Possible escape routes ran through German East Africa or toward Ottoman waters before Allied mobilization closed them off. An immediate order to begin a long cruise might have placed the squadron beyond the tightening Allied cordon while neutral or friendly ports were still accessible. The cruisers would have been useful but not decisive additions to Germany's Baltic or home forces. Their trained officers, marines, and ratings could have formed the experienced core for new ships at home, making the loss of the crews more consequential than the loss of the older cruisers.
Notable Point · 38:39-41:44
Why getting the crews home mattered
A prompt departure toward friendly territory might have saved experienced German sailors even if the ships themselves were expendable.