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{{Short description|German attacks on Nauru in the Second World War}}
{{good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{Infobox military conflict
|conflict = German attacks on Nauru
|partof = [[World War II]]
|image = [[File:Wrecked Cantilever Nauru.jpg|300px|alt=Black and white photograph of an industrial facility that juts out over a body of water. The facility appears damaged as large sections of it are sloping into the water.|Damaged phosphate cantilever loading equipment following the German bombardment of Nauru on 27 December 1940]]
|caption = Damaged phosphate cantilever loading equipment following the German bombardment of Nauru on 27 December 1940
|date = 6–8&nbsp;December and 27&nbsp;December 1940
|place = [[Nauru]]
|territory =
|result = German victory
|status =
|combatant1 = {{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} [[Nazi Germany|Germany]]
|combatant2 = {{flag|Australia}}<br/>{{flag|United Kingdom}}<br/>{{flag|Norway}}
|commander1 = {{flagicon|Nazi Germany}} [[Robert Eyssen]]
|commander2 =
|strength1 = 2 [[auxiliary cruiser]]s<br/>1 [[Combat stores ship|supply ship]]
|strength2 = No military presence
|casualties1 = None
|casualties2 = 5 merchant ships sunk<br/>Damage to phosphate<br/>loading facilities
|notes =
}}
{{Axis naval attacks on Australia}}

The '''German attacks on Nauru''' during [[World War II]] were conducted in December 1940 on the island of [[Nauru]], an Australian-administered [[League of Nations mandate]] in the [[Pacific Ocean|Central Pacific]]. Nauru was of considerable strategic importance for its [[phosphate]] resources. The attacks were conducted by [[auxiliary cruiser]]s from 6 to 8&nbsp;December and on 27 December. The raiders sank five [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] merchant ships and inflicted serious damage on Nauru's economically important phosphate-loading facilities. Under the terms of the League of Nations mandate, the island had no fortifications or military facilities and was consequently undefended, with the German forces unimpeded in their operations.

The two attacks were the most effective operations conducted by German raiders in the Pacific Ocean in World War II. They disrupted supplies of phosphate to Australia, New Zealand and Japan, which reduced agricultural production in these countries. In response, Allied naval vessels were deployed to protect Nauru and nearby [[Banaba Island|Ocean Island]] and escort shipping in the South Pacific. Small garrisons were also established to protect the two islands, but Nauru was ultimately evacuated of most non-indigenous residents following the [[attack on Pearl Harbor]] and was [[Japanese occupation of Nauru|invaded by the Japanese in 1942]].

==Background==
Nauru and nearby Ocean Island were important sources of phosphate for Australian and [[New Zealand]] fertilizer production and played an important role in both countries' agricultural industries at the time of World War II. The [[Melbourne]]-based [[British Phosphate Commission]] (BPC) managed the extraction and export of phosphate from the islands and dominated all aspects of Nauruan life.<ref name="Pretes_24-25">Pretes (2003), pp. 24–25</ref> In the year ending 30&nbsp;June 1940, the BPC shipped almost a million tons of phosphate from Nauru and about half that amount from Ocean Island using its fleet of four vessels (''Triadic'', ''Triaster'', ''Triona'' and ''Trienza'') and chartered merchant ships.<ref name="Gill_276-277">Gill (1957), pp. 276–277</ref>

As the islands have no [[harbour]]s or [[Anchorage (shipping)|anchorage]]s, the phosphate ships were loaded by securing to deep moorings and embarking their cargo via [[cantilever]] jetties. During  southwesterly wind periods, which are common from November to March, the ships had to stop loading and sail away from the island until conditions improved. It was common for these ships to be allowed to drift to save fuel, and there were often several ships lying off Nauru.<ref name= "Gill_277">Gill (1957), p. 277</ref>

