1939 Attack on Scapa Flow 

I believe I have a unique tie to Scapa Flow, although never having visited it. My grandfather earned his Iron Cross for helping scuttle his ship in 1919 when the German fleet scuttled at Scapa Flow and we still have the jackstaff flag from his ship. My father earned his first Iron Cross as part of the Luftwaffe flight crew that took the reconnaissance photos showing the potential entry into Scapa Flow. He was a radioman on the plane at the time and eventually became a Ju-88 and Ju-188 reconnaissance pilot and a squadron commander, earning multiple medals for his work, but also earning 3 months in the Sachsenhausen concentration camp after the attempted assassination of Hitler when one of his squadron mates reported him to the Gestapo for remarks he had made about Hitler (my father's family was not supportive of Hitler and had tried to get my father and his cousin to the U.S. prior to start of the war in September, 1939). He was offered two options after 3 months of interrogation and imprisonment. Option 1 was to be shot at dawn. Option 2 was to be returned to his squadron, but reduced in rank from Captain to highest NCO level, not be allowed to be pilot in command on any flights, and to fly night missions in Italy for the rest of the war (which was about 50% fatality rate at the time). He chose option 2, was shot down 3 times subsequently (we have photos of one shoot down aftermath), lost the tip of his left little finger due to a .30 caliber bullet coming through the cockpit glass, and kept his crew members alive. One thing he told us of that time was that although the plane had to take off with him in the co-pilot's seat, he and the pilot would switch seats immediately after becoming airborne as his crew knew he was the best pilot and would keep them alive. He was allowed to immigrate from Germany in 1952, along with his sister and a Lutheran minister and they were among the first group of German emigres from Hamburg to the U.S. He ended up in Detroit where his uncle had a tool and die shop and by 1964 he and his partners had a shop with 200 employees and my father was the president of the Detroit tool and die association. He was also one of the first Detroit area tool and die shop owners to hire African-American employees as tool and die machinists and always told my brothers and I that it was the quality of work a man created, not what color his skin was. He never went back to Germany as he had many bad memories of the war and immediate post war period although he always enjoyed talking to other pilots from WW2. One of the more interesting events that occurred later in his life was when my brother graduated from U.S. Navy pilot training. One of the Navy traditions is that if your father was a military pilot, he could pin his wings on his son as part of the induction ceremony. You could have heard a pin drop in the room when my dad pinned his Luftwaffe reconnaissance pilot's wings on my brother's chest and afterwards every pilot in the room, both newly minted and veteran fathers, wanted to talk with him about his experiences. He passed away in 1988 and we have his logbook, medals, and many photos from his time in the war.

that's crappy that the Admiral who asked for better defenses ended up being the scapegoat

I've seen the wreck of the Oak a few times, however the most poignant was in October 2010 from a small boat owned by my great uncle. It was a flat calm day and he positioned the boat over the wreck and told all of us to look over the side. It took a few seconds to make things out, but there she was, clear as day, there was her bilge keel pointing up towards us, several holes in her side with the ribs poking through and further down, her secondary armaments were just visible. For about a minute we slowly drifted along her from a point roughly amidships towards her stern (the propellor shaft and rudder eventually coming in to view) before sailing off again. A remarkably and quite haunting experience. Worthy of mention is the fact that my great uncle had lived in a house overlooking the wreck site his entire life and remembered going to bed one night with the Oak outside his window and waking up to nothing other than an oil slick the next morning. The boat was also worthy of mention, being a steam launch he had built himself out of scrap, the hull having started life as a German Navy pinnace from WWI, the engine being salvaged from a White steam car, the boiler being made from offcuts of pipe from the oil terminal on the island of Flotta and the condenser being made from salvaged parts of HMS Vanguard's condenser.

