Since its outbreak, there had always been political opposition to the war in Germany. In the summer of 1917, the first signs of trouble in the Navy appeared. Ostensibly, it was about poor food. The establishment of Food committees, however, became the basis for revolutionary councils. In July, on the Prinzregent Luitpold, orders to weigh anchor were not only ignored, stokers extinguished her bunker fires. Then, 47 stokers walked off the ship when they were told that their film had been cancelled. Eleven were arrested. The long-present resentment of the lower deck was easily whipped up and the next day, 1 August, more than 400 sailors went ashore to demonstrate. The situation was escalating. Now, 75 were arrested.
Reichspietsch_KöbesTwo were identified as ringleaders and executed by firing squad: the 23-year-old Max Reichpietsch and the 25-year-old Albin Köbis. Others were sentenced to 15 years imprisonment.
