The Battle of Jutland, which took place on 31st May 1916, is unique in that it was the only major engagement between the British Grand Fleet, under Admiral John Jellicoe, and the German High Seas Fleet during the First World War. Taking into consideration the size of the opposing fleets, the massive power of the guns and the fact that - as famously remarked by Churchill at the time - Admiral Jellicoe was "the only Commander on either side capable of losing the War in a single afternoon", it ranks among the greatest battles in history. This truth is not generally appreciated because the German fleet managed to return to the safety of their harbor during the night and the battle was not fought to the decisive conclusion which would have clearly demonstrated it.

From the German viewpoint the battle was a success, and the British Admiralty's announcement of heavy losses was accepted by the Germans as confirmation of their claim to victory. At last the High Seas Fleet, commanded by Admiral Scheer, had been put into action and the people of Germany were filled with pride for their Navy. This also strengthened the German government at a critical period in the war and had an important effect on morale.

However, despite the British losses, in reality the battle was indecisive and had no marked effect on the naval and military situation. The British Navy still dominated the Seas, while the Germans continued their control of the Baltic and home coastal waters. Great Britain still enjoyed the benefits of open sea communications leading to all parts of the world, while Germany was restricted to a confined area embracing only the North European neutral countries.

Due to its continued dominance of the Seas, the British Admiralty held the narrow view that it already enjoyed all the benefits which could have been derived from a Jutland victory. The British Grand Fleet may have lost fourteen ships and over six thousand men that fateful afternoon in the North Sea but Admiral Jellicoe reported twenty four battleships ready for action the very next day. The German navy on the other hand, with fewer losses, did not put to sea again for the remainder of the war.

However, the very existence of the German High Seas Fleet remained a menace even while docked within its fortified harbor. If Jellicoe had managed to re-engage the German fleet before it reached the safety of Wilhelmshaven, the destruction of the German High Sea Fleet at Jutland would have produced a change of far-reaching significance in the war situation.

With the German battle fleet eliminated, the German mine fields out of range of heavy guns ashore could have been swept up, while British mine fields could have been maintained and even advanced closer to the German harbors.

Another consequence of a decisive British victory at Jutland would have been to open Allied sea communications to Russia's Baltic ports. With Russia saved to the Allied cause and the German Baltic coast threatened with invasion, Germany would have been subjected to severe pressure. In addition, the removal of the threat of a German fleet would have allowed great numbers of workers engaged in British naval industries to transfer their manpower and considerable energy to army activities on the European mainland.

German submarines would, no doubt, have continued to harass military and merchant shipping but the removal of the High Seas Fleet's heavy gun support would have greatly reduced the effectiveness of the U-boat and for the most part they would have been kept busy guarding the German coast line.

Overall, it would not appear an exaggeration to say that the elimination of the German High Seas Fleet at the Battle of Jutland would have crushed Germany's hopes and brought an earlier end to World War I. It seems that Admiral Scheer too, was a "Commander capable of losing the war in a single afternoon".

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