The Crew of the German Auxiliary Cruiser Cap Trafalgar in Buenos Aires: Internment and Captivity during the First World War

Abstract

When the First World War broke out, the Cap Trafalgar, a modern German ocean liner docked in the port of Buenos Aires, was converted into an auxiliary cruiser of the Imperial German Navy. Its operational career proved short and unsuccessful, for shortly after setting sail towards the coast of Brazil with the mission of disrupting Allied trade in the region, it was sunk by a British auxiliary cruiser. This article focuses on the experience of its crew, rescued and brought to Argentina, where they remained interned until the end of the war. The analysis examines the conditions of captivity, paying attention both to daily life and to the psychological strains arising from prolonged confinement in a foreign land. It also explores the role of the local German-speaking community, which organized networks of solidarity and support to alleviate the hardships faced by the sailors. The research draws on documentation from the Historical Archives of the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and is complemented by reports from numerous newspapers, particularly the German-language press published in Buenos Aires.