Translations:Revolution in Kiel/1/en
Otto Eckart was personally involved in one of the most important historic events in 20th century Germany. World War I had virtually come to an end in November 1918. The High Command had ordered to cease all combat operations with immediate effect. Nevertheless, the command of the Imperial German Navy planned to attack the superior British Navy so as to sabotage the newly established constitutional monarchy in Germany. The certain death of the 80,000 German sailors involved in this attack was willingly accepted. This resulted in the crews on several ships of the Imperial German Navy having refused to obey orders. Several hundred sailors were arrested and sent back to their home port Kiel. This action provoked unrest and riots, first in Kiel and soon all over Germany. November 3, 1918, is now considered to mark the beginning of the November Revolution in the German Empire. Otto Eckart gives the following account of this day in Kiel: