SMS Emden (1909) - Guide 205

The SMS Emden, legendary raiding cruiser of the Imperial German Navy, is today's subject.
Read more about the ships here:
www.amazon.co.uk/Great-War-Sea-Naval-1914-1919/dp/184832183X
www.amazon.co.uk/GERMAN-WARSHIPS-1815-1945-Surface/dp/0851775330
www.amazon.co.uk/last-cruise-Emden-Edwin-Hoyt/dp/B0000CNGFN
www.amazon.co.uk/Battles-Penguin-Classic-Military-History/dp/0141390875
Naval photos and more - www.drachinifel.co.uk
Model ships of many periods - store.warlordgames.com?aff=21
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Next on the list:
-L-20e
-Abdiel class
-Panserskib (Armoured ship) Rolf Krake
-HMS Victoria
-HMS Charybdis
-Eidsvold class
-IJN “Special” DD's
-SMS Emden
-Ships of Battle of Campeche
-Tashkent-1934A Class
-HMS Plym (K271)
-Siegfried class
-HMS Caroline

[@Drachinifel]

Pinned post for Q&A :)

[@Thirdbase9]

Can you do a video covering the evolution/types of cruisers?

[@sovietdominion]

great war channel has a great video on the voyage of the emden

[@craighagenbruch3800]

ehrn a wreck is broken up does the company require origin countries permission?

[@stephen2567]

Last stand of the HMAS Yarra against Japanese cruisers

[@tilio9380]

Still waiting for that DD series Pt 3. : )

[@lukum55]

Emden and her raiding up and down the Indian and Sri Lankan coast also made a terrifying impression on the locals: Emden's name entered the Sinhala and Tamil languages as "Amdan" meaning "someone who is tough, manipulative and crafty" and in Malayalam the word "Emadan" means "a big and powerful thing".

[@Thetiersofmadness]

Wow!

That is also the reason why there is a modern german movie dealing with part of Emdens exploits, including the way back to Germany by part of the Crew. Because the director/producer was filming another movie in Sri Lanka and heard somebody say the Word. He then asked what it meant and what the story behind the use of that Word was. That how he learned about the story and later he made the film.

[@grafarco3717]

wm I guess he‘s talking about „Die Männer der Emden“ or „13.000 Kilometer“. (Sorry, I only know the german title)

[@guhalakshmiratan5566]

I can attest to this (I was born in and my family is from Madras (now called Chennai, in South India.) "Yemdan" or "Yamdan" was usually described akin to the "boogeyman" to disobeying young children or someone powerful and cunning.

[@nobodynotme4840]

Becoming part of a language has given the ship a near immortal legacy. As long as those languages survive, so does a bit of her history.

[@brotlowskyrgseg1018]

5:14 You just have to admire the audacity of having your warship repaired at an enemy port. That's a damn power move if I ever saw one.

[@weldonwin]

Certainly an Epic Flex for the ages

[@AtomicBabel]

Diego Garcia was a lonely place

[@llllib]

Can imagine what would happen if RN warship anchored after SMS Emden has left... "We need coal. And by the way, haven't you possibly seen german cruiser?" "You meen SMS Emden"? "Yes, so you have seen it or heard some rumors of it?" "Well, duh, she was docked here for over week, cleaning their engines and loading lot of coal. We even played music for them." "You have what?!?!?@_$@*_*!_$!@&)*&!@^~@#!)#$~!@&*$+_~!!!"

[@brotlowskyrgseg1018]

@@llllib Royal Navy captain: We are on a mission to pursue the cruiser SMS Emden, have you heard any news about her whereabouts? Harbour master: "Well, this is awkward."

[@llllib]

@@brotlowskyrgseg1018 I actually wonder, did Germans paid for all the coal they loaded, or have they told the British to reimburse it through standard diplomatic channels?

[@arthurfisher1857]

"Magical place, Tahiti.." I didn't know you had Level 7 clearance!

[@alexandermackie7621]

I saw what he did there

[@mattnw42]

Lol

[@davydovua]

Ironically, the last Emden to have served so far with German Navy was an F210-type frigate that became a quite successful and renowned anti-pirate fighter in the same waters where the original Emden has been happily pirating around.

[@razorburn645]

This time we are the fun police!

[@ModellingforAdvantage]

only 10 minutes on this infamous ship? Surely she deserves a feature length episode!

[@Drachinifel]

She'll get one eventually, but the Patreon vote also asked for her to get this months 5-minute picked slot :)

[@ModellingforAdvantage]

@@Drachinifel I'll look forward to it.

