Maximilian von Spee

Spee commanded the German East Asia Squadron in a naval battle off the coast of Chile. His force sank two British cruisers, HMS Good Hope and HMS Monmouth, with no German losses. It was the first British naval defeat in a century.

Spee's squadron attempted to raid the British coaling station at Port Stanley, but was intercepted by a superior British force including battlecruisers. Spee and most of his ships were sunk. He died in the battle.

Spee's squadron bombarded the French colonial port of Papeete in Tahiti. The French sank their own gunboat to prevent capture. Spee seized coal and supplies before departing. The raid delayed his voyage to South America.