Graf Spee
Nazi Statue
Graf Spee
Nazi War trophies come in all shapes and sizes .
Few could claim to be as impressive as the Giant bronze stern ornament recovered from the scuttled (December 1939) ” Graf Spee”.
The “Pocket”battleship which had famously sunk numerous British merchant vessels before meeting it’s fate Weighing in at 33 kilos with a wings spanning of nearly 9 3 meters, the statue is perhaps a unique surviving example .
A businessman Alfredo Etchegaray had the statue salviged from the wreck of the Graf Spee recovered in shallow waters just off Uruguay’s capital of Montevideo in 2006.
The eagle is a reminder of the region’s unwanted links with the Third Reich.
Etechegaray has shelled out
$5 million over three decades in retrieving parts of the Graf Spee, and now wants a return on that investment.
Uruguay’ courts have ruled that the businessman ownes 50% of the statue, with the other half belonging to the government.He wants to sell his rights and have the statue, currently under wraps in a Uruguayan navy warehouse, put on display in a museum But he claims Germany is pressuring the administration of President Jose Mujica to keep the controversial sculpture out of public sight.
“If the government wants to bury this statue they have the right to do that, but we also have the right to get half the money for it,” Etchegaray said.“Why shouldn’t it be displayed publicly, in an appropriate way, of course, with historical explanation? That’s what happens with the Roman Colosseum, with artifacts from the Khmer Rouge, with torture instruments used by the Inquisition.”Graf Spee”
Acting on Etchegaray’s behalf, Montevideo art gallery Gomensoro is now receiving offers for the businessman’s 50 percent stake in the statue, which it values loosely at up to $15 million.
The reserve price, gallery owner Jose Enrique Gomensoro claims, is between $3 million and $5 million.“It’s 100 percent certain it will sell,” Gomensoro adds. “But it’s very hard to say how much it will fetch.
It could all depend on the whim of a single collector.
How badly do they want it?” That the Graf Spee statue is unique is beyond dispute. The only similar one used by the “Kriegsmarine,” Hitler’s navy, was on the prow of the Bismarck, a much larger warship sunk in the North Atlantic in 1941.
Classed as a “pocket battleship,” the Graf Spee was named after a German admiral and, for its era, used state-of-the-art technology. Just over 600 feet long, it had a top speed of 29 knots (about 33 miles per hour) and its main weapons were six 52-caliber guns mounted in two turrets, fore and aft.
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Graf Spee sank nine Allied merchant ships in the South Atlantic, as they brought vital supplies of beef, wheat and wool, from South America to the United Kingdom, in the early days of World War II.
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But it was scuttled in December 1939 just off Montevideo after being damaged in the ferocious Battle of the River Plate and its captain, Hans Langsdorff, had been tricked by British intelligence into believing that it was about to be surrounded by the Royal Navy.
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Residents of Montevideo watched the Graf Spee burn for three days before eventually sinking in water just 30 feet deep.
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Langsdorff shot himself in a Buenos Aires hotel three days later.Uruguay eventually joined the conflict on the side of the Allies.
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Although after the war it also, unwittingly perhaps, provided refuge to a small number of war criminals, including one torturer known as Dr. Death.
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But Gomensoro’s valuation for the eagle-and-swastika statue was trashed by William Rey Ashfield, a former head of the National Heritage Commission, who described the multimillion-dollar price tag as “delirious.”“Really, the Uruguayan government should
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never have allowed any salvaging of the Graf Spee,” Rey Ashfield said. “But now that this statue is on dry land, I hope that an agreement can be worked out for it to be put on public display, but not in a triumphalist way, here in Uruguay.
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This is part of our history too.”He was also skeptical of Etchegaray’s claim that Germany was opposed to the Graf Spee statue being displayed publicly.
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“Germany is on the sidelines. If anything, the problem is that they don’t want to get involved, although they would definitely be concerned at the possibility of a private sale leading to the statue falling into the hands of neo-Nazis or being used to glorify the Third Reich.”“It could be a good attraction for a museum.
