What if the German High Seas Fleet had been interned in Norway not Scapa Flow

Spain and Norway were approached as possible locations for the internment of the z German Fleet

if this had been agreed rather than turned down what impact might it of had . Would the fleet still have been scuttled ?

Would it have been salvaged as much in this new location?

would Symbolism of its last resting place have affected Hitlers plans ?

Or would the location have changed its fate and would more ships have been distributed amongst the Allies ?
 
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Very interesting! Could you provide a source for the possible internment locations? I'd like to pursue this.
 

NoMommsen

Donor
Very interesting! Could you provide a source for the possible internment locations? I'd like to pursue this.
IIRC it was part of the armistice that the HSF should be interned in 'neutral harbours'.
But in not finding any nation with enough balls to do so it had - unfortunatly and very muchg regretted (can't find the irony button) - to be Scapa.

However, IMHO the scuttling of the fleet would become much more improbable.
... due to 'better' caring of the german sailors
... due to allowance of better communications between the fleet and Germany
...
... though it would still be possible. IOTL it was to a large degree the 'keeping in the dark' of admiral Reuter about the prolongation of armistice conditions that let him decide to finally execute the for days already prepared scuttling.
 
I've just seen it in a book on battleships I got in post yesterday but it is mentioned on wikipedia page for the scuttling . I'm out so will check book name later .
 

Driftless

Donor
How much leverage would the Germans have in specificing the disposition the ships? For instance: Could they be sold intact outright to the highest bidder, sold intact to neutrals, or salvaged for engines, boilers, weaponry, and scrap steel?
 
So if their was no scuttling what impact would that have ?

How about less experience in UK of salvage ? Without the techniques developed in Scapa Flow by Mr Cox would their have been a significant impact.
 
How much leverage would the Germans have in specificing the disposition the ships?
They would be given as reparations presumably, so its more a case of how much GB, France, US, etc fall out over dividing them up?
 

Driftless

Donor
They would be given as reparations presumably, so its more a case of how much GB, France, US, etc fall out over dividing them up?

A couple of thoughts come to mind: first the attempt by the Austro-Hungarians to shift their fleet to the new states of Slovenia/Croatia/Serbia, in part to keep the ships away from the Italians, which didn't work. Second, I could see diplomats and admirals playing the fancy-dress version of choosing sides for schoolyard games - " I pick the Baden......"

*edit* On the second notion of who-wants-what of the HSF: who does want what and for what purpose? I can imagine the admirals with an engineering frame of mind want to see how the machinery, armor scheme, and the ordinance is set up. Others are looking at potential upgrade comparisons - i.e. if I get the Baden, then XXXX can go to the scrap yard. Still, others may think of salvaging and reusing guns to upgrade their coastal defences; either from the HSF or their own old ships being replaced.

Assuming this dividing the spoils takes place before any naval limitation treaties get rolling, would the British want to farm out some ships to Australia, New Zealand, or Canada?

Or, does this just become an argument over who gets what portion of usable salvage steel and power plants?
 
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