The SMS Emden - German World War 1 Raider

A mixture of Hornblower and Lord Jim.

Greetings Chris

Enjoyed your Emden tale. Would you consider complementing Captain Karl Von Muller with with the first world war adventures of Korvettenkapitän 'Sea Devil' Count Felix Von Luckner (iron cross 1st class) in Seeadler, a successful sailing ship commerce raider (with two hidden 105mm guns and two hidden 500HP auxiliary engines) marauding the Atlantic and Pacific in the first world war. Lots of colourful asides if you scan Wikipedia. Ultimately stranded aground while picnicking with prisoners ashore, sailing in an open boat with his crew 3,700km and getting tricked himself, surrendering his party to unarmed Fijian police. Interned in and escape from New Zealand (who feted him after the war). Negotiated the surrender to the Americans of a German town, saved a Jewish girl, condemned to death by the Nazis....

A quick intro from Sam Jefferson's book below to whet your interest. The Sea Devil: The Adventures of Count Felix von Luckner, the Last Raider under Sail. 10, 2017 by Sam Jefferson (Author).
In 1916, a three-masted windjammer bearing Norwegian colors sailed out of a quiet anchorage in Germany, loaded with cargo and apparently bound for Australia. Her true mission was quite different. The ship was, in fact, the SMS Seeadler, commanded by swashbuckling German aristocrat Felix von Luckner. Over an epic voyage, he used cunning and deception to destroy fourteen merchant ships, all the while evading the utterly foxed and infuriated British Admiralty in a daring game of cat and mouse. This rip-roaring World War I story depicts a life of espionage, counterespionage, and piracy of the most gentlemanly kind.


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Have you done Count Felix von Luckner?

We know so little of WW1, as compared to WW2.

We all know of famous WW2 battles, legendary commanders etc etc etc.

But in total contrast WW1 has not been a saleable commodity for Hollywood.
And , perhaps, also for the print media.

Your video is an eye opener to many, on the exploits of this ship.

I first read about the Emden as a 7th grade student at Mayo College Ajmer, India, back in 1972.

Thank you, this was fascinating. Another aspect of history I wasn't aware of

Welsh coal provides more powe, while creating less smoke, thus making a ship powered by it sort of a WWI stealth vessel.

I would love to see a video on the kocoda pass papua

How about the surface raider SMS Seeadler?
One of the Emden's guns is in Hyde Park (the one pictured, the anti gun nutters wanted it removed), another at HMAS Penguin (Middle Head). There are relics at the Sydney Maritime Museum. There are also relics at a museum on Home Island, Cocos, where I visited.
Glossop's actions weren't well received by his superiors as most of the Emden's casualties occured after she had run aground and was offering no resistance.....viewed as a bit of a war crime. Glossop was never given command of another ship.

😅Chris, HMAS Sydney's ( the number 1 SYDNEY in your story and painting), tripod mast head still survives in Sydney Australia. Much of her decking timber was turned into furniture and was distributed to naval bases. When I volunteered at the Australian War Memorial my document holding was from this Sydney's decking timber. Regards Gerard

Another entertaining and informative presentation.
I'd love to see a series of videos regarding the Eastern Front in WW1, namely, The Galipoli campaigns.

Well told. A fine story.

The Malayalam (an Indian language) word "Yamandan" is used to reffer something terrible or great. This word is derived from the ship's name EMDEN. The word is still in use for a 100 years.

Wow. You know, I’ve seen several documentaries about the Emden, but until today never heard a word about the odyssey of von Moltke and his party. What a neat find. Well done.

I am familiar with this ship Emden. Years ago I came across a colourful hard-bound copy of Warships and it was there I found this story very brief. What you say now keeps me engaged and immersed. Great!
The

amazing story would make a great drama series

For the historians. I know well the history of the Sydney Emden action as a former naval officer of 30 years service in the RAN and have a strange family connection here. My grandfather Ralph Kell of the 13th Battalion 1st AIF, was on one of the troop transports (HMT Minator I think) that HMAS Sydney was escorting to the Middle East in 1914 to later land at Gallipoli. He later went to France and was de-mobbed and repatriated to Australia in 1917.
The surviving officers of the Emden were sent to Australia and incarcerated at Berrima Jail near Bowral NSW where my grandmother, then Doris Crawford, lived. She and her friends would visit these men; they formed friendships with them and even participated in social activities such as boating regattas with them!!
I still have a beautifully carved box that was made by one of these gentlemen and a photo of him that came with it with the annotation 'A small token of my deepest regard and respect, 28 January 1919'. Clearly he had eyes for her!
After the war Doris met and married Ralph Kell. They produced three children including my mother and that is why I am here today to tell this tale.
Cheers from Australian/Kiwi cuz