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But it is a controversial piece that many people will also reject. It is a hot potato.”Meanwhile, Etchegaray is waiting for the Uruguayan government to make up its mind about what it wants to do with its 50 percent stake in the statue.
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“I’m not waiting 20 years,” he said. “Deciding who owns This Graf Spee trophy has already taken long enough.”
RZM CODES CHART
RZM
Company Name
M9/1
F. W. Assmann & Söhne, Lüdenscheid
M9/2
Rud. Mayer, Pforzheim
M9/3
L. Chr. Lauer, Nürnberg
M9/4
Gustav Brehmer, Markneukirchen
M9/5
Fugen Schmidhäussler, Pforzheim
M9/6
Julius Dinnebier Nachf., Lüdenscheid
M9/7
Foerster & Barth, Pforzheim
M9/8
Christian Thomas Dicke, Lüdenscheid
M9/9
Ferdinand Wagner, Pforzheim
M9/10
Robert Hauschild, Pforzheim
M9/11
Carl Poellath, Schrobenhausen
M9/12
C. Baimberger, Nürnberg
M9/13
Gustav Hahl, Pforzheim
M9/14
M. Kutsch, Attendorn
M9/15
Otto Schickle, Pforzheim
M9/16
Berg & Nolte AG, Lüdenscheid
M9/17
Friedrich Keck, Pforzheim
M9/18
Karl Wild, Hamburg
M9/19
Ernst Schneider, Lüdenscheid
M9/20
“Walgo”. Inh. Goseberg, Kierspe
M9/21
Glaser & Sohn, Dresden
M9/22
Dr. Franke & Co., KG., Lridenscheid
M9/23
Ossenberg & Co., Dahle und Altena
M9/24
Wilhelm Schroder & Co., Lüdenscheid
M9/25
Richard Sieper & Söhne, Lüdenscheid
M9/26
Hessische Fahnenfabrik Georg Schubkegel, Darmstadt
M9/27
Bockle & Co., Geringswalde
M9/28
Ferdinand Hoffstätter, Bonn
M9/29
Rud Wachtler & Lange. Mittweida
M9/30
Bernhard Haarmann, Lüdenscheid
M9/31
Biedermann & Co., Obercassel
M9/32
G. Danner, Muhihausen
M9/33
Karl Hensler, Pforzheim
M9/34
Werner Linker, Duisburg-Hochfeld
M9/35
Gebrüder Gloerfeld KG, Lüdenscheid
M9/36
Philipp und Gustav Fest, Hanau
M9/37
Carl Winkler, Hanau
M9/38
Tweer & Turck, Lüdenscheid
M9/39
Wilhelm Deumer, Lüdenscheid
M9/40
Karl Wurster, Markneukirchen
M9/41
Julius Maurer G.m.b.H., Oberstein
M9/42
Fritz Zimmermann, Stuttgart
M9/43
Lohmann & Welschehold, Meinerzhagen
M9/45
Dransfeld & Co., Menden
M9/46
Otto Fechler, Bernsbach
M9/47
Adolf Baumeister, Lüdenscheid
M9/48
E. F. Wiedmann, Frankfurt am M.
M9/49
Heinrich Muth, Hanau
M9/50
Steinhauer & Lück, Lüdenscheid
M9/51
Hermann Aurich, Dresden
M9/52
Schmidt & Bruckmann, Pforzheim
M9/53
Friedrich Linden, Lüdenscheid
M9/54
Funcke & Bruninghaus, Lüdenscheid
M9/55
Hermann Wemstein, Jena-Löbstedt
M9/56
Werner Redo, Saarlautern
M9/57
Gebrüder Lange, Lüdenscheid
M9/58
Alfred Stubbe, Inh. Herben Tegge, Berlin
M9/60
Paulmann & Crone, Lüdenscheid
M9/61
Gebrüder Albert, Menden.