Some extra exposition about U-47 on this episode: 1. Ka-Leu Prien was called the “Bull of Scapa Flow” (as mentioned in the video). On their return to Germany, U-47’s crew painted a snorting bull on the conning tower to commemorate the feat. It would eventually become the symbol of the 7th Uboat flotilla. 1. U-47 did not immediately attack upon arrival at Scapa Flow. It waited outside the harbor for several days waiting for the ideal conditions to enter the harbor. It sat on the bottom during the day and surfaced at night to charge batteries. 3. U-47’s attack may have changed the course of WW2. Germany had only 39 uboats in September, 1939. The attack was meant as an attempt to get more funding for uboat production since German naval doctrine was still centered around surface units. What began as 39 uboats eventually exploded to 1,162 by the war’s end. It can be argued that had this attack failed, then Hitler might have given more funding to surface ships instead of the more effective uboats. 4. A torpedo that was found in Scapa Flow in 2016 is believed to be one of U-47’s missed torpedoes. 5. The failure of the first 2 attacks is most likely due to poorly designed torpedoes. Gunther Prien and many other uboat commanders (and the Americans years later) complained of defective torpedoes. U-47 attacked another British battleship, HMS Warspite, during the invasion of Norway. The torpedoes were so awful that Prien refused to fire another torpedo at a convoy later that day. He would declare to Admiral Doenitz that he might as well have been fighting with “wooden rifles.”

My brother and I visited Scapa Flow in 2019, quite a moving experience. A bleak and inhospitable place with a superb guided history walk around the old naval base. During the wars, thousands of navy personnel were based here, a truly enormous base. Only fragmentary elements remain, but well worth seeing with a guide. And the Churchill barriers are highly evident, supporting roads between the various islands.

coming from a RN family, my grandfather and uncle were KIA in ww2, its a fact of life that in wars the navy suffer some horrendous casualties in one day, if a major ship goes down. large crews and the sheer inhospility of the waters. jumping over the side in itself was hazardous - men wearing lifejackets were apt to break their neck if they didn't know the drill .. head down, knees up ... and the chill factor in sea is frightening. 5 minutes in the water and you're prob a goner.. the North Sea is highly dangerous at any time of year.

I don't remember his last name. But his fist name was Hans. At 13 or 15 he was a Belgium farmer when the Germans stornmed through in ww1. His village was wiped out and became a battle front. He fought the war in the trenches . After the war he went back to farming and married and had children . Again in ww2 the Germans came through and flatten the village . This time he got to gge coast and I belive was evacuated at Dunkirk. He didn't want to go back to ghe trenches so he signed onto a ship . By the end if the war he had been on 7 ships that had been sunk . Signing onto who ever pulled him out . The last ship was an America navel ship and he joined the American navy . Put in 20 years, became a citizen retired and went to sea as a merchant marine . He married a woman from New Jersey and had a few kids. At some point he was falling apart his wife had died and he retired . I met him in irvington new jersey a burrow of Newark. He told me his stories as I worked on an agecent apartment . He was around 80 . I'm sure there is an obituary in the Newark star Leger news paper . I met him in 1988 .

My dad was at Scapa Flow when attack happened. He was Merchant Navy and only sixteen. He was on Warwick Castle, a troop ship, when it was torpedoed in 1942 returning from Operation Torch.

I am British but I can't help but acknowledge the bravery and skill of Prien and his men. The story would make a great movie. Lastly RIP and respect to all those lost on the Royal Oak

One of the more interesting facts is that in 1917 HMS Vanguard blew up in Scapa Flow, one of its crew, a Midshipman, Reginald Frederick Nicholls was a part of its crew, 22 years later he was the Executive Officer aboard HMS Royal Oak, which was sunk only a few hundred yards from where HMS Vanguard lies. The fact that HMS Royal Oak was (along with all the Revenge class Battleships), deemed obsolete by the start of WW2, it was a tragic loss of life that was really only figured out several days later when they discovered the torpedo damage. Even now, HMS Royal Oak still spills a little of her oil into the sea.

