The Altmark Incident: The Royal Navy's Dramatic Rescue in Norway

[@ImportantNavalHistory]

I hope you all enjoyed this look at the Altmark Incident! I want to get your opinions on the new animations and editing. I know they aren't much, but I think they greatly improve over past attempts. But here is the Patreon link for anyone who wants to help the channel! patreon.com/user?u=84848885&Link&

[@natalietaylor3484]

Thank you for this, my Grandfather was a POW, on the Altmark, his ship having been torpedoed by the Graf Spee. He was successfully rescued by the British naval ship, HMS Cossack and then went on to go back out to sea after he had recovered..he was blown up a further few times during the course of the war and he is mentioned in a book, written about the event as it documents a planned uprising by the British POW's. My Grandad was an engineer on board his ships and his name was Nicholas Watson. Great that you have researched this!!

[@jacksprat9172]

With the Germans being so adamant that British sailors were not on board which would be a violation of Norwegian neutrality and a world wide scandal if they were caught lying.................the chances of any of those men being seen again would be zero if HMS Cossack hadn't boarded that ship and taken the prisoners back by force.

[@alphalunamare]

I remember reading about this as a child in the '50s, The 'Victor' comic I think! 'The Navy's Here' still resounds in my mind :-)

[@briannicholas2757]

You did a great job on this subject. The Altmark incident is probably one if the most controversial in WWII history, the politics of the situation were immense. Its great you steared clear of those, sticking to a thorough rundown of the facts from reliable sources. People can judge for themselves the rightness or wrongness of Cossaks actions and their Admiralty orders.

[@matthewrobinson4323]

Awesome video. Well done!

[@billgoldstein4215]

Keep this up Pal....You're a natural !!

[@madzen112]

Wouldn't it be a breach of neutrality to transport POWs in neutral waters?

[@starsailor49]

It was. The German Captain lied about his 'cargo'.

[@englishalan222]

Yes.

[@RadgieGadgey-bx8mc]

Thank you for your research and video.

[@markpadgett4751]

My wifes, grandads, cousin was a telegraphist on HMS Cossack and boarded the Altmark. "Eric Farmer" bought home the flag from the ship and wrote a poem about the incident. Both are still in the family. Eric was also on board HMS Cossack when they were involved with the sinking of the Bismark. Again he wrote an indepth account of what happened. Unfortunately Eric was losy at sea when a German uboat torpedoed Cossack.

[@MickCampin-jp9kb]

You forget that Altmark was illegaly moving so called Pows on her BEFORE she was stopped by the Royal Navy. Refer back to PEARL HARBOUR too

[@vietfrost]

👍 important detail

[@BigUnitBeef]

You got to love this

[@mbryson2899]

Nicely done! The "incident" has a lot of propaganda from both sides in the historical record. You walked the line beautifully, IMHO.

[@ImportantNavalHistory]

Thank you!

[@SelwynClydeAlojipan]

Thank you for presenting just the facts but with a lot of detail. However, it should be stated that the German ship Altmark was already carrying British POWs and had entered neutral territory by lying and concealing their presence on board. Next, the Norwegian government at that time were already "quislings" and were grossly obeying German influence to avoid diligently inspecting the Altmark's cargo spaces. The British willfully violated neutrality because of their strong intelligence and indications of the actual cargo carried by the Altmark and their determination not to be prevented from rescuing their own countrymen from German clutches. The German captain's attempt prevent the boarding and to damage HMS Cossack was an indicator of his own violation of Norwegian neutrality. Thus the deaths of his own crew in trying to resist the British boarding action was a fate determined by the fortunes of war between two belligerents during the period of the "Phony War between Germany and Britain. Germany soon after invaded Norway and thus converted it into a conquered and belligerent territory that fought with the Allies against the Germans for the rest of the war. In the end, the rescue of the British prisoners from a German ship loitering inside Norwegian waters became the stuff of legend and high morale for the British people just as World War II was starting. Bravo on the storytelling!

[@Norway26]

My very old grandparents live in Flekkefjord 😊

[@Norway26]

And they didn’t know how much of a history nerd I am😊

[@ImportantNavalHistory]

Ooooo that’s neat! I bet it’s beautiful!

[@Norway26]

I have some books of ww2 in my house

[@johnwick-ii6il]

Thank you. Some say the Norse knew the prisoners were there, and ,of course, just wanted to stay neutral by claiming ignorance.

[@nickdanger3802]

The Altmark Incident precipitated Germany's invasion of Denmark and Norway.

[@philhawley1219]

I'm sure that statement is not right. The Evil bastard Hitler was determined on world domination.

[@dovetonsturdee7033]

@@philhawley1219 Actually, German planning for the invasion of Norway (and Denmark) can be traced back to December, 1939. A more extensive discussion of the German planning and operations appears in 'The German Northern Theater of War, 1940-1945,' Department of the Army Pamphlet 20-271 (Washington, 1959). By Earl Ziemke.

[@mbryson2899]

​@@dovetonsturdee7033Britain had amazingly similar plans. They were 1-2 days late, though.

[@paulspydar]

what an embarrassing turn of events that today the UK navy cant even stop rubber boats from invading! let alone rescue anyone,

[@waynesworldofsci-tech]

Tribal!