M9/62
Berthold Kuhn, Catterfeld
M9/63
Albert Ihne, Lüdenscheid
M9/65
Friedrich Keller, Oberstein
M9/66
Gottlieb Fr. Keck & Sohn, Pforzheim
M9/67
Overhoft & Cie, Lüdenscheid
M9/68
Gebrüder Mardey & Co., Wuppertal-Langerfeld
M9/69
K. E. Haas, Hamburg
M9/70
Walter Demmer, Lüdenscheid
M9/71
Stuttgarter Metallwerk-Fabrik Mayer & Wilhelm, Stuttgart
M9/72
Wilhelm Kolwitz, Bergedorf b. Hamburg
M9/73
Julius Bauer Söhne, Zella-Mehlis
M9/74
Heinrich Vogt, Pforzheim
M9/75
M. Nett, Fürth
M9/76
Hermann Bauer, Schwäb.-Gmünd.
M9/77
Josef Fuess, München
M9/78
Stefan Merkl, Nürnberg
M9/79
Max Kamper, Lüdenscheid
M9/80
Kruse & Söhne, Wuppertal-Barmen
M9/81
Franz Reischauer, Idan
M9/82
Matthias Ochsier & Sohn KG., Ansbach
M9/83
Lehmann & Wundenberg, Hannover
M9/84
Gebrüder Rood, Solingen
M9/85
Gebrüder Hahne, Lüdenscheid
M9/86
Adam Donner, Wuppertal-Elberfeld
M9/87
Adolf Besson, Schwäb.-Gmjind.
M9/88
A. Kunze & Co., Buchholz
M9/89
Hillenbrand & Bröer, Lüdenscheid
M9/91
Wilhelm Fuhner, Pforzheim
M9/92
Paul Meybauer, Berlin
M9/93
Frank & Reif o.H.G., Stuttgart
M9/94
Walter Horn]ein, Schwäb.-Gmünd.
M9/95
Pleuger & Voss, Lüdenscheid
M9/96
Kallenbach, Meyer & Franke, Luckenwalde
M9/97
Gebrüder Fobke, Stettin
M9/98
Theodor Seibod, Offenbach a. M.
M9/99
Hans Aich, Schwäb.-Gmünd.
M9/100
Emil Oberholz, Reiligenhaus
M9/102
Gebrüder Bender, Oberstein a. d. N.
M9/103
Schimmel, Schmieder & Co., Schmölin
M9/104
Fritz Zobel, Breslau
M9/105
Karl Kahle, Flensburg
M9/106
Richard Masseck, Weisswasser
M9/107
Ossenberg-Engels, Iserlohn
M9/108
L. 0. Stillgebauer, Solingen
M9/109
Emil Vogelsang, Glauchau
M9/110
Fritz Kohm, Pforzheim
M9/111
Schauerte & Höhfeld, Lüdenscheid
M9/112
Wurttembergische Metallwarenfabrik, Geislingen a. d St.
M9/113
Ernst Conze, Lüdenscheid
M9/114
Hermann Knöller, Lüdenscheid
M9/115
Rob Hasenmayer Jr., Pforzheim
M9/116
Wuh. A. Jager, Frankfurt a. M
M9/117
Chn Bauer, Welzheim
M9/118
Josef Preissier, Pforzheim
M9/119
Alois Rettenmaier, Schwäb-Omünd.
M9/120
Gustav Schuft, Cottbus
M9/121
Furstenberger Porzellanfabrik, Furstenberg a. d. Weser
M9/122
Stempel-Reich, Breslau
M9/123
Gebrüder Cramer, Menden
M9/124
Karl Pfohl, Pforzheim
M9/125
Jakob Bengel, Inh. E., Hartenberger, Oberstein a. d. N.