4:35 The Trawler attacking and capturing a U-Boat has got to be the most impressive act of fishing of all time. They truly caught “the Big One”.

Never knew about the "boy seamen". Heartbreaking.

Another well done episode. The loss of HMS Royal Oak, while at the time was a very prominent event, it's sinking by and large became lost in history as the war and its subsequent horrors grew. The loss of so many boys deeply affected the British people, they were presumed to be safe on a huge battleship. The saddest fact is that WWII would see the deaths of innumerable children. It is good that you have taken time to remember those boys and men. In this season of peace and goodwill, I offer my sincerest best wishes to mrs History guy, the History guy felines and you.

I'm about to head to my first job this morning, but before I watch I just want to say, I play a mission named "Attack on Scapa Flow" in a game called U-boat. So I'm really excited lol

The Churchill barriers have made Orkney much bigger than it must have felt before the war. They are probably worth an episode along with the Italians who built them and the Italian Chapel that they built and is still there.

Many years ago there was a documentary on the sinking of the Royal Oak and many survivors were interviewed. One of the underlying problems with the ship was that it appeared not to be a "happy ship" and there were undercurrents in terms of its cohesive operation and this may have had a bearing on the events that ensued after the ship was torpedoed as the crew might not have been as tuned to the events as they might have been on another ship with a well drilled crew. .

I learnt of this whist on a scuba diving holiday at Scala flow. An increasable bit of navigation and nerve by U47. Whilst there I visited the war graves at the cemetery on Hoy. By the remembrance book at the entrance, a large wreathe paying tribute and honouring the fallen seamen of the Royal Oak. A purple banner across it proclaimed in gold letters who had left the tribute, the U47 sailors association. Such respect.

Watching this as I'm looking out my bedroom window over Scapa Flow, it's a beautiful place with so much history! If you ever make it up here to the edge of the world History Guy the Orcadian ale's one me! Also another fascinating story that came out of Orkney is the history of the Italian Chapel, built by Italian POWs who built the Churchill barriers. It's made out of an old bomb shelter with a chandelier constructed out of old cans and it even has a fresco painted by one of the Italians, he even stayed after the war to finish it and kept coming back to Orkney for many years until his passing. It's certainly history that deserves to be remembered!

I like your nuclear fallout shelter sign. Gunther Prein died a horrible death, being depth charged, and then the sub leaked & took on water slowly until it reached crush depth. Horrible way to go.

You might consider doing another episode on a similar attack, this time by the U.S. submarine Wahoo which, under the command of Dudley W “Mush” Morton on the Japanese harbor of Wewak Island in the Pacific. An excellent telling of this story is recounted in War Fish, written by George W. Grider and Lydel Sims. Grider was a junior officer on board the Wahoo at the time. Like Prien, Morton was lost with his boat as a result of what appears to be a bombing of the Wahoo as it attempted a transit of the Bungo Channel.

Me grand father was a Captain in the Merchant Marine in the Great War. He was attacked many times by U-Boats. Later he had many a submariner in his crews. "Grand paw Denny" Never held a grudge to these men; just the opposite, he thought they were damn fine seamen and made this comment: "No way in hell would I have served in the under seas service of Any nation."

I just want to say you are wonderful historian. I am a military antiques dealer but I donate items to museums and schools because I like you believe history should be remembered and taught. I even buy military medals and donate them to veterans who have lost theirs or help them with paperwork so the government to reissue them.

Good Morning THG. We're all assembled, let's go!

In interviews, several former sailors said that Scapa Flow was a horrible place to be. There was nothing to do on shore. It was remote and nothing to do in the "town" on shore. Sailors hated it.

As a former Royal Navy veteran - I really appreciate your videos on RN history . Thank you Sir, I salute you on behalf of fallen fellow servicemen of all our armed forces -especially the Royal Navy!

I remember reading about that attack at Scapa Flow. The whole idea was just borderline crazy, since the chances of success was not exactly high, either.

