Victim of Graf Spee / Altmark

[Maurice Laarman]

In ein 'Scrapbook', das Erinnerungsbuch einer Pastor der 'Mission to Seaman', (Seemannsmission ) aus 1938-40 sind viele Zeitungsberichten, Bilder und Briefe eingeklebt.  Später haben diese erwähnte Schiffe alles verschiedenes mitgemacht.

Ein Teil möchte ich hier zeigen, ein Weihnachtsgruss der Frachter SS Huntsman, sehr wahrscheinlich für die Jahreswende 1938/39. Wenn man damals gewusst hatte was alles noch passieren sollte.. Am 10 Oktober 1939 wurde das Schiff erbeutet durch die Graf Spee und später versenkt. Die Besatzung kam auf der Altmark, und wurde befreit durch die Royal Navy. Februar 1940 gab es dann in Hull wieder einige Festivitäten um die Rückkehr dieser Männer zu feiern.

Ein interessantes Teil der maritime Geschichte.

[Maurice Laarman]

Um es etwas interessanter zu machen, hier ein Bild und Teil der Text, welche ich benütze für ein Bericht in Britain at war magazine. Quelle ist das Buch von Heinrich Dau, Auf Sleichenwegen über die Meere, ein Buch was die meiste von uns haben, aber vielleicht wenig Betrachtung schenken. Jedoch erhalt es interessant Sachen. Wenn man die Bücher der Engländer über dieses Thema liest, ist das mit dem Propaganda dasselbe.

Captian Heinrich Dau later wrote his recollections in a book which appeared in Germany first, later in the occupied Netherlands as well. It's title was Unentdeckt über die Meere', Die Fahrt der Altmark. (undiscovered across the oceans)

On October 17 the Huntsman and Altmark meet to transfer prisoners. The Germans were eager to see their new passangers, because they were under the impression that Ziegfield girls would be among them. These were dancers in, at that time, famous Broadway revue.  A officer puts his tie straight and mentions, well let's have a look at these girls. When the first boat arrives the enthusiasm of the crew is a bit tempered. Instead of nice looking American girls, Lascars, inhabitants from India, board Altmark.  They are described as skinny, colourfull dressed and shy. It is mentioned that the German crew had no problems with them, and hence they were allowed more liberty as the English seaman. The traffic with little boats between Huntsman and Altmark continues, untill all prisoners and stock has been transferred. The tapestries are put to good use on the floors in the hold where the prisoners will reside. The German crew is very occupied to convert the cargoholds into large makeshift prisoncells, with furniture and beds being fabricated from timber. Huntsman first officer, Thompson, hands over the crewlist of his vessel. Further it's interesting to note how Dau describes the English seaman.

'These are pathetic men, those British seamen which we took on board. I can not imagine with the best intentions that a German crew ever made such a depressed impression. Cloths are torn, almost rags. With a few exceptions they are really not well fed, almost none of them, even the youngest, has healthy teeth. The ships doctor discovers with his first check that a number of them is covered with lice. They accept their fate with remarkable composure. None of them seems to care that they will become German POW's, instead of being a soldier in England. Silent, as they came, they leave as well and are escorted to their decks. Only the captain of the Huntsman, captain Brown, seems to have the expatation their stay on the Altmark will not be long. He says to me; I never think I will stay long on your ship. The English cruise the whole Atlantic Ocean and it will not take long and they will catch the Graf Spee and Altmark. I had my own thoughts about this, but did not feel the urge to tell them to Captain Brown. I shrug my shoulders and did not say a word. The Captain of the Ashly was appearantly upset that the Germans dared to take him, a British captain, prisoner. Angry and upset he did not care less to speak with any Altmark crewmember.'

Dau continues his story by saying that he separated the captains and officers from the other prisoners. Partly this was done to keep the ratings free of the influence from their captains.  But, as he wrote, this was not necessary as the officers did not care a lot about their crew. There was a large gap between them, caused by the difference in classes as can be seen more often in British shipping and England in general.

When everything is transferred from the Huntsman, around 18:00, Altmark's crew is ready on deck to see Huntsman's demise. A small boat sails around Huntsman and places explosives the outer hull, just below the waterline. Everyone who owns a photocamera is prepared to capture this historical moment. (quite a lot, as 48 of the 134 crewmembers had a camera) Dau manoeuvres the Altmark in a position favourable for the photographers, with the sun in their back. After the explosives went off the ship refused to sink. It would take until midnight to eventually go under. So, despite the many photo cameras there are no photos showing the Huntsman going under, only ones showing her slowly sinking.

From this moment on the Altmark would be the temporarily home for the crewmembers of the British merchantmen. The ship responsible for their situation, Graf Spee, sunk what would be her last victim the British freighter Streonshalh on December 7. After this the Graf Spee, who's final days are very well described in numerous publications, was scuttled in Montevideo's harbour on December 17 1939

[Maurice Laarman]

Einige Erweiterung, dankekarte von Churchill und signatures einige der befreite Gefangenen.

[Maurice Laarman]

und der letzte Zeitungsausschnitt.