1940 The End of the Graf Spee I

British Newsreel. January 1, 1940. The Admiral Graf Spee was one of the most famous German naval warships of World War II, along with the Bismarck. Her size was limited to that of a cruiser by the Treaty of Versailles, however she was as heavily armed as a battleship due to innovative weight-saving techniques employed in her construction.She was sent to the Atlantic Ocean as a commerce raider in 1939, where she sank nine Allied merchant ships. Numerous British hunting groups were assigned to find her, with three British ships finally tracking her down in December 1939. The Battle of the River Plate ensued, during which the Graf Spee was damaged. She docked for repairs in the neutral port of Montevideo, but was forced by international law to leave within 72 hours. Faced with what he believed to be overwhelming odds, the captain scuttled his ship rather than risk the lives of his crew.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Pocket
• Battleship
• Admiral
• Graf
• Spee
• Kriegsmarine
• Royal
• Navy
• Battle
• River
• Plate
• Exeter
• Achilles
• Ajax
• Montevideo

[kajamix]

This was a propaganda film. The truth is that the British cleverly fooled the Germans into believing that an entire fleet was awaiting the Graf Spee outside the Montevideo bay. This was not so, but the Germans decided to scuttle rather than fight what they thought was a suicidal battle. The Uruguayan government's decision not to allow the Germans time to carry out some necessary repairs, played a role in that decision.

[runenwurf]

Kapitän zur See Hans Langsdorff took his own life with a pistol shot in the head and was found in his hotel chamber laying on the war flag of the ADMIRAL GRAF SPEE. He left a letter in which he gave his answer to the British propaganda:

"How a soldier of the German Reich knows to die for his fatherland..."

Wie ein Soldat des Deutschen Reiches für sein Vaterland zu sterben versteht.

In memory of this hero: May he rest in peace!

[gmansi]

@kajamix Prinz Eugen survive the war!

[gmansi]

@1965CAPTKIRK The Arado planes was destroyed on the battle before coming to Montevideo.

[gmansi]

@Zyworski "It is difficult to find a proper role for this ship, fast but not fast enough, heavy but not heavy enough." Nice point of view.

[Zyworski]

I have always liked the concept of the Graf Spee, but the 5 inch armor was insufficient to resist penetrating shells from a lowly treaty cruiser. If this ship ever tried to tangle with a full sized dreadnaught the outcome would never be in doubt. With a top speed of about 32 knots she could only barely outrun a battle cruiser and everything else could dog her down. It is difficult to find a proper role for this ship, fast but not fast enough, heavy but not heavy enough.

[Zyworski]

The earlier battle had done significant damage to the vessel and her seaworthiness was suspect, further her fuel system could not filter the fuel necessary to return home, so her fate was sealed.

The Graf Spee was of a unique design that would have served the US well in the Pacific campaign, plenty of deck space for AA would have given a ship like this staying power to park off an island and shell for days. I exaggerate the magazine would probably empty in a few hours.

[halogen0815]

I say only "look at the Hood" ;-)

[kajamix]

@1965CAPTKIRK The British navy sunk all except Admiral Sheer. The film "submarine" you saw was in reality Admiral Sheer's story.

[1965CAPTKIRK]

@kajamix No matter my British forebears would have sunk it anyway. like they did to all the other German Capital ships, Captain Langsdorff was no Nazi but a man who knew the game was up and put his crew first, the Graf Spee had arado Seaplanes so could have done a recon to see what British ships were in the area. yes they were fooled but it was only a matter of time.

[batalion666]

they had two arado and didnt use them