Investigation of naval mutiny of 1917 (?) in Germany caused large commotion according to the Dutch newspaper Het Vaderland morning edition dated 24 January 1926

According to a tiding dated Berlin 23 January asked the representative of the Social Democrats Moses in the special commission appointed by the Reichstag to investigate the mutiny within the German navy in 1917 if the spokesman of the department of defence captain Canaris (1) identical was with the lieutenant Canaris involved as assessor in the trial against the murderers of Liebknecht. If so Moses considered this an offence of the commission and it would be impossible to work with Canaris. The latter however refused to answer the question with as result commotion from the left side and shouting terms like murderer. The chairman finally succeeded in restoring the peace. Two representatives suggested to deal with this question behind closed doors and which was decided to do so. The speech of Dittmann met a noisy reception from the Social Democrats. When Canaris rejected the blames from Dittmann in the direction of the naval chiefs were the Social Democrats furious. He wasn’t in the position to reject or criticize anything but had just to refute the facts if not correct. According to him could vice admiral Von Trotha (2) prove that the relation between the officers and sailors except for some exceptions was until the last moment excellent and reliable. The ringleaders responsible for the mutiny were to find within the relationship atmosphere of the independent Social Democrats. Bruninghausen of the party people protested against the manner of speaking by Dittmann dealing with the old army (=Imperial). They want just to serve their mother country. The meeting was further cancelled.

Notes

1. The later admiral Willem Franz Canaris (Aplerbeck 1 January 1887-executed 9 April 1945) became later head of the German military intelligence the Abwehr nd was involved in the resistance against Hitler. He was indeed member of the military court which handled the Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg suit.

2. This must be Adolf von Trotha (Koblenz 1 March 1868-Berlin 11 October 1940) misjudging what was going on board of the German High Seas fleet when he ordered to attack the British main fleet in October 1918. The result was a mutiny at Kiel. So the Dutch newspaper made a mistake by saying the mutiny was in 1917 instead of 3 November 1918.