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Gentlemen of War: The Amazing Story of Captain Karl von Muller and the S.M.S. Emden
The crew of the World War I German surface raider Emden had one of the greatest adventures in naval history-- for three months it seriously impeded British operations in the Indian Ocean. The Emden sank two warships and sixteen merchantmen, captured four colliers, shelled the harbor at Madras and raided Penang. In the end seventy-eight British ships were required to run her down. Even being captured left the gallant crew undaunted.
205 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1983
About the author
Dan van der Vat
19 books10 followersDaniël Francis Jeroen van der Vat was born in the Netherlands and educated in Britain. He worked as a journalist for British newspapers including The Times and The Guardian.
His books on twentieth-century history include many works on Naval history.
His books on twentieth-century history include many works on Naval history.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 26, 2022
3.5/5 being generous I'm rounding up for goodreads.
Not that much to say about it. Just under 200 pages. An old blow by blow story of the German cruiser Emden's commerce raiding in the Indian Ocean during the early months of WWI as well as the story of the crew after the Emden was defeated. Decently well written and enjoyable to read. Overall I'd say it is worth a read if you are interested in naval history or WWI outside Europe.
Not that much to say about it. Just under 200 pages. An old blow by blow story of the German cruiser Emden's commerce raiding in the Indian Ocean during the early months of WWI as well as the story of the crew after the Emden was defeated. Decently well written and enjoyable to read. Overall I'd say it is worth a read if you are interested in naval history or WWI outside Europe.
February 2, 2017
A thoroughly enjoyable book. Van der Vat manages to make, what was admittedly a minor sideshow in the great tragedy of the First World War, a highly engrossing tale. Personal kudos as well for not becoming swamped in naval minutiae either (I'm still not entirely sure just how fast a "knot" really is)! A perfect choice for anyone with an interest in military history that's looking looking for a relatively-short read!
March 5, 2026
Interesting title.
SMS Emden's record as an undisguised surface raider is beyond dispute. In an operational career lasting barely two months she sank sixteen British merchantmen, a Russian cruiser and a French destroyer, captured five other merchant ships, and shelled Madras. As with other detached raiders the effect on morale, the disruption to shipping and the resources hunting her were out of proportion to the tonnage sunk. As a final snub to the blockade the landing party stranded ashore when Emden met her fate struggled back through almost unimaginable difficulties to a heroes' welcome.
And yet, and yet....
There were three ways to try surface commerce raiding (I discount U-boats here). One was to use an overt warship such as the light and armoured cruisers at the Kaiser's disposal in 1914. Dresden lasted until March 1915 and Karlsruhe slightly exceeded Emden's merchant 'score'. ((See Nick Hewitt's The Kaiser's Pirates: Hunting Germany's Raiding Cruisers in World War I for an excellent treatment of this topic)). In WW2 this approach was exemplified by the surprising success of the 'Deutschland' class pocket battleships and 'Scharnhorst' class battlecruisers.
Then there was the use of civilian liners converted to armed merchant cruisers (AMCs). They seemed like a good idea at the time. Their speed was a good idea, limited endurance and high freeboard much less so. They were swept up in fairly short order, though on the Allied side they had some value as escorts.
Finally, and most successfully, were the inconspicuous merchantmen kitted out with hidden armament and able to adopt false identities at will. They caused serious disruption in both wars.
So, having argued that Emden was neither the last nor the most successful of Germany's surface raiders, she still set a pretty impressive record. The book is well researched and written, but I feel the author falls into the biographer's trap of over-identification with his subject. This leads to a few questionable statements.
Among the most interesting threads is the story of Julius Lauterbach, a larger-than-life merchant skipper and naval reservist who joined the ship just before the outbreak of war and ended up making his own way home. He caught my eye especially because he pops up again in my own Castaways in Question: A story of British naval interrogators from WW1 to denazification. I thought he had died in that event, but apparently not.
SMS Emden's record as an undisguised surface raider is beyond dispute. In an operational career lasting barely two months she sank sixteen British merchantmen, a Russian cruiser and a French destroyer, captured five other merchant ships, and shelled Madras. As with other detached raiders the effect on morale, the disruption to shipping and the resources hunting her were out of proportion to the tonnage sunk. As a final snub to the blockade the landing party stranded ashore when Emden met her fate struggled back through almost unimaginable difficulties to a heroes' welcome.
And yet, and yet....
There were three ways to try surface commerce raiding (I discount U-boats here). One was to use an overt warship such as the light and armoured cruisers at the Kaiser's disposal in 1914. Dresden lasted until March 1915 and Karlsruhe slightly exceeded Emden's merchant 'score'. ((See Nick Hewitt's The Kaiser's Pirates: Hunting Germany's Raiding Cruisers in World War I for an excellent treatment of this topic)). In WW2 this approach was exemplified by the surprising success of the 'Deutschland' class pocket battleships and 'Scharnhorst' class battlecruisers.
