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Scuttling the Navy August 29, 1943:

August 29, 1943
- the turning point

When German troops invaded the Naval Dockyard in the morning of August 29, 1943 orders were issued to scuttle the Danish Navy

The Royal Danish Navy succeeded in the scuttling of 32 vessels, while 1 Patrol Boat, 3 Minesweepers an 9 cutters managed to escape to neutral Swedish waters.

This days events echoed throughout the free world, and most certainly improved the image of the Danes amongst our allies.

German Guard at the Naval Dockyard after August 29, 1943.
In the background the burned-out floating workshop HENRIK GERNER
and the scuttled submarines HAVHESTEN and BELLONA
(Photo: Royal Danish Naval Museum)

By Søren Nørby, arts student

When at 0400 hrs. on the morning of August 29, 1943 the Germans attacked the Danish Naval Base at the Royal Dockyard (Holmen) in Copenhagen, it proved impossible for the Danish ships to leave the harbor.

German guns placed around the harbor controlled the only exit, and the signal to scuttle the fleet was given.

The Order to scuttle the Navy is issued

At 0408 the signal K N U was dispatch to all units, authorizing the planned scuttling of the Navy.

This signal also reached some of the few vessels stationed outside Copenhagen.

The first scuttling charge was blown at 0413 and the last one went off at 0435. By then most of the naval units at Copenhagen had been sunk or torched.

The heavy explosions could be heard all over Copenhagen.

Click here for a map of the Royal Dockyards showing the location of the scuttled units.

Of the fifty-two vessels in the Danish Navy on the 29th of august, two were in Greenland, thirty-two were scuttled, four reached Sweden and fourteen were taken undamaged by the Germans.

Major parts of the Naval Officers and personnel were temporally interned
in the "KB-Hallen" (a large sports arena) at Frederiksberg.
(Photo: Royal Danish Naval Museum)

Nine Danish sailors lost their lives and ten were wounded. Subsequently major parts of the Naval personnel were interned for a period.

International Recognition

Just after, on the evening of August 29, the Supreme Commander of the German Naval Forces in Denmark addressed Vice Admiral Vedel, the Commander in Chief of the Royal Danish Navy, as follows "Wir haben beide unsere Pflicht getan" (We have both done our duty).

This can only be recognized as a compliment from the German Commander.

The scuttling made headlines in most of the free world, and the incident greatly improved the allies view of Denmark.

The respected newspaper, the NEW YORK TIMES, brought the event on its front page on August 30, 1943.

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Two Cost Defense ships:

NIELS IUEL - Scuttled in Isefjorden by its own crew when damaged by German air attacks while trying to escape to Sweden.
PEDER SKRAM *) - Scuttled at the Royal Dockyard.

Ten torpedo boats:
HVALROSSEN, MAKRELEN, SÆLEN and NORDKAPEREN - All scuttled at the Royal Dockyard.
HAJEN - Taken by the Germans at Korsør.
HAVKATTEN (in the Sound) - Escaped to Sweden.
HAVØRNEN - Beached and blown up at "Stammenakke" by its crew.
NARHVALEN (in overhaul at the Royal Dockyard)(*) - Taken by the Germans.
NAJADEN *) and NYMFEN *) - Under construction at the Royal Dockyard. Taken by the Germans, but not completed.

Seven Minelayers/Mine ships:

LINDORMEN, LOSSEN *), LOUGEN, LAALAND, SIXTUS *) and KVINTUS *) - All scuttled at the Royal Dockyard.
Dampbaad A - Scuttled in Lunkebugten off Taasinge

Twelve Submarines:

ROTA, BELLONA *), FLORA *), DAPHNE, DRYADEN *), HAVMANDEN, HAVFRUEN *), HAVKALEN, and HAVHESTEN - All scuttled at the Royal Dockyard.
RAN *), TRITON *) and GALATHEA *). (all decommissioned) - Taken but not used by the Germans.

Two floating workshops:

HENRIK GERNER - Torched and scuttled at the Royal Dockyard.
GRØNSUND - Taken by the Germans.

Five Ocean Patrol Vessels:

INGOLF - Taken at sea in the "Store Bælt" (Great Belt) by the Germans.
BESKYTTEREN *) and ISLANDS FALK *) - Taken by the Germans at the Royal Dockyard.
HVIDBJØRNEN - Scuttled in the "Store Bælt" (Great Belt).
MAAGEN - In Greenland.

Seventeen Minesweepers:

SØHUNDEN *), SØULVEN, SØBJØRNEN,  MS 10, MS 8 and MS 4. - Scuttled at the Royal Dockyard.
MS 1 (Sorte Sara), MS 7 and MS 9 - Escaped to Sweden.
MS 3 - Conquered at sea in the Bay of Køge.
MS 5 og MS 6 - Conquered in Nyborg.
SØLØVEN, SØRIDDEREN and SPRINGEREN - Taken by the Germans at Korsør.
SØEHESTEN and MS 2 - Taken by the Germans at Kalundborg.

Three Survey Ships:

HEJMDAL *) - Partly destroyed at the Royal Dockyard.
FREJA *) - Taken by the Germans at the Royal Dockyard.
TERNEN - In Greenland (Nuuk).

Other Vessels:

Royal Yacht DANNEBROG - Property of the King - not violated by the Germans.
SKAGERAK *) - Taken by the Germans at the Royal Dockyard.
HEKLA and FYEN (Station vessel) - Taken by the Germans.
SLEIPNER - Taken by the Germans.
Dampbåd A - Scuttled at Lunkebugten near Taasinge.

Of the fifty-nine patrol-cutters only nine made it to Sweden. The rest were taken by the Germans.

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This page was last updated: January 7, 2003

This page was first published: October 20, 2002

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