THE hot topic of Hidden Oswestry over the last few weeks has been the tale of a certain German Naval crew’s ‘holiday’ in Oswestry, earning them the status of ‘Prisoner of War’ to return home with.

Unfortunately, however, all good things must come to an end.

Today, we wave goodbye to Admiral Von Reuter as he returns home to Germany to face the music - or so we think.

The accounts of Admiral Von Reuter’s return was written by the Hull Daily Mail on July 4, 1919, and the Derby Daily Telegraph, on January 30, 1920.

Admiral Von Reuter was transferred from Park Hall Camp to Donington Hall, in Leicestershire, on Thursday, July 3, 1919, having been transferred in a motor car, as opposed to a military vehicle. His escorting team included the commander of the German officers’ section of Park Hall Camp and his servants who loyally attended to him during his time at the Camp. His crew remain at Oswestry.

Following his stay at Donington Hall, he was taken to Riverside Quay at Hull on January 29, 1920, where he was put on a German ship to take the final trip back to Germany, which has now been reduced to rubble, ruins and discontent among the masses for the establishment.

Admiral Von Reuter was the first to embark onto his ship, and he immediately retired to the saloon.

Upon arrival on the ship, Admiral Von Reuter was subject to a brief but risky interview. The interview goes as follows:-

Ad. Von Reuter: “What do you want?”

Press: “Just a few words.”

Ad. Von Reuter: “I have nothing at all to say.”

Press: “Not even good words for your treatment at Donington?”

Ad. Von Reuter: “No.”

The ships later arrived in Wilhelmshaven, which was the Imperial German Navy’s Headquarters.

At the time, Germany had just recovered from the 1918 Revolution, which saw the Kaiser flee to the Netherlands and the establishment of the Weimar Republic.

The Treaty of Versailles was particularly ruthless to Germany, economically and militarily, requiring it’s new Navy, the Reichsmarine, to consist of only a handful of ships and only enough crew to man them.

Von Reuter was a casualty of this austerity, and he was forced to hand in his resignation on grounds that he had no fleet to command anymore.

A few years later, he wrote a book on the scuttling of his High Seas Fleet, which he called ‘Scalpa Flow: Grave of the German Fleet’.

Well, we hope you have all enjoyed this series on Admiral Von Reuter as much as I have while writing it.

Sources:

www.oswestrygenealogy.org.uk/photos/osw-henlle-derby-daily-telegraph-30-jan-1920/

www.oswestrygenealogy.org.uk/photos/osw-henlle-hull-daily-mail-04-july-1919/

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludwig_von_Reuter