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Emden Shells Madras
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Emden Shells Madras
The German cruiser Emden bombards the oil tanks in the harbour of Madras, India, and causes substantial damage to shipping. But she, too, will be destroyed
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Media ID 598180
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Bombards Cruiser Damage Destroyed Emden Madras Shells Shipping Substantial Tanks
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September 1914: The German Cruiser Emden's Surprise Attack on Madras Harbour, India In the early days of World War I, the German light cruiser Emden, under the command of Captain Karl von Müller, embarked on a daring and destructive mission in the Indian Ocean. On the night of September 22, 1914, the Emden entered the well-defended harbour of Madras, then a major British colonial port in India, and began a surprise bombardment that would leave a lasting impact on the region's maritime history. The Emden's shells rained down on the harbour, targeting the valuable oil tanks that fueled the ships of the British Royal Navy and merchant fleet. The explosions that followed caused substantial damage to the tanks and the surrounding infrastructure, disrupting shipping and commerce in the region. The attack also claimed the lives of several Indian civilians and British soldiers. The audacious raid by the Emden, which was part of a larger German strategy to disrupt Allied shipping lines, demonstrated the reach and capabilities of the German Navy in the early stages of the war. However, the Emden's success was short-lived. The British were able to track down and destroy the cruiser in the Cocos Islands on November 9, 1914. This historic photograph captures the aftermath of the Emden's attack on Madras Harbour, with smoke rising from the damaged oil tanks and the harbour's defenses in the background. The event remains an important chapter in the military history of India and the Indian Ocean, and a reminder of the far-reaching consequences of the global conflict that engulfed the world in 1914.
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