Sinking Admiral Graf Spee Warship Explosion Montevideo Rio Plata 1939 VTG Photo For Sale

This is a silver gelatin photograph that is unmounted and is approximately 7 x 5 inches (180x130mm).

It shows the German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee engulfed in thick black smoke and flames during its scuttling. The warship is low in the water with a massive explosion obscuring much of the vessel, while its distinctive tall superstructure remains visible.

The reverse has a typed French caption titled \'La Fin Du Graf Von Spee\'. The text describes it as the final photo of the pocket battleship scuttled by its crew off the bay of Montevideo at the mouth of the Rio de la Plata, showing the final explosion as the ship sinks into the sea. It is credited to \'France Presse Voir 30.12.39 N° 8\' with a censorship visa \'N° 35.354\'. Printed text below the slip reads \'Épreuve obtenue sur papier Guilleminot\'. An upside-down stamp reads \'Le Journal Service Des Illustrations\' with a date stamp of \'- 1 Jan 1940\'.

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