[@christophpoll784]

Infamous? Famous! And even for the british.

[@johnarmstrong3782]

Indeed. More please. I must re read the book...The last Gentleman of War or some such...

[@brotlowskyrgseg1018]

There's actually a two-part feature length film just about the landing party Emden left behind on the Cocus Islands prior to her sinking, and their long and perilous voyage back to Germany (a large portion of which was performed on a frail, old schooner without navigational charts). Not even her sinking prevented the Emden's crew from making film-worthy history. The movie title is "Die Männer der Emden" btw. It's pretty good, but I don't know if there's an english dub of it.

[@Big_E_Soul_Fragment]

Didn't join Admiral Von Spee's wild ride but had her own wild ride

[@Nonsense010688]

@Chris_Wooden_Eye she was probably the best "deal" the german imperial navy got of all of its warships. I mean seriously: which ship did more, in relationship of its size and cost, then the SMS Emden?

[@moritamikamikara3879]

I want to get off Mr Bones' wild ride

[@whateverthisis389]

oh hi Lisa

[@user-ol5lw3md3h]

@@Nonsense010688 Goeben and Breslau managed to get them the ottos, which, although they were kind of useless, were worth more than the few ships sunk.

[@RedXlV]

@@user-ol5lw3md3h If Goeben had failed to reach the Ottomans, we probably wouldn't even recognize the world that resulted. Such nations as Israel, Syria, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia likely wouldn't ever have existed. The Soviet Union might never have happened either, given that Allied victory in WW1 would've come significantly sooner. And the US never would've entered the war.

[@joshthomas-moore2656]

SMS Emden the last great, gentlemanly and occasionally cheeky pirate ship.

[@rudolfschrenk6171]

You forgot the Seeadler in 1917.

[@robertf3479]

You can't really classify the Emden as a 'pirate' as she was seeking and taking legitimate 'war prizes' under the 'Prize Laws' of the era. With the exception of the 'neutral' merchant she stopped, searched and released Captain Muller and his ship only seized ships belonging to Germany's declared enemies.

[@joshthomas-moore2656]

@@robertf3479 I know Pirate isn't the correct world its just the closest i could come up with

[@lewisirwin5363]

@@rudolfschrenk6171 And the Orion in the next war!

[@clasicer]

the 6th Emden for the german navy is currently under construction and she will carrie the iron cross in memory of the first Emden

[@AtomicBabel]

And the radio station crew greeted the raiding party with a congratulations for said Iron Cross. An honor which no one on Emden knew about.

[@535phobos]

It makes me happy to hear the the Navy is still honouring that tradition.

[@abrahamdozer6273]

Let's hope that she is luckier.

[@Maddog3060]

The attack on Penang was an act of sheer ballsyness.

[@hansvonmannschaft9062]

Indeed. It could be classified as a: "Solo-Yolo 1337 online gamer" move.

[@scottdrone-silvers5179]

One of the best sea stories ever. I never get tired of her adventures. Despite the amount of damage and disruption she and her crew caused, surely even the British and Australians must have admired her tenacity and seamanship.

[@robertf3479]

I think a number of them, especially the professional sailors and officers.

[@RedXlV]

Captain Müller went to great lengths to avoid civilian casualties. He also stopped to pick up the survivors of the French destroyer he sank at Penang, and let a captured British merchant ship go free so that it could carry the French sailors back home. Even though this meant the British ship could report his position.

[@MP-no8yy]

The East Asia Squadron Commander was scared of the RAN Battlecruiser HMAS Australia. Don't quote me but he said something along the lines that HMAS Australia could take on and sink the entire squadron by itself

[@douggallagher8809]

I can't believe you forgot to add in the bit that, when the HMAS Sydney was trying to locate the Emden, that the Sydney actually radioed on open channels, "Emden, where are you?". Don't know how true it was but still, it was one of the more outlandish stories of how elusive German raiders were

[@Ralph-yn3gr]

Not gonna lie, I'd have attacked another British naval base and then radioed "over here" in response.

[@larrytrail2865]

Yeah, that sounds like a perfectly British Humor response. When John Cleese was asked "Why does British food suck?" and his reply of "Well, we had an empire to run!" Hard to argue with that logic,,,,

[@77thTrombone]

@@larrytrail2865 - Meanwhile the Ottomans developed one of the world's great cuisines, and now the Turks are left with Erdoğan.

