Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Admiral Graf Spee Relic
Artifact IDMO 1942.202.13
Object Type
Relic, Historic
Maker
Unknown
Dateca. 1939-1940
Mediummetal, wood
Dimensionsoverall H 4 in x W 6 3/4 in x D 4 3/4 in (10.2 cm x 17.1 cm x 12.1 cm )
Physical DescriptionA short piece of woven electrical cable from the German cruiser, ADMIRAL GRAF SPEE. The cable is mounted to an oblong piece of wood for display purposes. A silver plaque below the cable piece has an engraved inscription that reads: PIECE OF ELECTRIC CABLE / FROM / GRAF SPEE / DAMAGED IN ACTION OFF / URUGUAY / DEC . 13 . 1939.Historical NoteThe German warship, ADMIRAL GRAF SPEE, was damaged during a confrontation with British cruisers at the Battle of the River Plate in the South Atlantic on December 13, 1939. The ship was forced to put into port at Montevideo, Uruguay and was ordered to be scuttled by the commander of the ship, Hans Langsdorff.
A switchboard damaged by shell fire was thrown from the ship and was retrieved from the harbor in Montevideo by a member of the British Royal Navy. This piece of electrical cable from the switchboard came into the hands of Dr. M. J. Petty, an English doctor practicing in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Dr. Petty presented this historic relic to Franklin D. Roosevelt in March 1940 through Norman Armour, the American Ambassador to Argentina.
Additional Details
Custodial History NoteDeposited at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum by Franklin D. Roosevelt on February 25, 1942. It was donated as a bequest of FDR to the Library in 1947.
Credit LineEstate of Franklin D. Roosevelt
National Archives Catalog CollectionFranklin D. Roosevelt Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 735948)
National Archives Catalog SeriesGift Items and Commemorative Artifacts (National Archives Identifier 782690)
Use Restriction StatusUnrestricted
CopyrightReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.
In Collection(s)
Not on view