In the sketchbook a little ditty on how Kiel got its name. Apparently it hasn't to do with the keel of a boat, but comes from the old German name of fjord: kyle. A wedge of sea in the land. The ancient inhabitants could have imagined some god of the waters cut it out in a fit of rage or something. The Germans don't have such a deity, but the Danish do: Aegir, god of the sea and of beer (!).
But onward to more serious stuff.
I don't think Kiel is much of an insurgent place now, but it was at the Great War's ending. In fact the sailor's mutiny in the first week of November 1918 sparked a revolutionary wave that rolled southwards over Germany, straight down to Munich. And which led to the end of the German monarchy and establishment of the Weimar Republic.
With peace in sight the battle-tired soldiers of the German fleet got word of a 'letzte Endscheidungsschlacht' against the Royal Navy that was secretly planned by admirals Scheer and Von Trotha. Refusing to be senselessly sacrified mutiny broke out on several ships of the Third Squadron in Wilhelmshaven. It was soon smothered under force and the ringleaders arrested. After the squadron had sailed to Kiel their comrades demanded the release of the imprisoned and joined up with Kiel socialists and union workers in a demonstrative march to the military prison, November 3. Seven of them were killed and 29 severely injured when troops opened fire, an event which is regarded as a turning point. A general revolt broke out and worker and soldiers councils took over the town.
I have been looking around today of visible remnants of this significant piece of history, which fortunately is well documented.
First visit was the Nordfriedhof, where some of the victims of the revolt are buried. On the picture a sailor's grave, well embraced by a tree. The portrayed Karl Artelt was one of the central figures of the revoltion, he died in 1981.
Will be continued!
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