War begins

1939

The first commerce-raiding cruises take the Panzerschiffe into the Atlantic and culminate off the River Plate.

4 operations in the archive

Chronology

Operations of 1939

Select an operation to open its animated map. Strategic maps show deployments across a theater, while tactical plots reconstruct individual engagements.

Map for Admiral Graf Spee Atlantic Operation

21 August – 13 December 1939

Admiral Graf Spee Atlantic Operation

1939
Atlantic sortie of the pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee.Explore operation →
Map for Deutschland Atlantic Operation

24 August – 13 November 1939

Deutschland Atlantic Operation

1939
Atlantic sortie of the pocket battleship Deutschland.Explore operation →
Map for Sinking of Rawalpindi

21–27 November 1939

Sinking of Rawalpindi

1939
Operations against the British Northern Patrol and the sinking of HMS Rawalpindi.Explore operation →
Río de la Plata

13 December 1939

Battle of the River Plate

1939
Admiral Graf Spee encounters three British cruisers off the Río de la Plata.Explore operation →