Admiral Graf Spee's early disguises were comparatively simple: she resembled her sister ships or flew false flags. Captain Hans Langsdorff understood that these measures would not provide a lasting advantage. He needed a deception that could delay identification and give the raider a chance to get away. A meeting with the supply ship Altmark provided the setting for a more ambitious attempt to alter Graf Spee's appearance.
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Langsdorff seeks a more useful disguise
False flags and resemblance to sister ships could not mislead observers indefinitely, so Hans Langsdorff sought a more useful disguise for Admiral Graf Spee.