Twentieth Century World > World War I

What were the Germans doing in the Falkland Islands?

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skiguy:
OK, I figured it was a raid by the Germans.  It's weird though that the Germans could beat the British in the Battle of Coronel, and not just beat them, they anhilated them. But the British got their revenge in the Battle of the Falkland Islands.

Still doesn't explain strrategic significance for either of them.  Why so concerned with going around the cape when the canal was already open?  Did the US not let any foreign ship pass through at that time?

scout1067:
There are two ways around the Americas, the Cape is one.  As long as the canal is in friendly hands whoever controls the Cape can control world shipping.  This is especially important for a maritime power like britain was at the time.  All traffic does not go through the canal, it has a finite throughput, the Cape route costs more but is not really limited in traffic in any practical sense.

The twin battles of Coronel and The Falklands were not strategic except in the sense that the British eliminated one more threat to merchant traffic.  The German squadron was under instructions to commence commerce raiding.

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