This is a detailed and fascinating account not only of the battle itself, in which the german commerce raider admiral graf spee was critically damaged by a squadron of british cruisers at the start of ww2, but of the events leading up to it. The hunt for the german pocket battleship graf spree paperback. A compilation of documents and photos with details of the famous ww2 navel sea engagement, battle of the river plate, december 1939. About the book a compilation of documents and photos with details of the famous ww2 navel sea engagement, battle of the river plate, december 1939. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Over the years ive read every book on the battle, i think. Feb 21, 20 the battle of the river plate must be one of the best known naval engagements of the 20th century. The dramatic sea fight between the german pocket battleship admiral graf spee and the british cruisers exeter, ajax and achilles off the coast of south america caught the imagination in december 1939. Pursuit of the graf spee in the united states is a 1956 british war film in technicolor and vistavision by the writerdirectorproducer team of michael powell and emeric pressburger. Achilles role in the battle was a special source of pride for new zealanders, who welcomed the ships crew home at huge parades in. The hunt for the german pocket battleship graf spee. Mar 20, 2008 the battle of the river plate was the first major naval confrontation of the second world war, and it is one of the most famous.
Aug 17, 2015 the battle of the river plate was the first naval battle of world war ii and the only battle of world war ii to take place in south america or its waters. The hunt for the german pocket battleship graf spee by dudley pope. The battle of the river plate 1956 battle scene pt2 youtube. The battle was inconclusive but the graf spee made a run for a. River plate battle diagrams book nzhistory, new zealand. Learn about the events that took place in the battle of the river plate, including ships details, british and german strategy, the aftermath and new zealanders. The battle was the first major naval confrontation between the royal navy and the german fleet of world war two. The battle of the river plate while the reader should know from the start that this classic of historical drama is not to be taken as an academic reference, it is still a little jarring to observe how later knowledge has it seems removed some of the mysteries in this famous ww2 naval encounter. The battle of the river plate was fought in the south atlantic on december 1939 as the first naval battle of the second world war. Buy the battle of the river plate 2nd revised edition by pope, dudley isbn.
River plate battle diagrams book booklet showing detailed battle diagrams from the battle of the river plate. It is a tactical level individual ships level simulation, containing the rules and components simulating the historic battle of the river plate fought in december, 1939, between the german pocket battleship graf spee, and three royal navy cruisers. Drama graf spee battle plate, first edition abebooks. The battle of the river plate, the hunt for the german. This tale of the battle of the river plate follows the. This compelling new study of the battle of the river plate concentrates on kapitn zur see hans langsdorff, the commander of the german pocket battleship graf. The battle of the river plate original title not rated 1h 59min action, adventure, drama november 1957 usa in the first major naval battle of world war ii, the british navy must find and destroy a powerful german warship. The dramatic sea fight between german pocket battleship admiral graf spee and the british cruisers exeter, ajax and achilles off the. The battle of the river plate, poster, us poster art, top left. Three smaller british cruisers closed in on a german warship which, so hitler had boasted, could outsail any ship powerful enough to damage her, and outgun any ship able to keep up with her an invincible ship. Annapolis, united states naval institute, 1972 ocolc655031276. The film stars john gregson, anthony quayle, and peter finch. The battle of the river plate by dudley pope waterstones.
A terrible battle was fought that day off the coast of south america, a naval encounter in the finest nelson tradition and true to that tradition, victory went to the men with the finest armament of all, courage. Global maritime history battle of the river plate part iii. Summary of two lectures given by sir eugen millington drake, k. It details in a reasonable amount of detail the story of the graf spee, from her departure from nazi germany in 1939, to her eventual demise in the river plate in uruguay in december of that year. This tale of the battle of the river plate follows the machinations of the german war machine as kapitan zur see hans langsdorff commands the pocket battleship graf.
This tale of the battle of the river plate follows the machinations of the german war machine as kapitan zur see hans langsdorff commands the pocket battleship graf spee on a mission to cripple british shipping. Two minutes later a dramatic signal was sent from the british cruiser i think it is a pocket battleship. A grand delusion campaign chronicles richard woodman. The kriegsmarine heavy cruiser admiral graf spee, commanded by captain hans langsdorff, engaged a royal navy squadron, commanded by commodore henry harwood, comprising the cruisers hms ajax, hms achilles and hms exeter. He fully appreciates that the film is of a sort that transposes reality. The battle of the river plate reconsidered as want to read. The graf spee was one of three deutschland class pocket battleships built by the germans in the interwar period to get around treaty restrictions imposed after world war i. British minister at montevideo at the time of the battle of the river plate.
This book is a nice description of the battle, but it loses a bit in the interpretation of the issues. It details in a reasonable amount of detail the story of the graf spee, from her departure from nazi germany in 1939, to her eventual demise in the river plate. At dawn on december 1939, smoke was seen on the horizon. A distinguished british maritime writer, woodman offer. The dramatic sea fight between german pocket battleship admiral graf spee and the british cruisers exeter, ajax and achilles off the coast of south america caught the imagination in december 1939. A grand delusion, isnt the first book ive read about the battle but it is probably the best, so far. An outgunned force of 3 british cruisers engaged the graf spee in the battle of the plate.
