THE ALTMARK

Abstract

This chapter discusses about the Altmark, an auxiliary vessel of the German warship Graf Spee. She flew the German official service flag (Reichsdienstflagge) and was on the German Naval List. On February 14, 1940 whilst homeward bound with 300 captured British merchant seamen, or Prisoners of War on board, the warship diverted course and entered neutral Norwegian territorial waters in order to escape capture by the British Royal Navy. The warship had steamed through territorial waters for 400 miles when, on February 16, whilst escorted by a Norwegian naval force, it was attacked and boarded by a British naval force and the prisoners were released. Earlier attempts by the British to stop the Altmark by force had been frustrated and a request to the Norwegian escort to sequestrate the warship and to release the prisoners had been rejected. The British protested against the conduct of the Norwegian authorities on the ground that it constituted a violation of Norway's duties with regard to the rules of neutrality in sea warfare.