Sign commemorating raid on Nazi ship donated to museum

A sign put up by the Germans to commemorate the raid of the Altmark to release 299 British prisoners has been donated to a museum 70 years after the incident.

On February 16 1940, the crew of HMS Cossack safely rescued their comrades from the German prison ship in Norwegian waters.

Following the occupation of the Scandinavian country, a sign was erected saying in German: "Here on 16th Feb. 1940 the Altmark was set upon by a British sea-pirate".

The sign was double-sided and when liberated by British airborne forces in 1944, one side was given to Admiral Philip Vian and the other side retained by the airborne forces.

The side given to Admiral Vian has now been donated through the HMS Cossack Association to the National Museum of the Royal Navy in Portsmouth, Hampshire, where it will go on public display.

The Altmark was the supply ship to the German pocket battleship the Graf Spee and also acted as a prison ship picking up survivors from ships sunk by the Graf Spee.

Following the Battle of the River Plate in December 1939, during which the Graf Spee was sunk, the Altmark slowly made its way home, reaching Norwegian waters in February 1940.

The cruiser Arethusa and five destroyers including HMS Cossack set sail from Scotland, officially to carry out ice reconnaissance, but accompanied by a strong rumour they were searching for the German prison ship.

The naval attache at the British Embassy in Oslo learned that Altmark was steaming two miles off the Norwegian coast and signalled the admiralty.

Admiral Vian, the "ice reconnaissance" flotilla commander, was informed and began the search for Altmark.

After stopping several vessels, Altmark was finally found by the Royal Navy and chased to Jossingfjord.

After attempts to negotiate with the Norwegians to force Altmark from the fjord failed, HMS Cossack came alongside and a party boarded the Altmark.

A hold was opened up and a sailor shouted down: "Are there any Englishmen down there?"

When the reply was a resounding yes the now famous words, "Then come up. The Navy's here" were shouted down.

Four Germans were killed and five wounded in the short action but only one of the Royal Navy boarding party was injured and 299 captives were released.