M9/126
Fried. Wuh. Schnurle, Duisburg am Rhein
M9/127
Heinrich Schmidt, Sprottau
M9/128
Paul Schulze & Co., Lubeck
M9/129
Jörgum & Trefz, Frankfurt am Main
M9/130
Bruno Mitlehner, Berlin
M9/131
Noelle & Hueck KG, Lüdenscheid
M9/132
Hermann Schulte Sohn, Lüdenscheid
M9/133
Bebritpressstoffwerke G.m.b.H., Bebra
M9/134
Seiler & Co., Geldern
M9/135
C. W. Lots, Adorf
M9/136
Ernst Scheiter, Eibenstock
M9/137
H. Dürvel, Braunschweig
M9/138
Prokop, Jager & Söhne, Rosenthal-Schweizermuhle
M9/139
Bruno Winkler, Zittau
M9/140
Leop. Kleins Witwe, Wien
M9/141
Glöckner & Co., Annaberg
M9/142
Otto Kunze, Fraureuth
M9/143
R. Conrad Nach & Co. KG, Schmiedeberg.
M9/144
Julius Moser sen., Inh. C., Moser, Oberstein a. d. N.
M9/145
Kuhr & Langer, Eisenach
M9/146
Mayer & Sohn, Erbach
M9/147
Eduard Mutscheiknauss, Pforzheim
M9/148
E. O. Friedrich, Leipzig
M9/149
Willy Annetsberger, Munchen
M9/150
Friedrich Roediger & Co., Hanau a. M.
M9/151
Petz & Lorenz, Unterreichenbach
M9/152
Stuffmann & Co., Haan
M9/153
Staatl Bemstein-Manufaktur, Königsberg
M9/154
Karl Forster & Grat Schwäb-Gmünd.
M9/155
Lindner & Maak, Dresden
M9/156
Ad. Schwerdt, Stuttgart
M9/157
Lind & Meyer, Oberstein a. d. N.
M9/158
Ochs & Bonn, Hanau a. M.
M9/159
Wilhelm Helbing, Leipzig
M9/160
Max Kremhelmer, Munchen
M9/161
Sohni, Heubach & Co., Oberstein a d. N.
M9/162
Ziemer & Söhne, Oberstein a. d. N.
M9/163
Otto Wolter, Schwäb-Gmund.
M9/164
Paul Merkens, Dusseldorf
M9/165
Giesse & Schmidt, Ruhla
M9/166
Hymmen & Co., Lüdenscheid
M9/167
Emil Büxenstein, Pforzheim
M9/168
Gustav Mössmer, Offenbach am Main
M9/169
Deschler & Sohn, München
M9/170
Karl Erbacher, Pforzheim
M9/171
Rudolf Freund, Solingen
M9/172
Eduard Hahn, Oberstein a. d. N.
M9/173
P. C. Turck Witwe, Lüdenscheid
M9/176
List & Hertl, Wien
M9/177
August Menze & Sohn, Wien
M9/178
C. W. Motz & Co., Brandenburg a. d.H.
M9/179
Karl Gschiermeister, Wien
M9/180
Adalbert Kanngiesser, Wien.
M9/181
Sohni & Co., Oberstein a. d. N.
M9/182
Karl Kuhn & Co. AG, Wien
M9/183
Schar-Smolka, Schwechat b. Wien
M9/184
Bruno Mulde, Bremen
M9/185
J. E. Hammer & Söhne, Geringswalde
M9/186
Konrad Seiboth, Gablonz a. N.
M9/187
Grossmann & Co. Inh. Lorenz Hoffstätter u.L. Siefener, Wien
M9/188
Schaeffer, Homberg G.m.b.H., Wuppertal -Barmen
M9/189
Rudolf Stärz, Gablonz a. N.
M9/190
Rudolf Richter, Schlag Nr 244
M9/191
Wilhelm Borgas, Entingen
M9/192
Albert Noswitz, Gablonz a. N.
M9/193
Emil Peukert, Gablonz a. N.
M9/194
Franz Schiffner, Gablonz a. N.
M9/195
Franz Schmidt, Gablonz a. N.
M9/196
Rudolf Lucke & Co., Gablonz a. N.
M9/197
Gustav Miksch, Gablonz a. N.
M9/198
Camill Bergmann & Co., Gablonz a. N.
