The Battle of the River Plate, fought on December 13, 1939, saw the German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee clashing with three British cruisers: HMS Ajax, HMS Achilles, and HMS Exeter. Despite severely damaging Exeter and causing significant damage to Ajax, Graf Spee herself sustained critical hits from the British cruisers' 6-inch and 8-inch shells. The damage included the destruction of vital systems such as the oil purification and desalination plants, and the galley, leaving the ship in a perilous state with severely depleted ammunition. Captain Hans Langsdorff, commanding the Graf Spee, was left with a difficult decision as the British cruisers patrolled the River Plate's mouth, waiting for an opportunity to engage her again.
Seeking refuge, Graf Spee entered the neutral port of Montevideo, Uruguay, on December 14, 1939. The ship dropped anchor in the early morning, and the crew immediately began repairs. The battle had taken a toll, with 37 crew members killed and 57 wounded. The damage was extensive, and Langsdorff, feeling the weight of responsibility, sought assistance from German representatives in Uruguay and Berlin.
The German naval attaché, along with civilian constructors and the German ambassador in Montevideo, Dr. Otto Langmann, boarded Graf Spee to assess the situation. Despite the exhaustion, Langsdorff outlined the ship's dire condition, emphasizing the urgency of repairs to make the vessel seaworthy. However, international law and pressure from the British and French governments imposed a strict time limit on how long Graf Spee could remain in Montevideo.
The British strategy was to create the illusion that a powerful naval force, including the battlecruiser HMS Renown and the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal, was waiting to intercept Graf Spee if she attempted to leave. In reality, the British ships were not in the area, but the deception aimed to force Langsdorff into making a hasty decision.
While Langsdorff and his crew attended the funerals of their fallen comrades in Montevideo on December 15, 1939, the mood in the city was somber. German sympathizers and local residents lined the streets to pay their respects. Langsdorff, in full uniform, delivered a funeral oration, reflecting the heavy toll the battle had taken on him and his crew.
Reports from the German embassy in Buenos Aires, coupled with sightings of British warships, further fueled Langsdorff's belief that a breakout attempt would be futile. The German high command debated the ship's fate, and ultimately, Langsdorff received instructions to either attempt a breakout or scuttle the ship to avoid internment.
As the deadline approached on December 17, 1939, Langsdorff faced mounting pressure. Despite his efforts to secure more time for repairs, the Uruguayan government, influenced by British and French pressure, adhered to the 72-hour limit. With only a narrow window of opportunity left, Langsdorff conferred with his officers and concluded that scuttling the Graf Spee was the only viable option to avoid unnecessary loss of life and prevent the ship from falling into enemy hands.
In a detailed letter to Langmann, Langsdorff explained his reasoning, citing the Hague Convention and the obstruction faced during repair efforts. He protested the Uruguayan government's decision, highlighting the risks to his crew's safety if the ship were to sail in its damaged state. Langsdorff's decision was driven by a sense of duty to his men and the acknowledgment of the insurmountable odds against them.
On the evening of December 17, 1939, with a skeleton crew aboard, Graf Spee was scuttled 6 nautical miles off Montevideo. The charges went off at 8:55 PM, and the ship sank, marking the end of her voyage. Three days later, overwhelmed by the weight of his decision and the responsibility he bore, Langsdorff took his own life, choosing to symbolically go down with his ship.
Intro 0:00
The first day 1:42
The Second Day and Funeral 5:53
The Third Day 8:30
The Letter 13:07
The Scuttling 18:41
Conclusion 23:25
Sources/Other Reading:
www.amazon.com/Pocket-Battles...
www.amazon.com/Big-Guns-Atlan...
www.amazon.com/Battle-River-P...
www.amazon.com/German-Fleet-W...
www.amazon.com/Gathering-Stor...
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