Battle of Jutland, 31 May-1 June 1916

The German surface fleet was little more than a bystander for much of WWI, subject as it was to the British North Sea blockade. But on the night of 31 May 1916, it ventured into the North Sea in force, hoping to engage the British Grand Fleet. In two separate clashes the German fleet inflicted the heavier casualties, but not decisively so and the German ships headed back to port.

The battle proved the potential of the German navy but did nothing to disrupt the blockade of Germany, which lasted until the end of the war and did so much to undermine the support for the war among the German people. After the battle, Scheer, one of the German admirals who had fought at Jutland, advised the Kaiser that victory would depend on using submarines against British shipping and trade.

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