[@LukeBunyip]

@@larrytrail2865 *Cough* Australian humour *cough*

[@pendelbembel]

OHH WARRIORRRS; COME OUT TO PLAAHAAAYY

[@anantr99]

It is a tribute to Emden and Karl von Mueller, that in a number of South Indian languages today, the term 'Emden' refers to a person who undertakes a seemingly-impossible task and finishes it. Great video, as usual, Sir.

[@anantr99]

@Fluesterwitz The term is mostly used in Tamil and Malayalam languages. It is not a formal word as such but is a fairly common term that has come into use over the years.

[@ThePinkus]

I like the expressiveness of "Sir! We got a battlecruiser-problem!"

[@mortified776]

One of Emden's guns is in a park in Sydney near the Anzac memorial, and Sydney's foremast is preserved on a headland overlooking the harbour.

[@issacsmith3169]

There is also a gun from both Sydney and Emden in the Australian War Memorial

[@Colt45hatchback]

@@issacsmith3169 I clearly didn't spend enough time in the Australian war memorial. I had to rush through the non aircraft section, as I only had 3 hours to spend before heading back to Victoria, and I spent a solid 2 hours studying every inch of the zero and the bits of ki43, and the kubelwagen, apparently there's a Japanese midget submarine there too, I didn't see it, must have entirely missed a room I'd say. Do you know if the gun is in the same area as the sub?

[@alanhughes6753]

@@Colt45hatchback I saw it, oh muct have been 40 years ago on my first visit to Aus. AFAIK the submarine is outside - its basically one (or maybe bits of two) that attacked Sydney harbour during WW2.

[@alt7488]

@@alanhughes6753 it's 2 ...mark felton just did a series on the attack

[@kameron1290]

Ah yes, I think it’s near the entrance to Hyde Park from Oxford.

[@peterlovett5841]

My grandfather was on the convoy being escorted by HMAS Sydney and saw her detach to go and chase down the Emden. He spoke of the massive trail of smoke from the Sydney's funnels as she worked up to full speed.

[@jmk1798]

Emdem's story would make for a great movie. The little ship did very well for herself.

[@Gruoldfar]

I think there are 2.

[@cvproj]

@@Gruoldfar Wikipedia lists seven films, including one about the schooner voyage.

[@X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X]

One has to appreciate the story of cruisers, operating far from friendly ports. What a legendary ship.

[@Zarastro54]

Man, the Russians have the worst luck. Surviving the battle of Tsushima just to get ganked by a sneaky German cruiser later in a friendly port!

[@MrNebelschatten]

xD

[@christianm.9960]

One Note: some time after the war, the surviving members of the crew were honored by allowing them to add "-Emden" to their lastname. If you reed a double name like Schulz-Emden, the person will be most likely a member of the so called Emden-Family and a successor of a SMS Emden crew member.

[@klauba]

I met two people on different occasions with the -Emden addendum. When they introduced themselves by name I just looked at them for a quick age check and asked: "Your grandfather?". This they confirmed. Everybody else around us had no idea what these dialogues were about. Having served on Emden V I knew about the history. Took me a while to find the Iron Cross on board, though.

[@dietrichhohm9709]

​@@klaubak

[@henningdammann-emden]

My grandpa served on this ship. Hence my name. He survived the battle and was a POW for the rest of WWII on the the island of Malta. In WWII he was again with the Navy and became a POW one more time in 1944 in Marseille.

[@vespelian5769]

One of my favourite ships. Under Muller's command, the breif war career of this otherwise insignificant ship was one of the few romances of that terrible and prosaic war. The inevitable tragedy of her end signaling the end of her age, though the von Mucke landing party's escape through Arabia continued her legacy in adventures rivaling T. E. Lawrence in the process.

[@dreamingflurry2729]

Mücke - not Mucke! The Ü (basically a U with two dots on top) is an Umlaut (one of a few in German) ps: Yes, I am German and I have taken a severe dislike to non-native speakers butchering our language...so sorry for pointing this out, but I could not simply let this stand.

[@goranvujnovic597]

@@dreamingflurry2729 And we non natives have taken severe disliking to Germans strating world wars over their own insecurities,... so sorry for pointing this out, but quit your whining

[@kevinjohnbetts]

Now, now gentlemen. We all know how easily these things can escalate. 🖖

[@kevinjohnbetts]

@@dreamingflurry2729 In fairness the umlaut is a pain in the backside to access on an English language version of Windows, if it can be accessed at all. It's been years since I tried. It's rather like the grave on the e at the end of cliche - most of us know it should be there but it's not worth the hassle of scrolling through menus trying to find it.

[@mattbowden4996]

@@goranvujnovic597 You do know the Germans didn't start the first world war, right?

