Heritage

Contentseducating towards a better future105global issues are always discussed at this level. Therefore, peace education attempts tomake children aware of the fact that their world does not stop at the borders of theirown town or country, and tries to increase their involvement in world events.Most local, national and international conflicts can be resolved democratically,through discussion and negotiation. Yet, in some situations, a debate fails to producea solution or results. In such a case, the fight for a better world must be supported byother non-violent means, such as strikes, letter-writing, boycotts, civil disobedience,demonstrations, public awareness campaigns or breaking off partnerships.The mutiny of KielThe ships Friedrich der Grosse, Helgoland and Thüringen, belonging to the GermanEmpire, were to take part in a final fleet action at the end of October 1918, just daysbefore the Armistice was to take effect. The bulk of the High Seas Fleet planned toleave their base in Wilhelmshaven and engage the British Grand Fleet. Grand AdmiralScheer wanted to inflict as much damage as possible on the British Navy to improveGermany’s bargaining position, despite the casualties that would result. Many of thewar-weary sailors though, felt that the operation would disrupt the peace process andprolong the war. They also did not want to die an unnecessary death. Nevertheless,on the morning of 29 October 1918, the order was given to sail from Wilhelmshaventhe following day.One of the marines recounted that on 28 October 1918, shortly before the end ofthe war on 11 November, Lieutenant Cdr. Rudloff stood up on the Thüringen with aglass of champagne in his hand and said, ‘We shall fire our last two thousand roundsat the English and then go down gloriously. To the death ride of the German fleet.’However, sailors looking down on him through the skylight into the wardroom haddifferent ideas.Beginning on the night of 29 October, sailors on several battleships, including theThüringen, mutinied. Stokers turned off the boilers and refused to work. The followingday, to intimidate the mutineers, torpedo boats B110 and B112 came along side,and the U-boat U-135 pointed her guns at the ship. A significant proportion of thecrew, 314 sailors and 124 stokers, were arrested and taken off the ship, but this was notenough to stop the mutiny, which quickly spread throughout the fleet and eventuallyled to the famous uprising in Kiel. The unrest ultimately forced the admirals Hipperand Scheer to cancel the final fleet action. Informed of the situation, the German Kai-