Don't know the name of the German merchant vessel. Last survivor of German battelship Graf Spee dies in Montevideo
Interned until 1946 some chose to stay .Some escaped including one who returned to duty and was killed on Bismarck ? Lots of questions and informative answers on this here;- MaritimeQuest - Admiral Graf Spee Message Board Messages 1 through 24 Kyle ( Edited ...interred to interned although I doubt it will be my last typo )
GRAF SPEE'S CREW. INTERNMENT IN ARGENTINA. Commander's Story. NEW YORK, Dec. 19. (A.A.P.) The Argentine Government has decided to intern the officers and ratings of the German "pocket" battleship Admiral Graf Spee (scuttled off Montevideo on Sunday), who landed at Buenos Aires yester- day. The few Germans who returned to Montevideo after the scuttling of the warship have already been interned by the Uruguayan Government. GRAF SPEE'S CREW. - INTERNMENT IN ARGENTINA. Commander's Story. NEW YORK, Dec. 19. (A.A.P.) - The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) - 20 Dec 1939 Pasted from the forum It appears that the internees were given the choice of returning to Germany or assisting the large Nazi espionage network in Argentina. About half did return, mainly through the Andes to Chile with assistance from the espionage organisation. After a period of internment on an island in the Rio Uruguay, the remainder were allowed to settle in Cordoba province, officers at Cumbrecita, NCOs and men at Villa Belgrano, these being modern thriving communities of Argentine-Germans (Oktober Bierfest recommended if you visit). In 1952 three crew members, Dettelmann, Schultz and another whose name I forget gave evidence to CEANA, the official Argentine committee of enquiry into Nazi Activities in Argentina, that on the night of 27 July 1945 they assisted unloading a U-boat near Necochea, Buenos Aires Province. This assertion appears supported by Argentine police files. An officer from this U-boat allegedly bought a villa at Ascochinga in Cordoba province in 1952 according to the Argentine police and Catastro (land registry). The Nazi espionage network operated through a trading organisation known as Lahusen Cia. Interned crew from Graf Spee - Axis History Forum
Paul Ascher was the officer who returned to Germany and was killed on the Bismarck. Those that returned to Germany were back home in 1940/41. I have a Soldbuch (plus passport and other bits & bobs) issued in June 1941 in my collection for one of the senior officers on Graf Spee who returned back to Germany. The EK II (Iron Cross 2nd Class) dated for 1939 and the Flottenkreigabzeichen (High Seas Fleet Badge) dated for 1942 were both for the war cruise of Graf Spee. He was the 3rd Artillery Officer and was in charge of the secondary armament of 150mm guns (15 cm L/55 C28). Paul Ascher was the 1st Artillery Officer and was in charge of the main gun batteries.
My youngest son, who has a penchant for out of the way vacation destinations, is in Montevideo today. Still many signs of the Graf Spee.
It is usual to respond to those that take the trouble to answer a question. A courtesy thank you for their time and effort does not come amiss. Tim
Good pictures. When I was in Montevideo in the late 60s and again in mid 70s you could still see a lot of the Graf Spee. I understand from https://wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?16222 that it is now sinking into the mud and slowly disappearing. Tim
That's a good site Tim. Note the installation of Man diesels,the prime mover that the Kreigsmarine went to war with on the surface and underwater. Digressing .....A Man diesel as installed on U Boats was used at Obersalzberg, high above Hitler's Berghof for the equipment installed for Kelsteinhaus...(Eagle's Nest)...probably as the emergency generator drive.