German Guided: Graf Spee, On the Trail of a Legend
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Port
Montevideo, Uruguay
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Activity Level
Moderate
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$59.95
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 4 Hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
Graf Spee was a German battleship with state-of-the-art (at the time) technology. She suffered significant damage during World War II and made her way to Montevideo for repairs. Spies from the United Kingdom and New Zealand approached the captain of the Graf Spee and led him to believe that a flotilla was waiting to attack as soon as Graf Spee left Uruguay. In fact, only the HMS Cumberland was prepared to go into battle with the Graf Spee. Graf Spee’s captain decided to sink her in the harbor and then killed himself.
Today’s panoramic drive through the city shows you the streets and buildings that captured the world’s attention in 1939 and 1940 when the Uruguayan, British and German governments negotiated the fate of Graf Spee and her crew. Check out the buildings that once housed the British and German embassies, the port authority and the military hospital. Along the way, take time to admire the combination of different architectural styles as well as some of Montevideo’s oldest squares and monuments.
Enjoy panoramic views of the bay from Cerro de Montevideo and imagine the fateful day when curious citizens crowded the harbor to witness the arrival of a German warship.
You also visit the northern cemetery, where 40 fallen German sailors were buried. At the British Cemetery, two graves serve as a dark reminder of the Battle of Rio de la Plata.
Your final stop is at the Marine Museum, which houses some of Graf Spee’s guns and telemetry equipment recently recovered from the riverbed.
Drive along the coast back to the harbor and enjoy the beautiful views of the city’s beaches.
Notes:
Access to Cerro de Montevideo is subject to approval from local authorities; this is usually granted, but no guarantee is given.