 During the night of 4/5 May 1945, 47 U-boats of the "Kriegsmarine" were scuttled in Gelting Bay by their crews in accordance with long-standing orders, known as Operation Regenbogen, in order to prevent them falling into the hands of their enemies, the Allies.This happened despite the order being revoked on the evening of 4 may by Grand Admiral Dönitz.Between 1 August 1965 and 30 June 1999 there was a ferry service between Faaborg, on Fyn in Denmark, and Germany, with ferry lines running across Gelting Bay to Gelting Mole.