when did the british learn of Scheer and Hipper’s intention to sortie the HSF in Nov 1918? Did the british expect the Kriegsmarine to also mount a final suicidal sortie when it appears the final collapse of germany was imminent?
Also, I never understood the rationale behind HSF’s final sortie. It seems to me that given the situation facing German army in Nov 1918, even if HSF Manage to inflict heavy causalities on the GF it would not create any incentive for the allies to offer more favorable terms. The only way such a sortie could ameliorate the terms facing Germany would be if the HSF score a notable victory and remain sufficiently intact in the process to exploit the victory within a sort period, which seems highly unlikely both given the immediate odds, as well as the fact that all of Germany’s allies have dropped out of the way and the allies could mobilize even greater resource to contain the HSF than just a month or two earlier. If the final Sortie does not result in such a victory, it could only harden ally resolve to even more decisively emasculate every aspect of german war making power.
so it seems far more likely the sortie would worsen Germany’s negotiating position than improve it.
Also, I never understood the rationale behind HSF’s final sortie. It seems to me that given the situation facing German army in Nov 1918, even if HSF Manage to inflict heavy causalities on the GF it would not create any incentive for the allies to offer more favorable terms. The only way such a sortie could ameliorate the terms facing Germany would be if the HSF score a notable victory and remain sufficiently intact in the process to exploit the victory within a sort period, which seems highly unlikely both given the immediate odds, as well as the fact that all of Germany’s allies have dropped out of the way and the allies could mobilize even greater resource to contain the HSF than just a month or two earlier. If the final Sortie does not result in such a victory, it could only harden ally resolve to even more decisively emasculate every aspect of german war making power.
so it seems far more likely the sortie would worsen Germany’s negotiating position than improve it.
statistics: Posted by Chuck731 — 11:31 PM - 1 day ago — Replies 3 — Views 73
