With the approaching centenary of the outbreak of the First World War, I’ve been looking at our holdings relating to the escape of the German Battle cruiser SMS Goeben and the Light Cruiser SMS Breslau. In 1914, with the outbreak of war seemingly imminent, one of the Admiralty’s main concerns was the elimination of various German warships that were deployed around the globe. The failure of the British Mediterranean Fleet to prevent the escape of these ships in particular would have lasting consequences. Both ships succeeded in escaping from the Adriatic and reached Constantinople (Istanbul) where their presence contributed towards the Ottoman Empire joining the Central Powers of Germany and Austria-Hungary. Both ships would be gifted to the Ottoman Navy by their new German allies.
Orders for the Commander in Chief, Mediterranean, 1914
I find this event interesting because it shows just how many different possibilities were being considered by the Admiralty at the time war broke out, as you can see in the telegram below (MLN/209/7). It also illustrates how the actions or errors of a few people in these early days would have a long term impact on the war.
The Caird Library and Archive holds a variety of modern and manuscript material relating to this incident, some of which is listed below and more can be found by searching our online catalogues.
Available via the Library Catalogue: http://www.rmg.co.uk/librarycatalogue
The flight of the Goeben and the Breslau: an episode in naval history
1921, Milne, A Berkeley, Sir.
Two lone ships : Goeben and Breslau
1931, Kopp, Georg.
The escape of the Goeben : prelude to Gallipoli
1974, McLaughlin, Redmond.
The hunters and the hunted
2012, Perrett, Bryan.
The ship that changed the world : the escape of the Goeben to the Dardanelles in 1914 1985, Van der Vat, Dan.
KEL/13 – Includes a German account of the GOEBEN and BRESLAU.
LIM/16 - An Account by an Italian of the Escape of the German Men-of-War "Goeben" and "Breslau" into the Dardanelles in Aug 1914 copied from the manuscripts at Malta, Jan 1916.
MLN/207/1 - Mediterranean Station, GOEBEN-BRESLAU Case Papers, 1914-20: copies of correspondence and reports, 20 Aug 1914-29 Aug 1914, between Milne and the Admiralty
MLN/209/7 - Folder containing various letters written to Admiral Sir Archibald Berkeley Milne in 1914 concerning activities in the Mediterranean fleet. Also contains official letters from the admiralty concerning his failure to bring the German ships GOEBEN and BRESLAU to battle dated 24-27 August 1914, also includes a letter from Churchill informing him that he would now not be taking command of the NORE to which his appointment had previously been announced publicly.
MLN/209/21 - Folder of telegrams marked "Volume 1" relating to the outbreak of the First World War and the GOEBEN, BRESLAU incident and Milne's other activities at the beginning of the war.