[@Wolfeson28]

5:47 "Do you see torpedo boats?" "No...much worse!"

[@Zaluskowsky]

*tosses Binoculars over board

[@corbfisher]

"NO! Not Boats. Just one very very large torpedo boat!"

[@johnphillips519]

I have a set of machetes made from the steel of the Emden, I can still smell the coconut oil used to preserve the blades today

[@scott_hunts]

Where might someone acquire such steel?

[@johnphillips519]

@@scott_hunts Not sure, you would have to enquire with the Malays on Cocos, I lived there back in the early 70's and by trading with the locals is how i got the knifes

[@rogerhwerner6997]

A valiant ship, crew and captain. They compiled a hell of a record considering the ship's modest size. She deserves to be honorably remembered

[@sueneilson896]

A good english language book on the sinking of the Emden is “ First Victory 1914” by Mike Carlton. Covers the start of the war and the situation in the Indian Ocean, from the Australian perspective.

[@hertzair1186]

There is a book about the Emden’s exploits...called “The Last Gentleman of War”...and a Revell model kit of it...I have both. Both my parents were from Emden, Germany.

[@Volnas97]

SMS Emden and KMS Graf Spee had pretty similar journey. Both were ships sent far away from home, both raided merchant ships and occasional armed ship, both had pretty chivalrous captain, who was technically a privateer and both never returned home.

[@jec1ny]

Karl Friedrich Max von Müller was one of the most legendary officers of the Great War. His exploits earned him both the Iron Cross 1st Class and the Pour le Mérite (Imperial Germany's highest military honor). His reputation for strict adherence to the rules of war being as careful as possible not to injure civilians earned him the grudging respect of the British. Unfortunately he suffered from chronic health issues after contracting malaria while on colonial duty in the 1890s and he died in 1923 at the relatively young age of 49.

[@davidbrennan660]

Hurrah for the comfort of a “Guide” on a Saturday during these strange times. Three cheers for Drach !

[@johnfisher9692]

Thanks Drach. As always an excellent video on a heroic ship and it's epic voyage. I have read accounts of people criticizing and mocking British efforts to find Emden but these 'people' obviously have forgotten this was in the days before Satellites, radar, long range aircraft. Even many older merchant ships did not carry radio and the only way to know a raider was operating was when ships failed to arrive. In those bygone days fining a single small ship in the vastness of the Pacific was a daunting task.

[@robertf3479]

I love Saturday mornings ... get to spend quality time with my wife, unhurried breakfast and a quality Drachinifel video. Life is good. Respects to Captain Muller and his crew. They undertook a difficult mission, knowing it would probably turn into a suicide mission and succeeded with panache.

[@sadwingsraging3044]

I can only imagine the screams coming from the offices of the First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth and any other Sea Lords there are, were, or ever has been as this ship, her crew, and her captain ran rings around several navies. Salute!

[@Jon651]

I remember reading a book on the Emden as a child and loving just how improbable and wild a tale it was! I can recall reading the descriptions of the crew and how they would wear their dress uniforms into battle because it was the cleanest clothing they had (not wanting filthy clothing driven into them with the shrapnel) and other bits like that that really personalized the ship's story. Thanks for bringing those memories back.

[@blueboats7530]

It always grabs my attention when seeing the photo of the Emden landing party with the two launches at the dock, and in the background is the schooner that's soon to become a hijack victim

[@ottovonbismarck2443]

German TV made a movie called "The Men of the Emden" some vears ago, which in fact was very good. Apart from her fighting career, the journey of her landing party across the Indian Ocean in a sailing boat, then through the Arabian desert while fighting the rebel tribes not only would make T.E. Lawrence proud. When they finally made it back home to Germany, they were all transfered to Berlin to meet His Majesty Kaiser Wilhelm II in person.

[@iansadler4309]

And were accorded the privilege of adding "Emden" to their surnames (hyphenated)

[@lucianene7741]

It stood little chance against the Sydney: 4" inch guns against 6", triple expansion engines against turbines, and no armor belt against 3". It was pretty much equivalent with a pre-dreadnought against a dreadnought.

[@Ellesmere888]

I highly recommend reading ''The Last Gentleman-Of-War: The Raider Exploits of the Cruiser Emden'' written by R K Lochner and published in 1988. The Emdem has a terrific story and the gallantry of her captain is something rarely seen today. He was admired by both the Germans and her enemies.

[@ibbi32]

Finally drach has made his promises true and blessed us with a video on the sms video after 1 year of waiting

[@inaz1963]

Anyone who wants to know the full story of the Emden should find the book 'The Last Cruise of the Emden'. The Great War channel also has an episode about the ships voyage that is truly excellent.