M9/199
Rudolf Pfeiffers Nachf., Hoschka & Pesch, Gablonz a. N.
M9/200
Heinrich Stärz jr., Gablonz a. N.
M9/201
Otto Lang, Gablonz a. N
M9/202
Josef Rössler & Co., Gablonz a. N.
M9/203
Wilhelm Pala, Gablonz a. N.
M9/204
Franz Wenzeis Sohn, Braunau Heuscheuer
M9/205
Fritz Zasche, Gablonz a. N.
M9/206
J. C. Gante in, Berlin
M9/207
Georg Patzner, Breslau.
M9/208
Josef Feix Söhne, Gablonz a. N.
M9/209
Gebrüder Jäger, Gablonz
M9/210
Rudolf Lang, Kukan Nr.226 b. Gablonz
M9/211
Adolf Scholze, Grünwald a. N.
M9/212
Julius Rauchfühs, Schonwald u. Pirna
M9/213
Eduard Gorlach & Söhne, Gablonz a. N.
M9/214
August G. Tham, Gablonz a. N.
M9/215
Rudolf Tham, Gablonz a. N.
M9/216
Matth. Ochsier & Sohn AG, Riegersdor b. Bodenbach
M9/217
A. Karneth & Sohn, Gablonz a. N.
M9/218
Matth Salcher & Söhne AG., Wagstadt
M9/219
Augustin Hieke, Tyssa b. Bodenbach
M9/221
Richard Simm & Söhne, Gablonz a. N.
M9/222
Otto Glausch, Grunwald b. Gablonz
M9/223
Bruno Schöffel, Kukan
M9/224
Walter & Henlein, Gablonz a. N.
M9/225
Franz Maschke & Co., Gablonz a. N.
M9/226
Heinrich Wander, Gablonz a. N.
M9/227
Vereinigte Knopf-Werker Alfred Maborny, Wohlau
M9/229
M. Schaubmayr, Wien
M9/230
Josef Rücker & Sohn, Gablonz a. N.
M9/231
Louis Keller, Oberstein
M9/232
Magnus Richter, Schwarzbach
M9/233
Gustav Könd, Peterswald b. Bodenbach
M9/234
Franz Bernhardt, Tyssa b. Bodenbach.
M9/235
Heinr Ulbricht’s Wwe., Wien
M9/236
Florian Schwarzer, Wien
M9/237
Gebr Eichenauer, Hainfeld
M9/238
Lenkwerk Brüder Schneider AG., Wien
M9/239
A. Beladas Nach. Frz. Jungwirth, Wien
M9/240
W. Gruber & Co., Wien
M9/241
Ranns Pacher, Wien
M9/242
Friedrich Orth, Wien
M9/243
Josef Heintschel, Wien
M9/244
Franke & Sohn, Heidenreichstein
M9/245
Albert Bloudicek, Wien
M9/246
Eduard Gösel, Wien
M9/247
Rudolf Menschiga, Wien
M9/248
Christlbauer & Sohn, Wien
M9/249
Josef Mayr, Linz
M9/250
Andreas Unger, Wien
M9/251
Rudolf Schanes, Wien
M9/252
Phil. Turks Wwe., Wien
M9/253
Argentor-Werke, Wien
M9/254
Hans Hischer, Wien
M9/255
Schwenner & Cie., Eggenberg b. Graz
M9/256
Franz Petzl, Wien
M9/263
Adolf Klinger, Grünwald a. N.
M9/264
Rudolf Dressier Jr., Gablonz a. N.
M9/265
Eduard Kratzert, Gablonz a. N.
M9/268
Franz Klamt & Söhne, Gablonz a. N.
M9/269
Arno Wailpach, Salzburg
M9/270
Wilhelm Tschinkel Abtl. II, Ober Kreibitz -Schonfeld
M9/271
Gustav Wenzel, Nieder-Preschkau, Kr. Tetschen
M9/272
Rudolf Fischer Jr., Nixdorf
M9/273
Franz Lang, Gablonz a. N.
