
strike of the workers. In the early morning hours a worker's council is established. Gustav Garbe, SPD, is elected chairman. The council controls from 10:00 a.m. the city authorities, whereby the the top officials are not replaced but get so called by-appointees from the worker's council. Only the Food Authority is directly taken over by the worker's counci. |
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Appeal of the "great soldiers' council", signed by Artelt and Noske |
The sailors are still afraid of a counter attack from the military. They remove the rank badges and weapons from their officers. The sailors have the impression that officers shoot at them out of windows in different parts of the town. Time and again shoot outs happen with the patrols. These end with 10 dead and 21 wounded. Town commander Heine is shot by a patrol when he resisted against his seizure. The soldier's council forbids the "set-up of
patrols on own initiative (selbstständige Patrouillengestellung)"
of the sailors. |
The naval command in Berlin (SKL) does not wait for the decision of the government and sends a telegramm to the high sea fleet command, ordering in pretended consent with the government: any resistance has to be broken immediately, the IX. army corps shall shut off Kiel from the land side and the high sea command from sea side. At early evening Haußmann gets back to Berlin. In the cabinet he stands up for the demands of the sailors and stresses that the "case" can only be "held" by the social democrats and the unions. However the state secretary of the Empirial naval authority, Ritter v. Mann and the Prussian war minister, Scheüch as a warning demand strongest measures and a cordoning off of Kiel. The decision is postponed.
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Appeal of the gouverneur to the officers
Admiral Scheer proposes to the Emperor, that Admiral v. Schröder should replace the Gouverneur of Kiel Souchon and should be deployed with a brigade to Kiel. The Emperor agrees and issues without consulting the Governmet respective orders.
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| In the evening Prinz Heinrich, the
brother of Kaiser Wilhelms flees from Kiel, carrying a red flag on his
car. In the evening Noske rings Vice Chancellor v. Payer and admonishes of force. The 40,000 men in Kiel could not be overpowered and the trial would make any understanding impossible. In another communication with Ritter v. Mann Noske repeats the demands for amnesty for the sailors and retirement or resignation of the Emperor. |
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At a large meeting Noske tries to convince the sailors
to abandon their mutiny. Popp and Garbe speak against it. The respective
offer of the Berlin Government is turned down unanimously. |
6.11. |
The cabinet in Berlin accepts Haußmann's proposal unanimously, because in other coastal towns unrests are imminent. To thrash these troups from Altona were ordered, which were actually to be used in Kiel. The naval command in Berlin (SKL) affirms however their orders from the day before. |
The Empirial Government refuses the commanding of Admiral Schröder to Kiel vehemently. Scheer suggests to the Kaiser to withdraw the order, as he also has to admit that nothing can be achieved by military force any more, and the Emperor agrees. | |
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7.11. |
Gustav Noske replaces Admiral Souchon as Gouverneur, Lothar Popp (USPD) becomes chairman of the overall soldiers council. Kiel gets back to "orderly circumstances". The naval command in Berlin (SKL) affirms again their above stated orders. Dass sie nicht umgesetzt werden, liegt allein daran, dass die erforderlichen Truppen nicht vorhanden sind, wie Dirk Dähnhardt schreibt (3). |
Article from Kieler Neuste Nachrichten 10.11.1918 (doc, 30 kB): Weitere Festigung der Lage (Further stabilisation of the situation) |
Scheidemann proclaims
the republic in Berlin, Karl Liebknecht the socialistic republic. The III. squadron comes back to Kiel and and hoists the red flag as well, while coming in. A majority of the officers had left the ships before. |
9.11. |
Delegations of the soldier's council and the officers agree, that those officers, who declare in writing not to be facing the new peoples movement in a hostile manner, will be superiors again. | ||
Burial of the victims
of the 3rd and 5th November in Kiel. |
10.11. |
The Emperor flees to Holland. | ||
Virtual tour >> |
Sailors and soldiers
are demobilised in large numbers. |
11.11. |
Cease fire is signed in Compiegne. | |
Especially the
U-Boat crews push their claim for a trasfer
bonus. |
18.11. | According to the conditions of cease fire the III. squadron and other ships sail to Wilhelmshaven, from there to English coast waters and later for internment to Scapa Flow. Not yet moveable ship (a.o. "König") follow on 3.12. | ||
End of Nov. |
Korvettenkapitän Wilfried von Loewenfeld starts secretly, however with Noske's knowledge, to set up a Free Corps. This unit is based on a conspirative association of sea officers, who want turn back the political development as much as possible. (4) The 'Loewenfelder' will later on during the Kapp-Putsch in Kiel (March 1920) commit a large blood bath among the workers in Kiel. |
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Dec. |
Noske sets up the Eiserne Garde (iron guard)
of 1600 men (Deck officers, corporals and marines). Later this unit was
renamed Eiserne Division (iron division) resp. 1st Marine-brigade (v.
