Ludwig von Reuter

Ludwig von Reuter (9 February 1869 - 18 December 1943) was a German admiral during World War I, who commanded the Kaiserliche Marine's High Seas Fleet when it was interned at Scapa Flow at the end of the war. On 21 June 1919 he ordered the scuttling of the fleet to prevent the British from seizing the ships. Von Reuter was born in Guben into a Prussian military family. By the time World War I began, he was captain of the battlecruiser SMS Derffli... more

Ludwig von Reuter (9 February 1869 - 18 December 1943) was a German admiral during World War I, who commanded the Kaiserliche Marine's High Seas Fleet when it was interned at Scapa Flow at the end of the war. On 21 June 1919 he ordered the scuttling of the fleet to prevent the British from seizing the ships. Von Reuter was born in Guben into a Prussian military family. By the time World War I began, he was captain of the battlecruiser SMS Derfflinger, which he also commanded during the Battle of Dogger Bank. In September 1915 he became Commodore and commanding officer of the Fourth Scouting Group of five light cruisers, which he also commanded during the Battle of Jutland. Promoted to Rear Admiral, he commanded the two German battleships SMS Kaiser and SMS Kaiserin during the Second Battle of Heligoland Bight in 1917. After the armistice that ended World War I, Rear Admiral von Reuter was ordered to take command of the fleet that was to be interned at Scapa Flow until its final... less