Talk:Hans Langsdorff

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Contents 1 Did Langsdorff commit suicide? 2 "Nazi" who committed suicide? 3 Death or Suicide 4 Picture of Langsdorff saluting

[edit] Did Langsdorff commit suicide?

I am not sure whether I should put it in the article, but in "La vraie vie d'Eva Peron" by Silvain Reiner (a documentry biography) I found the note about the La Plata battle and Hans Langsdorff. The author states that the suicide of Captain Langsdoff was faked. The only witnesses of putting Langsdorff's body into coffin were asailor from Admiral Graf Spee - Fisher and German attache. There was no doctor to confirm the death. In 1941 the coffin was transported to Germany and put in Gorlow (East Prussia), but when at the and of the war a group of allies' officers went there (they wanted to honour him, because he was respected by the enemies) it turned out that the coffin was empty. It is also said that Juan Peron had captain Langsdorff his guest in Calle Posadas. The book is not fiction, although everything looks much like conspiracy theory. Juan Peron might have invented the story or might have been misled by a fraud. On the other hand if Langsdorff wanted to commit suicide - he could have commited it immediately, not waiting two days.

Maybe other users can comment on it.

I also remember a film (British production on the Battle at the Rio de la Plata). The film was fiction, based on a true story. It said nothing about the suicide (real or faked). Maybe someone is able to say more about the film (it must be older than 1981, because that was the date I saw it on TV). Jasra 20:50, 29 January 2006 (UTC)

The film is The Battle of the River Plate (film), which I have just watched, it ends shortly after the scuttling, with no mention of what happens to Langsdorf afterwards. DuncanHill 18:52, 21 August 2007 (UTC)

I don't think that any photos of his dead body were taken but it was widely reported at the time that he had committed suicide wrapped in the battle ensign from the Graf Spee. It was the old German Navy flag, not the Nazi flag. See main article. He waited a few days before committing suicide because he wanted to see all his men to safety first -- SteveCrook 14:03, 22 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] "Nazi" who committed suicide?

Is Langsdorff correctly categorised under "Category:Nazis who committed suicide"? Is there any evidence he was a Nazi party member?

As I recall, there is much circumstantial evidence that he was not a Nazi (by conviction, at any rate). For example, his omission to give the Nazi salute at the funeral of his men - see http://www.maritimequest.com/daily_event_archive/2005/dec/17_admiral_graf_spee.htm

And also the fact that he committed suicide in the presence of the "kaiserlichen Reichskriegsflagge" (Imperial German flag, without the swastika).

Shouldn't he be removed from the "Category:Nazis who committed suicide" category? Todowd 19:01, 31 July 2006 (UTC)

Agree. So you can remove him from this category. Jasra 22:56, 1 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Death or Suicide

There's a sub-section headed "Death or Suicide". Is there any doubt that it was suicide? If there is then it should be mentioned. If there isn't then the heading should be changed -- SteveCrook 14:57, 20 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Picture of Langsdorff saluting

The thing I missed the most in this article is the picture of Hans Langsdorff saluting at the funeral of his shipmates who had died at the battle of the river plate. Very telling is that everyone uses the 'Nazi salute', even the priests, except for Langsdorff who uses the 'normal' military salute. Another indicator that he wasn't a die-hard Nazi. As mentioned in the 'nazi who committed suicide piece' above. Sorry to have mentioned it again 212.136.56.20 11:01, 6 July 2007 (UTC)