The Battle of the River Plate left Admiral Graf Spee able to move but badly damaged, and the ship's ability to complete a long voyage home was doubtful. Once the ship entered Montevideo, British diplomacy exploited the legal and political conditions surrounding its stay. Millington-Drake's local standing and understanding of maritime rules helped keep the German ship trapped until it was scuttled. The Navy inflicted the mission kill, and diplomacy completed the strategic defeat.
Chapter · 29:35-30:45
Diplomacy completes the defeat of Admiral Graf Spee
British diplomacy at Montevideo converted the battle damage suffered by Admiral Graf Spee into the ship's final strategic defeat.