Admiral Graf Spee
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Admiral
Graf Spee was a Deutchland class panzerschiff built by
Rechmarinewerft in Wilhelmshaven. She was launched in June
1934, and was commissioned in January 1936. During the
Spanish Civil War she did five "non-intervention" patrols,
and at the outbreak of world war two she was in the South
Atlantic to attack the Allied shipping. Between September
and December 1939 she sunk a total of nine ships.
13.December she fought against three British cruisers at
the battle of River Plate. HMS Exeter was badly damaged and had
to return to base, but also Graf Spee took damage during
the battle and her fuel system was crippled. They were
forced to seek harbor in Montevideo in neutral Uruguay,
closely shadowed by the remaining British cruisers.
Kapitän zur see Hans Langsdorrf believed a large British
force was on its way to meet him when they had to leave
harbor, and with much of the ammunition already spent he
decided to scuttle her. 17.December 1939 she was scuttled
right outside the harbor, and three days later Langsdorrf
took his own life. The wreck was partly salvaged in 1942
and1943, and in 2006 and 2007 the swastika, artillery
rangefinder and one of the cannons was raised from the
deep. The remains rest today on a depth of 20 meter.
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Picture: Admiral Graf Spee Courtesy of World War Photos Last updated: January 2021
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