From: Tim Merry (timmerry@SHOAL.NET.AU)
Date: Tue May 18 1999 - 14:02:42 PDT
Hello Johan, and yes your first and repeat message to MEMORIES arrived all right. I am replying to the list (MEMORIES), with a copy to you in case you are not subscribed to this list. You asked: >I gonna write a school work about Norway in the World War 2. >Anyone who can tell me? Everything you got. Well, what comes to mind first is the ALTMARK incident. Quite exciting it was too! The story starts in about December 1939, when the German pocket battleship ADMIRAL GRAF SPEE was cornered by three British cruisers off Montevideo, Uruguay, which led to the release of a number of British sailors held aboard the German ship. The greater part of the British and allied seaman who survived the attacks of GRAF SPEE were however held prisoner in the German armed auxillary ship ALTMARK, which had fled across the Atlantic after the sea battle, heading for the safety of the Norwegian territorial waters. British aircraft managed to locate ALTMARK in Jösing Fjord, and orders were given by the British Admiralty to enter neutral waters, search for the ALTMARK, and rescue any prisoners on board. The British destroyer COSSACK soon after arrived but was confronted by two Norwegian gunboats. The COSSACK's captain offered to place a joint British-Norwegian guard on the ALTMARK, and to escort that ship to Bergen for an investigation according to internatinal law. That offer was declined by the Norwegians, who stated that ALTMARK was unarmed and that nothing was known of any prisoners on board. On these assurances COSSACK withdrew. After dark, and on receipt of further Admiralty orders, COSSACK again entered the fjord, but the gunboats would not co-operate; at which point ALTMARK attempted to ram COSSACK but ran itself aground, after which she was boarded by men from the British destroyer; and after a short fight ALTMARK was overpowered, and some 300 British prisoners were discovered and released. Part of ALTMARK's crew surrendered, while others escaped across the ice to the shore. That's all I know about it. You should now probably do your own research and see what Norwegian records reveal about the ALTMARK affair. Good luck, and happy researching. Oh, and please confirm that you belong to the MEMORIES list, because if you do belong you should also (as a member) receive a copy of any messages you send - which of course serves to confirm that your messages are reaching all members! Tim