Blockade Runners

After the British imposed a blockade on Germany in 1939, the Germans had to find ways to import vital commodities. One way was blockade running. Merchant ships attempted to slip past blockading forces to deliver cargo. The latter usually consisted of rubber, tungsten, tin, vegetable oil etc. These products were vital for the German war effort. It attests to the German need for them that they resorted to such a dangerous method.

Blockade running was a very risky undertaking. After obtaining cargoes in Japanese territory, vessels had to traverse the Indian Ocean, the Cape of Good Hope and much of the Atlantic before reaching Bordeaux in German-held France. They had to sail across thousands of miles of ocean, all completely dominated by the navies of the allies. If an enemy warship showed up, a blockade runner had no hope of resisting. It could only scuttle to prevent capture.

In the early years of the war, blockade running worked fairly well. As late as November 1942, three vessels--the Kulmerland, Dresden and Tannenfels--reached France with thousands of tons of rubber and other cargo. Immediately afterwards, however, the allies effectively shut down Axis blockade running. Because of Enigma decripts, the allies knew when and where Axis ships would appear and positioned warships to attack them.

Of the 10 blockade runners heading for France in late 1942/early 1943, 9 were sunk or forced to turn back. Three--the Rhatkotis, Hohenfriedburg and Regensburg--were sunk by British cruisers waiting in ambush. One, the Doggerbank, was accidently sunk by U-43. Another, the Ramses, scuttled after blundering into an allied convoy. Encounters with allied forces also caused the loss of Karin and Irene. The only vessel to reach Bordeaux--the Pietro Orseolo--had been torpedoed by a US sub, but luckily didn't incur fatal damage.

Vessels headed for Japan in this period fared little better. Only two, out of several, reached their destination.

Despite the disasters of early '43 the Germans, desperate for vital material, tried again in 1943-44. The results were hardly better. One ship, the Osorno, reached France but 4 others were sunk. Even in the Bay of Biscay, in December 1943, the Germans lacked the strength to protect blockade runners. Soon afterwards, in early 1944, allied warships picked off the last of them to try--the Rio Grande, Weserland and Burganland. Due to the heavy losses Hitler and Doenitz agreed to end attempts at blockade running with surface ships.

Beginning in 1943, the Germans and Japanese attempted to ship cargo via submarine but the results were hardly better.

German blockade runner badge of WWII. It was awarded to crews who successfully brought cargo to Gerrman-occupied France or assisted in the scuttling of vessels to prevent capture by the allies.