Altmark was the logistics hub that made Admiral Graf Spee's South Atlantic cruise possible. About 140 men from recent captures were transferred to the supply ship, while their officers went aboard the raider. Officers were more valuable prisoners and, if they took over a ship, could theoretically navigate it home. Separating them from their crews disrupted the existing merchant command structure and was an effective precaution. Experienced merchant seamen would probably have picked up navigation and mathematics during years at sea, so a takeover and escape remained possible even without the officers.
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Altmark as Graf Spee's logistics and prisoner hub
Altmark took about 140 captured merchant sailors while their officers went aboard Admiral Graf Spee, removing the crews' command structure and reducing the risk of escape.