M9/274
Karl Unger & Sohn, Gablonz a. N.
M9/275
Erwin Hoffmann, Seidenschwanz
M9/276
Josef Pörner, Gablonz a. N.
M9/277
Franz Erben jr, Seidenschwanz
M9/278
Reichelmann & Co., Tellnitz b. Aussig
M9/279
E. Wohlmann, Gablonz a. N.
M9/280
Rudolf Bergs, Gablonz a. N.
M9/281
Richard Feix, Gablonz a. N.
M9/282
Wilhelm Hammesfahr, Solingen
M9/283
Emil Herrmann & Co. Gablonz a. N.
M9/284
Robert Rudolf, Gablonz a. N.
M9/285
Oskar Frech, Gablonz a. N.
M9/286
Adolf Kofer, Sebnitz
M9/287
Ewald Turck, Lüdenscheid
M9/288
Klein & Quenzer AG., Oberstein a. d. N.
M9/289
Gottlieb & Wagner, Oberstein a. d. N.
M9/290
Otto Geiger, Lüdenscheid
M9/291
Oswald Posselt, Gablonz a. N.
M9/292
Ernst Hübner, Gablonz a. N.
M9/293
Adolf Seidel Gablonz a. N.
M9/294
W. Lehmann, Karlsbad-Weheditz
M9/295
Josef Bergs & Co., Gablonz a. N.
M9/296
Franz Schönbach, Riegersdorf
M9/297
August Halter, Tolkemit, Kr. Elbing
M9/298
Brüder Paul, Tyssa b. Bodenbach
M9/299
Paul Garthe, Muspe
M9/300
Volkskunst der Grafschaft Glatz, Kurt Klammt, Glatz-Neuland
M9/301
Otto Sedlak, Gablonz a. N.
M9/302
Bruno Pfeifer, Gablonz a. N.
M9/303
Anton Markovskys Söhne, Gablonz a. N
M9/304
Karl Schlenker, Schwäb.-Gmünd.
M9/305
Rudolf Zappa, Bad Schlag b. Gablonz a. N.
M9/306
R. Richard Haasis, Zittau
M9/307
Kamill Schöffel, Grunwald a. N
M9/308
Laurenz Müller, Gross-Schonau.
M9/309
Willy Engel, Morchenstern, Kr. Gablonz
M9/310
Otto Mischek, Gablonz a. N
M9/311
Gralit-Kunstharzpresswerk, Grossmann, Pietschmann & Co., Nixdorf
M9/312
Fritz Mannheim G.m.b.H., Kaiserslautern
M9/313
Karl Pichl, Innsbruck
M9/314
Moritz Hertwig KG., Tannenberg
M9/315
Arno Melzer, Dresden
M9/316
Rudolf Strake, Leipa
M9/317
Franz Simon, Gablonz a. N.
M9/318
Heinrich & Heinrich, Gablonz a. N.
M9/319
Buttig & Co., Gablonz a. N.
M9/320
Zappe & Co., Gablonz a. N.
M9/321
Wiliy Zappe, Gablonz a. N.
M9/322
Oskar Zappe Jr., Gablonz a. N.
M9/323
Max Hering, Oldenburg i. 0.
M9/324
Staatliche Porzellan-Manufaktur Meissen
M9/325
Rosenthal-Porzellan AG., Selb.
M9/326
Karl Schram, Brunn (Protektorat Mähren)
M9/327
Otto Müller, Gablonz a. N
M9/328
Julius Gerhard. Pforzheim
M9/329
Max Ulbrich, Gablonz a. N.
M9/330
Ewald Ress, Wien
M9/331
Erhard & Söhne AG, Schwäb.-Gmünd.
M9/332
Dmk. Schönbaumfelds Sohn, Wien
M9/333
Alfred Simet, Wien
M9/334
Augustin Prager, Gablonz a. N.
M9/335
R. Kreisel, Gablonz a. N.
M9/336
W. Hobacher, Wien
