21 ΝΟΕ 1918 «The day the entire German fleet surrendered» Armistice Day is remembered as the day World War One ended, but for naval historians Britains greatest victory came 10 days later. Operation ZZ was the code name for the surrender of Germanys mighty navy. For those who witnessed Der Tag or The Day it was a sight they would never forget - the greatest gathering of warships the world had ever witnessed. It was still dark in the Firth of Forth when the mighty dreadnoughts of the Royal Navys Grand Fleet began to raise steam and one by one let slip their moorings. The huge shapes of more than 40 battleships and battlecruisers began to ease out, course set due east. As the procession of steel headed for the open water of the North Sea, more than 150 cruisers and destroyers joined them. The mightiest fleet ever to sail from Britains shores was heading for a final rendezvous with its mortal enemy - the German High Seas Fleet. Victory would be total. But there was to be no battle. After four years of naval stalemate, this was the day when Germany would deliver her warships into British hands, without a shot being fired. The date was 21 November 1918. World War One had ended on land 10 days earlier, but this was to be the decisive day of victory at sea. bbc/news/magazine-30128199
Posted on: Sat, 22 Nov 2014 03:12:29 +0000
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