[@robbielee2148]

Best ship story evar, as saga continues for landing party!

[@UnintentionalSubmarine]

Now we just need a full length feature of Möwe, another of the rest of the WWI raiders, and a shorter one for the WWII raiders with focus on the more interesting bits like the Kormoran vs Sydney battle and Cornwall vs Pinguin (whose career was pretty interesting).

[@iansadler4309]

Reckon Seeadler is worth one of her own. Perhaps the last sailing vessel to serve in an active role in a major navy, or wasn't there a sailing Qship, or was it a sailing barge combining with an old sub?

[@UnintentionalSubmarine]

@@iansadler4309 Seeadler is indeed interesting for being a sailing vessel, however her active career was perhaps less spectacular compared to that. I would say a 5 minute guide should suffice. Also I forgot about Thor, which managed to outright sink one auxiliary cruiser, chase another off and damage a third enough to make a getaway. That's a pretty impressive feat considering she was outgunned and much smaller than all three.

[@kmech3rd]

I used to think I was too old for bedtime stories. Then I found this channel. Between Drach's wonderful British accent, understated humor, and the bite size chunks of tasty history, I find myself amused, calmed, and oddly enough, ready for a peaceful night's sleep. Definitely not bored, though. Bless you, sir. :)

[@warrenlehmkuhleii8472]

Oh, I say, those Germans are nice fellows. Sir, news just came in, we have been at war with the the German Empire for a while. Oh bother.

[@larrytrail2865]

It's kind of amazing over the past 200-ish years how Captains of ships have been restricted in their authority. In the Age of Sail the only Captain I'm aware of who was punished (with cause) for whipping a man to death was John Paul Jones. Then fast forward to the orders given to the Captain of the battleship Oregon- they were simply directions, with vague orders to "arrive when you can". It's been a few years since I read the orders but they were written for the 15,000-ish mile journey assuming there would be a major breakdown (going around the Horn, no Panama Canal). Then in the 1950's when the USS Nautilus (SSN-571) had a reactor leak on the primary system resulting very high- dangerous- chlorine levels. The Navy took the reactor apart, then pulled out their hair when they couldn't find the leak. Finally, Captain William R. Anderson (He died just a few years back- bummer, I wanted to meet him) got angry, called the engineering crew together and pulled out about $30 dollars out of his pocket and told them to purchase "Every can of "Barr's Leak" for car's radiator's in the Seattle area". Then dumped about 20 gallons into the primary coolant loop. If a Captain even CONSIDERED doing this now he'd be tied to the fairweather planes and probably flogged to death. Now the United States Navy has gotten so "Super Nuclear Conscious" that a Captain can't do jack squat to the reactor unless s/he's got direct permission from the reactor branch. Then every now and then you see Captain's relieved of command "due to lack of faith in their leadership ability". But the Captain of the Emden? I mean the guy showed great initiative for the time- Captain pulled stunts like that now? Well, those Cat-o-9 tails would get another workout.

[@koalastralia]

John Paul Jones was found innocent, when it was discovered that the guy died from yellow fever on another ship.

[@mattblom3990]

Emden's story is so...Joyful. Like a Golden Age of Hollywood raider story. Also, she's a lot of fun in World of Warships "pew, pew, pewpewpewpewpew".

[@VM-is8by]

In South India.. kerala...new word introduced "yemendan"...from Emden... which means ... something big/powerful/terrific

[@Boxghost102]

HMAS Sydney: WOOP WOOP, THAT'S THE SOUND OF THE FUN POLICE

[@peterblood50]

Loved the bit about the fate of the shore party. sounds like an epic story in itself.

[@fjz4289]

Cant wait for the story of the shore partv, my step-dad actually got to know (and play skat) with KaLeu von Mücke.

[@1977Yakko]

As for the crew who sailed back on a schooner, I can't help but think of the loyalist crew set adrift from HMS Bounty. Although the challenges in making it back home on a schooner vs. a mere small boat launch is a tad bit different but still impressive.

[@knowshistory8740]

It gets even better: The british left the schooner behind because they sabotaged the pumps. The Emden landing party realised that ony when they were at sea. Somehow, the managed to keep the schooner afloat until a german merchant picked them up. I think their story deserves a full legth episode here.