Then there was the use of civilian liners converted to armed merchant cruisers (AMCs). They seemed like a good idea at the time. Their speed was a good idea, limited endurance and high freeboard much less so. They were swept up in fairly short order, though on the Allied side they had some value as escorts.
Finally, and most successfully, were the inconspicuous merchantmen kitted out with hidden armament and able to adopt false identities at will. They caused serious disruption in both wars.
So, having argued that Emden was neither the last nor the most successful of Germany's surface raiders, she still set a pretty impressive record. The book is well researched and written, but I feel the author falls into the biographer's trap of over-identification with his subject. This leads to a few questionable statements.
Among the most interesting threads is the story of Julius Lauterbach, a larger-than-life merchant skipper and naval reservist who joined the ship just before the outbreak of war and ended up making his own way home. He caught my eye especially because he pops up again in my own Castaways in Question: A story of British naval interrogators from WW1 to denazification. I thought he had died in that event, but apparently not.
January 26, 2022
The Last Corsair by Dan van der Vat is a great little book about the German light Cruiser Emden’s actions in World War I. She was the most successful open surface raider of WWI. Operating in the Indian Ocean where the Royal Navy in particular and Britain and Allies more broadly held an immense naval advantage over the Central Powers (Germany/Austria-Hungary/Ottoman Turkey) the Emden not only managed to regularly give the British the slip but inflicted considerable damage at the same time. That this was done in an almost entirely honourable fashion – taking crews off merchant ships, or attacking military targets to avoid civilian casualties – makes the achievement all the more remarkable.
But that is just the half of it. Part of the Emden’s crew had an epic voyage and trek to get back to Germany while avoiding capture and this is told too. Van der Vat therefore has a great story to play with. It is a story that is very well told. Interesting and engaging.
I had thought the split of the book into two rather different halves would make it a bit discordant but ultimately this was not too much of an issue. I did however find the second half less interesting. It is unfortunate that the most rounded characters were not involved in the trek back to Germany, or in one case went by a different route. I therefore did not feel as involved and engrossed with the second half.
Definitely one I recommend. And the narrative is strong enough to likely make it of interest to those who are not otherwise interested in military or naval history. It is good to see books on naval action in the World Wars that are not from a British or American perspective which is much more common.
But that is just the half of it. Part of the Emden’s crew had an epic voyage and trek to get back to Germany while avoiding capture and this is told too. Van der Vat therefore has a great story to play with. It is a story that is very well told. Interesting and engaging.
I had thought the split of the book into two rather different halves would make it a bit discordant but ultimately this was not too much of an issue. I did however find the second half less interesting. It is unfortunate that the most rounded characters were not involved in the trek back to Germany, or in one case went by a different route. I therefore did not feel as involved and engrossed with the second half.
Definitely one I recommend. And the narrative is strong enough to likely make it of interest to those who are not otherwise interested in military or naval history. It is good to see books on naval action in the World Wars that are not from a British or American perspective which is much more common.
July 7, 2017
I can’t get enough about the Emden. This book is particularly good about the journey of the detached landing party from the Indian Ocean to Constantinople/
September 12, 2019
An entertaining and thoroughly researched book on the Ship, Captain and crew. This would be an excellent movie made during the 60s/70s if it was well done. Interesting personalities and story.
June 25, 2015
This book follows the adventures of the SMS Emden, a single German warship stranded in the Pacific at the beginning of World War I. Over the course of the following weeks the ship cut a swath through enemy merchant shipping all across the Indian Ocean. There are several battles, both on land and at sea, and enough excitement to last a lifetime.
The story is well told and easy to follow--no mean feat, given how much action there is to summarize. The author manages to keep track of the motions of the Emden itself, plus several navies searching for it and some of the other German vessels. The people involved take on real personality and you get a feel for the humanity behind the action.
The one downside to the book is the lack of detailed maps. The final chapter of the book, which explains what happened to several of the participants after the war, is heartbreaking, but you can't blame that on the author. The best and most capable military officers don't always adapt well to peacetime.
The story is well told and easy to follow--no mean feat, given how much action there is to summarize. The author manages to keep track of the motions of the Emden itself, plus several navies searching for it and some of the other German vessels. The people involved take on real personality and you get a feel for the humanity behind the action.
The one downside to the book is the lack of detailed maps. The final chapter of the book, which explains what happened to several of the participants after the war, is heartbreaking, but you can't blame that on the author. The best and most capable military officers don't always adapt well to peacetime.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 22, 2015
A book about the daring, chivalrous Captain and crew of the WW1 Commerce Raider SS Emden.
This book reads like a boy's own adventure with swashbuckling bravery, subterfuge, tragedy, humour, humanity, heroic stoicism and finally medals.
I cannot believe there has never been a feature film made of this true story?
This book is in my top ten all time reads.
This book reads like a boy's own adventure with swashbuckling bravery, subterfuge, tragedy, humour, humanity, heroic stoicism and finally medals.
I cannot believe there has never been a feature film made of this true story?
This book is in my top ten all time reads.
May 28, 2015
What a fascinating story and one that is from an era long gone. Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews