In the fall of 1939, the German heavy cruiser Graf Spee dominated the Atlantic, sinking nine ships in the first three months of World War II. Three British cruisers, commanded by Commodore Henry Harwood, engaged the Graf Spee on December 13, 1939, and emerged victorious. The German ship then headed for Montevideo, Uruguay, where it was given limited time to repair before being forced to scuttle itself to avoid a potential British fleet.
Pursuit of the Graf Spee
The British Navy embarks on a perilous mission to locate and sink a formidable German warship, marking a pivotal moment in the early stages of World War II.