[@AtomicBabel]

@@knowshistory8740 and then it gets even better! Crossing the desert in a camel caravan. A circle the wagons fire fight against attacking tribesmen, epic stuff. Btw: the schooner Ayesha is in the upper right background at 7:10. Not small (

[@leeboy26]

@@knowshistory8740 Given that it was about to be dismantled and with rotten and leaking wood it's unlikely sabotage was the reason the stopcock seals were removed and bilge pumps were non functional. A few hefty kicks would have stopped any german escape plan.

[@AtomicBabel]

@@leeboy26 never underestimate the power of "Jerry" rigging 🙃

[@corypharr4572]

Nice S.H.I.E.L.D. reference on Tahiti

[@dmenace9827]

The masthead of HMAS Sydney is preserved on Bradley's Head in Sydney Harbour, and every RAN ship passes it when entering or leaving Sydney. I'd done an assignment on the battle in my high school history class and offered my silent thoughts for the men involved every time we went by.

[@russdority6295]

That mast is a tripod and was installed after the war.

[@pyronuke4768]

So Emden went to Penang and pulled a Kormoran twenty years before the actual Kormoran? You sirs have my respect.

[@mikereger1186]

Muller obviously had an influence on Langsdorff over twenty years later.

[@robertf3479]

Captain Muller would have had good company not only with Captain Langsdorff of Admiral Graf Spee, but also with Captain Bernhard Rogge of the raider Atlantis, what the British would have called an Armed Merchant Cruiser had she been in the Royal Navy.

[@pendelbembel]

Don't forget Theodor Detmers of the Kormoran. That guy just wanted to be a pirate, whatever the cost. Yarr harr, may Störtebecker smile upon thee.

[@secularbeast1751]

One of the Emden's guns is mounted in Hyde Park near the ANZAC War Memorial in Sydney.

[@comsubpac]

Germany is currently building a new one.

[@Dave_Sisson]

The Australians have just commissioned a new HMAS Sydney. It's a 6,300 ton destroyer that is the size of a small cruiser. I wonder if the new Emden and Sydney will want to have a rematch?

[@jasonirwin4631]

@@Dave_Sisson the last few rimpac wargames have featured a few European ships so if Germany is invited to the next one then it is possible if only as a training exercise. If Germany is building a new cruiser then one of the many german allies in that area may invite them. It would be pretty cool to see a new Sidney and a new Emden moored up along side each other in Tokyo bay or pearl harbor.

[@RedXlV]

@@Dave_Sisson The new Emden will be a 1,900 ton corvette. So probably not.

[@pendelbembel]

@@RedXlV That's not so far from the historical matchup

[@johnnichter5087]

The new KMS Emden video brought me back to this one again. There’s an excellent book called “The Last Cruise of the Emden” about this ship and the shores party’s return home.

[@bigblue6917]

Having read about both the voyage of the Emden and the escape of part of her crew then I would definitely say both events are worth a video each.

[@johnciccone]

Is there a book on the voyage of the was sent to destroy the radio station? If so does anyone know the title?

[@mikebrown3772]

@@johnciccone "The Last Gentleman of War" by R K Lochner details the full Emden story.

[@AtomicBabel]

@@johnciccone Swan of the East. Edwin Hoyt. Abridged from (and this also) The Last Cruise of the Emden, same author.

[@johnciccone]

@@mikebrown3772 THANKS!!!

[@johnciccone]

@@AtomicBabel THANKS, got it

[@strixaluco7423]

Drachinifel uploaded a new vid. Me seeing the name of my hometown, extra excitement kicks in.

[@model-man7802]

Battlecrusier shaped problems😂

[@hannesbaumann8509]

They actually made a film out of the epic voayage home you alluded to. 'Die Männer der Emden' - quite good, in my opinion.

[@robertmatch6550]

A fun listen...From Beginnen to Emden.

[@rossnelson8433]

There is a book called The Last Corsair which is a fantastic retelling of the Emden story. I believe there was a officer who was put onto one of the prize colliers in charge of its small prize crew, but later was surprised by the Royal Navy and captured and taken to Singapore (not before sabotaging the ships compass and causing the collier to go off course in Singapore harbour and block it when it ran aground). He then escaped from jail in Singapore after causing an indian mutiny and then went to the Dutch east indies, Phillipines (US territory) and Japan (allied territory!) and then via steamer to the west coast of the US (which was neutral), all the time sending post cards back to his old prison camp comandant. He then crossed the US by train whilst telling all and sundry he met the US should join the central powers. In NY he went to the german consulate, got some money and a danish steamer ticket and proceeded to cross the atlantic. He got through the RN blocade of the north sea by being so vommitingly drunk that noone inspected him or his cabin when the ship was searched. He arrived in denmark and caught a train home to Hamburg. THUS, the crew of the Emden went home, BOTH ways around the world!