That was a good one, as most indeed are. Touching statement at the end with the white ensign.

Just wanted to let you know that I am already an audible subscriber but I went ahead and got “War Beneath the Seas”. Thanks for the recommendation!

Thanks History Guy. At the beginning of your video, I kept waiting for you to mention that Scapa Flow is in the Orkney Islands off the north coast of Scotland. Having spent some time in Shetland, I love this part of the UK.

Could you please do a story on the Photographers trained at Indian Town Gap for the Army in WW2 and how they were the ones who shot every picture and film reel for the Battle of the Bulge? I believe the Master Sgt in charge of the training was Harold R Norman a photographer for the Chicago Tribune. Harold R Norman went on to battle for the Freedom of the Press in a 1959 case in the supreme court over an incident at the Arora Courthouse. It is History Worth Remembering!

Had not ever known of this attack before; another bit of history to now be remembered. Thanks "The History Guy." It is unfortunate, and understandable, if not completely "fair," that the admiral at Scapa Flow, at the time, suffered, basically, the same fate as the admiral at Pearl Harbor when a surprise attack ended his career as well.

First, let me say that I enjoy most of your efforts very much. You often bring light to the stories of history which would otherwise be largely permanently forgotten. I am a supporting member of your channel. Secondly, let me also applaud you for your new sponsorship arrangement with Audible. I am in my 70s now and was formerly a career military officer who loves history. However, as I have aged my eyesight has weakened which makes reading much more tiring. Audible has been a savior. An Audible member for over 10 years, I have over 300 Audible books in my cloud library...history, politics, mysteries, spy novels, etc. You can't beat it. May I suggest you now open each of your well-researched and presented episodes with an Audible book recommendation related to your topic. Meanwhile, keep up the good work. History is a topic lost to most young Americans and to many older ones as well...

That slow pan in that twisted along an axis as you described the ship beginning to take water.... *chef's kiss*

Dear History Guy: I love your productions and thank you for them. At 11:30, I think you meant to say "pinnace", not "pinnacle".

Greetings from No. VT - I would second Scott Watson's comment about the value of a future episode about the contributions of the Italian prisoners of war at Scapa Flow. A friend's father, who was a world class stone carver here in Vermont after the war, was one of the artisans who built the Italia Chapel as well as other structures in the area when he was a prisoner. The artistic efforts of the prisoners is awesome

Excellent episode, I have been reading more about the Royal Oak and how important that attack was for Germany. It is interesting that still in 1939, they had boy sailors. That was a complete tragedy, glad to hear they pulled those young men off the front lines until they became old enough.

It'd be very interesting to see you tackle the battle of Hong Kong in 1941. It's often little discussed or mentioned. Just a suggestion of course, anything you make is very well done, keep it up!

My grandfather was the captain of the first civilian rescue boat on scene that night, some of the survivors he rescued were mentioned in the first official announcement of the sinking. The BBC Home Service reported late that morning an announcement by the Secretary of the Admiralty: 'It is with regret that I have to announce that the battleship HMS Royal Oak has been sunk, it is believed by U‐boat action; fifteen survivors have been landed'." He was awarded an MBE from the Queen, for his rescue efforts that night.

Thank you for the heart felt and well-told story of the early war in 1939.

As always I find your videos very informative and entertaining. Thank you for all you do.

Thank you for remembering them for us! They deserve to not be forgotten.

Fascinating and informative. Interesting to catch mention of American journalist, war correspondent, and author, John Gunther. Some may remember the memoir he penned about his son, John (Johnny) Gunther, Jr. in "Death Be Not Proud", once required reading in high school English classes across the country. I have no idea if that is still the case. Cheers.