Makes me wonder what would've happened if the rest of the German Squadron had tagged along with Emden. If a light Cruiser could do all that damage, what could the rest of them have done?

👍 danke, sehr schön dargestellt!
Hurra!

My late bro in law Frank heheman, had a grandfather who served on the Emden. I wish he could have seen this vid.

Chris how about doing the story of the Yangtze Incident or Escape of the Amethyst

Wow, what an intriguing and interesting story, I love the idea of a rogue ship wrecking havoc during the war. He showed the chivalry which soon disappeared from history as you stated. I loved the story of shore party who were left behind still in the fight, as the old saying goes as long as I have blood or breath I will be in the fight. They traveled pretty far to make it back to the war, kudos to you, amigo.

Love your narratives. You should do some on the great British explores.

A story of an old fashioned German gentleman and his valiant crew, and of course the achievement of the Australian navy, Australia always reaching the highest of standards in their military in all its services. Good show.

When the song by Sabaton coming?

What about a Program on'' Operation Unthinkable '' ? with due regard to Kim Philby's part in relaying the full details to Stalin , Who was reading the messages before Truman ! This was happening before the War in Europe ended and to my way of thinking was resposable for Stalins paranoia , Maybe the direct Cause of the Cold war ,And totally down to Churchill...........I enjoyed your program on the Emden , I remember in the 1970s reading '' The Last Corsair '' a great read .

Great video. Thanks very much, I hadn't heard about the adventures of the landing party.

A Story about the HAMS Achilles, Cheers

Oschträylia

He's called Müller, not Muller. Put an effort into spelling german names correctly.

Magnífico trabajo. Gracias y enhorabuena desde España

Great story. It appears the Russian military was no more competent in 1914 than it is today.

Great.

Thanks Chris, that was very interesting. The Emden and their captain did a great job although there could only be one fatal outcome. As a Royal Navy veteran I enjoy hearing about naval engagements from any era.

Stunning videos Sir. Keep them comming!!

The SMS Emden set the standard for Modern Sea raiders. The Atlantis would be a good one to cover on this channel

Can we get a video on the raider Möve?

HELLO HISTORY CHAPPY

AMAZING STORY FROM BAK-IN-THE-DAY CHAPPY

Fun fact. In Sri Lanka, we call a bratty, obnoxious person 'Amden'. Apparently, this was derived from the Emden, which steamed down our east coast, disregarding the authority of the British, after its attack on Madras.

A fleet unit to be proud of. I have a reproduction photo on the wall in my office

I understand that if all the shells that hit the Sydney had exploded it may have been a different story. I cant recall offhand how may there were but I thought at the time wow our crew had a lot to be thankful for.

I recall there was a wrecked German naval vessel in the approach to German East Africa's port city Dar es Salaam sunk during WW1. Cannot remember the bame or story attached to it. Was a child of 3 when first went out in 1948 , left in 1969. Can you possibly give that story please.? Enjoy your very detailed historical videos. TIA, Jacky Powell

My friend in Sri Lanka had The Emden's brass bell. He had been a proud member of The Royal Navy.

I read about the German fleet in the Pacific, but don't remember reading about this

A very well done presentation of an amazing story. I first heard of the Emden when seeing a dud shell that she fired on display in the Madras city museum. I've sailed much of the Indian Ocean on the African and Austroasian sides and can say it is a huge body of water that could hide any ship. But it is still hard to imagine this great chase.

SE corner of Hyde park Sydney is a gun off Emden. It points straight up Oxford St waiting for the next Mardi gra

read a book about the emden...if ever ablockbuster warfilm should be made then this is the story to do...even when it was sunk the landing party sailed across the indian ocean and got to arabia and final to the turks..epic story