After the Armistice in November 1918, the German High Seas Fleet was interned at Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands, the main fleet anchorage of the Royal Navy in both World Wars. Rather than let his ships fall into the hands of the Allies against the wishes of the German government however, their commander - Admiral von Reuter - ordered them to be scuttled. As a result, the entire fleet consisting of 11 battlships, 5 battle-cruisers, 8 light cruisers and 50 destroyers was sunk following a pre-arranged signal from the flagship at 10.00am. on 21 June 1919.