Once again, you and your team have made an exceptional video. I realize that you are under time constraints, but the following were some things not mentioned. Three out of four block ships that were sailing to Scapa Flow were sunk en route. Robert Tullock was never penalized for driving with his taxi's lights on during the two month old black out. His lights illuminated the passage just as U 47 attempted to enter Scapa Flow. Although German photography was advanced for its time, Admiral Doentz, at a glance, quickly overruled his staff, who advocated a different route into Scapa Flow. From my recreational experience, I know that the depth of channels are difficult to know visually without taking sounding, sonar or a point of reference Admiral French's report would have mentioned Kirik Sound's depth at different tides. Admiral French's report could have crossed the desk of the traitor king, who was an Admiral of the Fleet.

The Scapa Flow mission in Silent Hunter V was ridiculously tense. I have no idea how anybody could possible do this in real life.

That Padfield book is partly what drove me to base my dissertation on submarine warfare :D Always takes me back whenever I see it get mentioned (and any Padfield work in general).

Churchill was never one to (privately) deny a particularly courageous enemy action. Having been the First Sea Lord and thus experienced in naval matters, he called Prien's attack "a remarkable feat of professional skill and daring". Churchill was also quite relieved at their luck, in that a man as bold as Prien had multiple dud torpedoes (even in the most undemanding conditions) and only managed to find a single WW1-vintage superdreadnought to assassinate before wisely making his retreat: the only thing that justified the atrocious risk in the first place was the hope of finding the entire active fleet asleep - but they were out on maneuvers, saved by chance.

Good episode on a small battle with such a larger effect on the war.

Great video. Would love to see one on American servicemen awarded soviet medal.

This disaster could have easily averted and lives saved. The first torpedoes were duds. The cadets heard the torpedo thuds. The officers didn't do their job and keep a lookout. A very terrible tragedy.

The German U-boat Captain had to have balls of steel to even think about attempting this, let alone carry it out.

Thank you for another great episode!

Interesting. I believe my grandfather was on HMS Belfast in 1939.

Merry Christmas THG 🎄🎄🎄

AS ALWAYS THE HISTORY GUY, AN EXCELLENT VIDEO!! Didn't know about the "boy sailors" that were aboard the ROYAL OAK. That Royal Navy tradition of having young boys on warships as officer candidates ended after this diaster. I seem to remember a story about a U-Boat attack on a Royal Navy anchorage on the last day World War II. Not sure if it was Scapa Flow or the Firth of Forth.🤔🤔🤔⚓⚓⚓🚢🚢🚢✌✌✌✌

The chapel that the Italian POWs built is fascinating.

Brilliant video, as always. Would definitely welcome more WWI naval content, as I am always on the look-out for good video resources for my classroom teaching.

Happy holidays. HG Yes. A submarine vs battleship.

Hi Lance, just wanted to correct a very slight landsman's error in your excellent presentation. What you referred to as the Royal Oak's 'pinnacle' is actually the pinnace (pronounced pin-us, usually), a shallow-draft boat with an inboard motor, used to convey crew and supplies between ship and shore. It was stored aboard the ship when underway. I only know because I used to live on a 40ft ex-RN pinnace built in 1920. The Royal Oak's would probably have been the longer version, but otherwise similar.

Good video Thanks !!!!

As someone that lives in the east of England, believe me, we ain't forgotten, the boat is still bloody there.

Many do not know this most important History. And in context of the it's significance to the arms race that occurred continuously through World War Two and the developments that transpired between WW1 and WW2. Thank you History Guy.

A very good video, as usual THG. Like USS Arizona, HMS Royal Oak leaked oil for many years, and because of the impact on wildlife much of it was pumped out of the ship between 2003 and 2010. There remains about 600 tonnes on board. By the way, at 11:29 I think you mean the ship's pinnace, rather than pinnacle. Once again, thanks for a superb video.

As always, your videos are great.

Thanks for sharing this important piece of history!

Great work!

After attacking Scapa Flow in the game U-boat, this vid definitely interests me.

I have been present at the ceremony onboard HMS _Echo_ and it was moving with all hands mustered aft, dress uniforms worn and pipes played as the last post was done by a bootie brought along for the occasion.