[@ape3774]

Thay should make a film about the Emden, 10 mins is a good guide to her but the story is great and much much bigger. All respect to the crew that took on the world, Thay even got to use the ships name in there own as a reward.

[@ibbi32]

I believe they made a movie about the landing party but it's in german only i believe

[@Schlachti10]

@@ibbi32 They also (quite typically of German movies) turned it into a romance story. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jHy3c4Ssi7Z_mLM

[@alt7488]

@@ibbi32 there's another in english ... i think it's called the lost patrol

[@ape3774]

@@ibbi32 Any idea what its name is, I do speak a little german having lived there

[@kimbaldunsmore4633]

Couple of side notes on the Emden. One of her 4.1" guns is now a memorial on the corner of Park and College Streets in Sydney and an Emden-damaged piece of Sydney's ranging gear is at the front of the Royal Australian Naval College in Jervis Bay NSW (my naval alma mater). This damage, with three sailors killed, was a result of one of the very few hits on Sydney by Emden before Sydney withdrew out of range and picked the other ship to pieces. On a more personal note, my late grandmother seems to have been courted by one of the Emden's officers while he was a POW in Australia. Her father was the visiting dentist at the prison where he was being kept. l have a photo of him with a very nice annotation and a beautiful carved box he made and presented to her before he was repatriated to Germany in 1919.

[@torpedo8384]

You earned a thumbs up as usual. If I could, I’d give you a second, for the Agents of SHIELD reference!

[@thomaschurch6171]

"Magical place". Love the reference.

[@Spurkadurka]

Read the book "The Last Gentlemen of War" interesting career it had. I can see why the British were determined to not allow too many "emden raiders" to run rampant in WW2. Makes you wonder what it'd be like if the East Asia Squadron had more ships on raiding duties and if the German BCs were allowed to do raider warfare. Also interesting the ins and outs of being limited by coal supplies and the variety of quality in coal. At sea re-coaling operations all by hand must have been terrible.

[@michaelwest4325]

The journey of her landing party reminds me of the story of some SEALs left in the arctic who made it back to Norfolk, I believe it's still classified just how they did as I have never heard much more than the salty tale told as legend.

[@thomasgray4188]

What A Lovely Day! WHAT A LOVELY DAY!

[@falloutghoul1]

"That magical place, Tahiti."

[@Deevo037]

I don't know how true this is but one of the merchants Emden converted into a commerce raider was named the Kormoran. Ironic to say the least.

[@alt7488]

@Chris_Wooden_Eye the kormoran sunk the sydney 2 in late 1941 just off the west australian coast

[@AtomicBabel]

I think that it was the name of the coaler that detached w Emden.

[@AtomicBabel]

@@alt7488 another rhyme in history, cool .

[@ganooggonunderwood4480]

Thank you. Few photos of damaged Emden , I never seen before....

[@MrDino1953]

For some reason, I don’t associate Tahiti with coal, it just seems an unlikely place to refuel a cruiser.

[@RedRocket4000]

Yep. Just a place they dumped coal to be used. The short range of coal ships meant all sorts of places had it available and if you wanted cargo coming in an out you would have coal avalible.

[@trooperdgb9722]

Served on HMAS SYDNEY (IV) in the Gulf War in 1991. The ships "battle honours" of course included "Emden 1914". ( a very rare "single ship" honour) Prior to my joining the ship (just my luck) SYDNEY had done a "World Cruise" during which (and after exercising with the RN) she visited Germany. Unfortunately the German Navy didn't seem share the sense of occasion, and the then EMDEN of the Federal German Navy was NOT in harbour... what a shame.

[@truecerium4924]

Many thanks for this video. There are only few ships that have such an adventurous story as the Emden and her crew

[@randomuser1579]

The emden was essentially the ww1 pirates of the carribean but in the Indian Ocean (so pirates of India?) Hopeful for a video on the crewmen stranded on the beach, the stories of the German pacific square on are wack

[@davidlewis9068]

Very nicely done.

[@JohnThomas-gy6lq]

Excellent video!

[@robertphillips6296]

I remember seeing a photograph of the ship’s wooden name plate being returned to Germany after the end of the war, supposedly in recognition of her and her crews valiant service. Also weren’t her guns salvaged and used somewhere on the African Continent?

[@freddywarren69]

One of Emdens guns is by the parade ground at HMAS Cerberus in Victoria with one of Sydney's opposite and some of the others were used as shore gun's in the Torres Strait.

