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JUTLAND
By spring 1916, Germany's fleet had been tied up in Wilhelmshaven for 18 months, forbidden to engage the larger British fleet in combat. However, as Britain tightened her blockade of the North Sea, the Germany navy came under increasing pressure to contribute to the war effort. Sarcastic graffiti started appearing on dockyard walls - for instance:
'Dear Fatherland, you may rest assured; the fleet's in harbour - safely moored'
Finally, in May 1916, Germany's fleet received permission to engage its British counterpart in action, and slipped out of port on 31 May in search of its rivals. However, the British Admiralty was already aware of this move thanks to the work of the Room 40 codebreakers. As a result, the Royal Navy was on its way to intercept the German fleet three hours before it had even left port.
Having an intelligence advantage did not guarantee a British victory at Jutland. However, it robbed the Germans of the element of surprise and allowed the Royal Navy to meet them in strength at a time and place of the RN's choosing.
In narrow mathematical terms, Jutland must be regarded as a German victory, for the British lost more ships and men, but it was the German fleet that turned tail and remained in port for the rest of the war.
The Allied blockade remained in place, and German and Austro-Hungarian civilians continued to starve. Britain ruled the North Sea without interruption - and the Room 40 cryptographers played a major role in securing this.
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