military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) (12/15/89)
From: military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) Sunday, 17 December, 1939 Captain Hans Langsdorff sails the Admiral Graf Spee out of Montevideo harbor, transfers its skeleton crew into boats, and from a lauch, electrically detonates demolition charges in the ship's magazines. Her wreck burns for a week. The ship's crew boards the German steamer Tacoma which takes them to Buenas Aires, Argentina, where they are interned. The Graf Spee has been credited with 50,000 merchant tons sunk. German aircraft bomb and strafe small fishing trawlers in the North Sea, and coastal vessels, sinking three. Members of the British Commonwealth sign an agreement to improve their airpower. A center for pilot training will be established in Canada, and that nation will provide the bulk of the pilot trainees. References: C.Argyle, _Chronology of World War II_ J. Piekalkiewicz, _Tank War 1939-1940_ R.Dupuy and T.Dupuy, _The Encyclopedia of Military History_ C.Salmaggi and A.Pallavisini, _2194 Days of War_ C.Messenger, _Atlas of World War Two_ The New York Times, daily editions Time magazine Newsweek -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Bill Thacker military@cbnews.att.com Send submissions for "50 Years Ago" to military-request@att.att.com "The Admiral Graf Spee has fulfilled her duty in an exemplary manner. She has proved the worth of our armored ships and her special qualifications for disrupting the overseas trade routes." - German press report