[@alecbowman2548]

@Fluesterwitz , yes the Konigsberg’s wreck lay in the Rufiji delta and was visible up to around 1966. She was partially broken up in the years just before the remains finally sank into the mud.

[@robsin2810]

Love your work.

[@Chrisey96.]

Been waiting for this one

[@abrahamdozer6273]

I have a knife made out of the hull steel and brass from the first SMS Emden. My father was a WWII Catalina and Sunderland pilot who flew his patrols out of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and the Cocos Archipelago was part of his patrol area as the islands were administered from Ceylon at the time. The knife is well made with a coconut wood handle and sheath ("1944" inlaid in it) but the steel is too mild to make it a practical knife. The natives of the islands stripped the wreck for decades and SMS Emden material turns up all over the Indian Ocean. I use it as a Sgain Duh in my sock while wearing a kilt. Dad used it to open letters.

[@crazysithslave]

Been waiting for this! Very happy thankyou 👍👍👍

[@Alobo075]

Unable to confirm this - maybe Drachinifel can. I read in an account of the SMS Emden written many years ago, that the ship got in one final victory. The salvaging of SMS Emden cost more than the market value of the scrap.

[@kemarisite]

With the glut of scrap steel after WW2, and the remote location of the Emden's wreck, that wouldn't surprise me at all.

[@robertf3479]

@@kemarisite To me the surprise is that the effort was even made.

[@demonprinces17]

Could it be cause it was made before nuclear tests and the steel not contaminated?

[@richardm3023]

@Herbert B. Bondsh Japanese cars back then weren't all that good either. They rusted on the showroom floor, and could not handle the climate and driving conditions in many parts of the USA. Their only attraction in '74 was fuel economy, which, no American manufacturer even thought about prior to the embargo of '73.

[@canmufu3923]

@Herbert B. Bondsh He said in the video it was broken up in the '50s?

[@Gimmik273]

Great vid

[@TycoonTitian01]

The SMS emden was a good boi

[@1roanstephen]

I so appreciate your work. I enjoy all of your presentations. Thank you.

[@ivabiggin2299]

What a fantastic job you have done on this ship Well done

[@bobbychoate7476]

Nice, a good listen to driving to work

[@6thmichcav262]

I would enjoy your take on SMS Möwe.

[@hansvonmannschaft9062]

A good example of what happens when able and bright soldiers are left on their own and not overloaded with orders from embarked armchair commanders. Figuratively speaking, like Adm. Holland sank the Hood before it even got within range of German guns, and Adm. Lütjens sank the Bismarck before the Swordfishes broke its rudder.

[@swampyankee]

My favorite channel... served aboard the US Coast Guard 255' Owasco Class cutter, CGC Androscoggin. They were built at the end of WWII but were to late to see any action. As built they had a 2nd Amendment armament of twin 5" mounts fore and aft, a couple 40mm, hedgehogs, depth charges and rounded out by the usual 50cals. With a top speed of only 17 knots I see them as more of a coast defense vessel. Any thoughts? The Androscoggin never had the full armament and eventually saw combat in Vietnam where she did shore bombardment and stopping supplies coming from the north.

[@budzski42]

the last cruise of the Emden is an excellent read.

[@migaraperera3205]

I have a German 1000 currency note, Taken aboard this ship. It was given by my grandfather. He was a 15 years old child at the time. He picked it up while floating in the sea. He told me that story before he passed away. I still have it that way. I'm from srilanka 🇱🇰

[@gaborferenc2276]

beached for about 40 years and then was removed... wow, that's some solid shipbuilding. A modern containership ran aground off New Zealand in the mid-2010s and she broke up in about half a year. IDK, does size matter in such matters?

[@iainsanders4775]

Great book covering this area of WW1 by Keith Middlemass - Command the Far Seas.

[@robertroberts2501]

Drachinifel. I have never written a comment to the owner of a channel before but, you sir, are awesome. WW2 ships and planes are a passion of mine, especially the Iowas. Born and raised in Iowa so there you go. Started watching your videos from day one forward and am a little over half way. I discovered trying to sound out German words made my head hurt so gave that up. Japanese words are much easier, at least for me. Thoroughly understand your decision to stay away from modern shipping. Not that interesting anyway, except for maybe the aircraft carriers. I find your sense of humor to be a real hoot. This is starting to get a little disjointed so I'll end it here before I start going on about sci fi movies featuring the Antarctic. Keep up the good work Bud. Dedicated fan.

[@tgmccoy1556]

TG McCoy wife's account. Hot coffee, pouring rain fire in the stove and good sea story from Drach.