The author tips a nod to the wellknown eponymous movie of the battle of the river plate that used the uss salem as the graf spee and two real ships from the battle, the former hmnzs achilles and the elderly hms cumberland. A detailed account and analysis of the battle of the river plate, which took place between h. A compilation of documents and photos with details of the famous ww2 sea engagement, battle of the river plate, december 1939. The book was written in the 1950s, and sadly for this book, some more detail has become public knowledge since its publication. Langsdorff and the battle of the river plate by david miller.
The first five chapters of my novel, an honorable german, gcphachette 2009 take place on the graf spee and include the battle of the rio plata. This battlegame book is a 42page book containing a ww2 tactical naval game for 2 players, using simplified battleship captain system, with full rules, river plate, denmark strait, merselkebir scenarios, 20 rated warships bb, bc, ca, cl at 14500 scale. Buy battle of the river plate reprint by pope, dudley isbn. River plate battle diagrams book nzhistory, new zealand history. Through a combination of incredible luck and sheer bravery, the british defeat the graf spee in the final days of 1939. Flip book showing battle diagrams from the battle of the river plate. Dudley pope, author of many books, both fiction and nonfiction, has written another excellent nautical story. The hunt for the german pocket battleship graf spee kindle edition by pope, dudley. This book was originally written in 1957, 18 years after the battle described, but it is too close to the battle. Achilles and the german pocket battleship, the admiral graf spee, on december 1939. There have been plenty of books about the battle, but this one focuses on her captain, hans langsdorff, portrayed by the author, david miller, as a decent, honourable and compassionate man and a professional naval officer. It was distributed worldwide by rank film distributors ltd. Graf spee had sailed into the south atlantic in august 1939, before the war began, and had begun commerce raiding after receiving appropriate auth. There have been a number of books and articles published about the battle of the river plate on december 1939, the first major naval action of the second world war.
Jan 01, 2005 in the estuary of the river plate along the southeast coast of south america, the final battle is joined. This book was originally written in 1957, 18 years after the battle described, but it is too close to the battle to understand langsdorffs position as a ship that, if found, would likely be chased down. The graf spee was a pocket battleship that attacked merchant ships in the south atlantic and off madagascar in 1939. If your idea of the battle of the river plate is based on peter finchs portrayal of captain karls langsdorf, commander of admiral graf spee in the classic movie then this book has plenty to offer. A distinguished british maritime writer, woodman offers a compelling reassessment of the british and german planning that led to the first and one of the most famous naval battles of world war ii. From left to right, millicent wolf, anthony hulme and will fyffe appear in for freedom, a gainsborough film which also stars some of the crews.
The battle of the river plate national museum of the royal new. The battle of the river plate photos and premium high. A terrible battle was fought that day off the coast of south america, a naval encounter in the finest nelson tradition and true to that tradition, victory went to the men. Battlegame book is a 42page book containing a ww2 tactical naval game for 2 players, using simplified battleship captain system, with full rules, river plate. The hunt for the german pocket battleship graf spree. With john gregson, anthony quayle, ian hunter, jack gwillim. The official dispatch summary extract from lectures presented by sir eugen millington drake, k. On the plus side, the author does present some interesting viewpoints and a few new tidbits of information and his narrative is coherent and well organized.
Achilles role in the battle was a special source of pride for new zealanders, who welcomed the ships crew home at huge parades in auckland and wellington in early 1940. Battle of the river plate by pat fogwill free books online. This edition will be presented with an appendix containing the official despatch detailing the battle of the river plate. The battle of the river plate 9780870210181 by pope, dudley and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. The hunt for the german pocket battleship graf spee by pope, dudley isbn. So began the battle of the river plate, story which has its duplicates in british naval history, but which nevertheless brought pride. Una antologia documental en orden chronologico 191464 the drama of the graf spee and the battle of the river plate.
The hunt for the german pocket battleship graf spee by dudley pope 2005, trade paperback at the best online prices at ebay. Pdf battle at the river download full ebooks for free. The battle of the river plate was the first major naval confrontation of the second world war, and it is one of the most famous. The contents of this book are extracts from the following sources. This is an indispensable book for anyone wanting to know more about the before, during and after the battle of the river plate, the naval tactics that. This compelling new study of the battle of the river plate concentrates on kapitn zur see hans langsdorff, the commander of the german pocket battleship graf spee it is written from his point of view. In the first major naval battle of world war ii, the british navy must find and destroy a. This tale of the battle of the river plate follows the machinations of the german war machine as kapitan zur see hans langsdorff commands the pocket. Overview the battle of the river plate was the first major naval confrontation of the second world war, and it is one of the most famous. In 1980 when i first started reseraching my novel i corresponded with the senior navigaation officer of the graf spee.
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