Rhoden). On 10 January 1919 Noske ordered this troup, which had meanwhile filled up with officers, to move to Berlin. |
 Combat group of the Iron Division |
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 The councils declare: "Our aim is the socialistic republic." |
Lothar Popp, so
far chairman of the overall soldier's council, quits the council. Karl
Artelt becomes his successor. |
10.12. |
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| 11.12. | The fact-finding commission from UK arrives in Kiel. | |||
The General
Convention of Workers' and Soldiers' Councils in Berlin votes
to have elections for a constituent national assembly. These elections
take place on 19.1.1919 |
19.12. |
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The soldier's council
establishes a 'Revolutionary Security Unit' and thus
wins out over Noske. The deck- and petty officers get their own company
within this unit. (5) |
26.12. | Ebert asks Noske urgently to come to Berlin and to become a member of the Government. | ||
| 27.12. | Noske goes back to Berlin accompanied by Adolf v. Trotha. | |||
Karl Artelt steps
back. |
5.1. 1919 |
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6.1. 1919 |
Noske becomes supreme commander and leaves Kiel officially. Successor as Gouverneur becomes Gustav Garbe (secretary of the metal workers' union in Kiel) | |||
February revolt
of Spartakists 1919 in Kiel |
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External
link Bremer Räterupublik >> |
Bremen declares
itself Räterepublik (council republic) |
10.1. 1919 |
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| Noske orders the Division Gerstenberger, to which also parts of the 1st Marinebrigade (Iron Division, Kiel) belong, to march toward Bremen. |  Appeal by gouverneur Garbe, 11 Jan. 1919 |
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500 - 1000 demonstrators
in Kiel demand weapons from the soldiers' council, to be able to support
Bremen. Spartakists attack weapon shops and take sentries in Suchsdorf and Holtenau by surprise. |
4.2.
1919 |
Noske orders Bremen to be attacked | ||
O. Preßler's report of the incidence (German)
>> |
The workers of
the Imperial-, Gemermania- and the Howaldt-shipyard down tools in support
for Bremen. Spartakists seize the barracks in the Annenstreet and the Marine Station. |
We
5.2. 1919 |
The barracks are re-taken by a group from the Sicherheitswehr (security defence) of the soldiers' council, made up of deckofficers and reinforced by students and officers. | |
The
workers' and soldiers' council issues a leaflet >> |
Call for general
strike (heeded by the above shipyards and the Torpedowerkstatt) |
6.2. 1919 |
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The general strike
ends. |
8.2.
1919 |
Garbe demands the return of the weapons from the students and he releases the Spartakist leaders. | ||
Evaluation
of the incidents by D. Dähnhardt >> |
Protests of the
soldiers' council in Berlin to Noske have no effect. |
With Noske's consent the Sicherheitswehr (security defence) of the soldiers' council is put under the control of the Loewenfeld freecorps. | ||
5.6.
1919 |
The suspension of the soldiers's councils is ordered. | |||
Sept.
1919 |
Any further payment for the workers' council is refused by the mayor Lindemann. | |||
