Great website!
The most famous German "Merchant of War" was the HK Kormoran. It was credited with sinking 12 ships including the Light Cruiser HMAS Sydney. However that was her last fight as both ships effectively destroyed each other in the firefight.
However check out the account of her 3rd victim, the Africa Star:
Africa Star: Sunk by explosive charges. 72 prisoners.
Two british young ladies (it’s said of outstanding beauty; in top of that, they climb up to Kormoran almost naked, as any regular shipwreacker take by surprise) enjoyed of non standard housing facilities; they got a first class cabin over the swimming pool deck, with their own bathroom. The German crew always gave them a courteus and very respectful treatment.
A British refrigerator ship (Africa Star) with a cargo of 5.708 tons of Argentine meat and 634 tons of butter, had her radio signals jammed by
Kormoran's operator, and after 4 minutes of gunfire stopped and surrendered. Unfortunately this fine, valuable ship was no longer any use as a prize due to the damage she had sustained.
72 members of her crew and 4 passengers, including 2 young British women, who, having been sunbathing on deck, arrived on board the raider in their bathing costumes! The women's clothing was retrieved by the raider's boarding commando before the Afric Star was sunk and they were given first class accomodation and treatment on board the
Kormoran. Among the items taken from
Afric Star were radio code tables that enabled the Germans to read all British signals.
Now there's a war prize!!!!!