HMS Royal Oak was the one of the 5 Royal Navy battleships/Battlecruisers effectively sunk in the conflict. The other 4 were HMS Barham, HMS Prince of Wales, HMS Hood and HMS Repulse. And they were all sunk before 1942... Yes Royal Oak sinking didn't change the force balance, but without the entrance of USA, UK couldn't have taken the combined force of German, Italian and Japanese Navy, moreon since HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Valiant were damaged severely in famous Alexandria Raid, and by January 1942 Germany had 2 Battleships (considering Scharnhorst BB), Italy had 5 (not counting the damaged Cavour) and Japan had 9/10 (Musashi was on sea trials). Despite RN having quite a few CVs and a lot of cruisers and DDs, the numbers without USA's aid didn't favor them

And the Italian POW's who helped make the Churchill Barriers also built a beautiful little chapel there...

One of those lost on the HMS Royal Oak was a relative of the famous Naval Historian Drachinifel.

Excellent as always 👌

Love the stories. I look forward all new vids

Thanks again history guy I truly believe that history is our best way of not repeating mistakes as our government does so many times!

thanks

Another excellent piece

You should do an episode on weekends. I wonder how weekends got started.

In London Cockney rhyming slang, Scapa flow means to Go. As in “ I’m gonna scapa now” (although usually spelt phonetically as Scarper as the A is a long one.) Royal Navy personnel posted to Scapa would be gone for quite some time.

Thank you for the story. I had never heard this one before.

Wow. Never heard this story. Love it

Excellent video!!!

Well done, again!

I've driven my car over the route the submarine took....well over the causeway barrier they installed so it couldn't be repeated :-)

I've been with Audible since 2006; a suggestion from a co-worker. Take the History Guy's advice here, it's a game changer. I take the 12 unit/yr subscription. As for undersea warfare I suggest: The War Below, James Scott. It concentrates on the US pacific effort against Japan. Oh, and that other enemy, the Mk 13 torpedo, but I'll leave that to you listening to the book.

Wow! Now sponsored by Audible…truly into the big leagues! Congratulations and thanks for the awesome stories.

Thanks THG!

Thanks history guy

I have a 50 mile commute each way, two hours in the morning, one at night. Audible turns it into fun educational time. I enjoy biographies, history, current events, etc. Just about finished with Brad Smith and Carol Anne Browne's "Tools and Weapons, The Promise and Peril of the digital age." A great read... er... listen.

Until I started reading more on the European theater of WW2, I had only seen Scapa Flow as the name of a Thoroughbred broodmare. She contributed to the blood of several horses that are notable. However, I am amazed at the tenacity of the German navy that lost so many there. And then to have it turned on it's head and the British to lose so many. Wow.

The great American model company Revell - which I think I now German - made a kit of the U-47. It was a cut away model and you could see the interior of the boat. There was a large historical section about the attack in the instructions. I should have posted the nerd alert first. Sorry guys.

A fellow who does content here on RU-vid lost one of his grandfather's on the Royal Oak in this attack.

A year or so back, a routine survey of the seabed in Scapa Flow unearthed one of the torpedoes that missed that night and, basically, ran out of steam. The Royal Navy disposed of it in a controlled explosion. Orkney can be a wild, desolate place but is steeped in history all the way back to the Neolithic . If you love history, it's well worth a visit.

Just commenting to say, keep it up!

Great video!. 2:54 is when it starts so you can skip the commercial.

11:29 forgive me, I believe you'll find the correct word for a small lifeboat type vessel is "pinnace' not "pinnacle," there must've been a typo.

I see you have an interest in undersea warfare. It would be great to have a story on the Confederate submarines Pioneer and H L Hunley. History that deserves to be remembered.

Nice video editing

Excellent video..

I love your stuff!

Very good show............Jay

FWIW, I was told by a retired submariner that it is pronounced “submarine-er”, not “sub-mariner”.