Under the terms of the [[League of Nations mandate]] system, Australia was prohibited from establishing a military or naval base or erecting fortifications on Nauru, despite the island's importance to the Australian and New Zealand economies.<ref>{{cite news|title=Nauru|first=David M.|last=Green|magazine=After the Battle|year=1997|issue=94|url=https://nauru-data.sprep.org/index.php/system/files/Nauru%20Historical%20Cttee%20%28%20-%20%29%20Nauru%20war%20sites%20and%20relics.pdf|page=21}}</ref> Nauru had been allocated low priority for the limited naval assets which were available to protect the [[Australia Station]] and both islands were undefended in December 1940. Strategic stockpiles of phosphate had been built up in Australia, however, to lessen the impact of an attack on the islands.<ref name="Gill_283">Gill (1957), p. 283</ref>

In late October 1940, the German raider {{Ship|German auxiliary cruiser|Orion||2}},<ref name="Orion1">{{cite web|title= Hilfskreuzer (Auxiliary Cruiser) Orion|url= http://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck_class/hilfskreuzer/orion.html|access-date= 5 December 2013|archive-date= 10 August 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140810224100/http://www.bismarck-class.dk/hilfskreuzer/orion.html|url-status= dead}}</ref> which was commanded by Captain [[Kurt Weyher]] met {{Ship|German auxiliary cruiser|Komet||2}},<ref name="Komet1">{{cite web|title = Hilfskreuzer (Auxiliary Cruiser) Komet |url= http://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck_class/hilfskreuzer/komet.html|access-date= 5 December 2013}}</ref> which came under the command of Captain [[Robert Eyssen]], and the supply ship [[Kulmerland (ship)|''Kulmerland'']] at [[Lamotrek]] in the [[Caroline Islands]]. Eyssen was the more [[Seniority|senior]] of the two captains, and assumed overall command of the force.<ref name="Gill_280">Gill (1957), p. 280</ref> The three ships [[Axis naval activity in New Zealand waters|operated off New Zealand's east coast]] for 18 days in November and sank the small coaster ''[[Holmwood ships#Tees (1911-1940, Holmwood 1940)|Holmwood]]'' and large ocean liner {{MS|Rangitane|1929|2}} with gunfire without being detected by the weak New Zealand defences on 25 and 27&nbsp;November respectively.<ref name="Jackson_94">Jackson (1998), p. 94</ref> Following these attacks, the raiders proceeded to the [[Kermadec Islands]] where they transferred their women and children prisoners to ''Kulmerland'' on 29 November. The three ships then proceeded to Nauru to attack the island's phosphate industry and the concentration of shipping which the German captains knew was usually present.<ref name="Gill_280"/>

==Attacks on Nauru==
[[File:German WWII on West Pacific Ocean map-en.svg|thumb|300px|right|alt=Map of the South Pacific showing the routes taken by the German vessels and locations where Allied ships were sunk as described in the article|Movements of the three German ships in December 1940 and January 1941]]
The German force encountered its first BPC ship while ''en route'' to Nauru. On 6&nbsp;December, ''Triona'' ({{convert|4413|LT|t|lk=on|abbr=on}}) was attacked northeast of the [[Solomon Islands]] and was sunk with [[torpedo]]es after a chase in which three of her crew were killed by the raiders' guns. All 68 survivors were captured.<ref name="Gill_280"/>

The raider captains intended to land a shore party and bombard Nauru's shore installations at dawn on 8&nbsp;December, but bad weather forced them to concentrate on the ships which were off the island. On the evening of 7&nbsp;December, ''Komet''—which had gone ahead to reconnoitre and was disguised as the Japanese merchant ship ''Manyo Maru''—sank the [[Norway|Norwegian]] merchant ship ''Vinni'' ({{convert|5181|LT|t|abbr=on}})<ref>{{cite web |url=http://warsailors.com/raidervictims/vinni.html |title=MS ''Vinni''{{'}}s Story, Victim of Komet |access-date=2008-09-05 |publisher= Warsailors.com }}</ref> about {{convert|9|mi|km}} south of Nauru. While the raider was spotted from the shore, her disguise was successful and she was assumed to be a merchant ship bound for Japan.<ref name="Gill_281">Gill (1957), p. 281</ref>

''Orion'' joined ''Komet'' off Nauru in the early hours of 8 December, and attacked and damaged ''Triadic'' ({{convert|6378|LT|t|abbr=on}}) and sank ''Triaster'' ({{convert|6032|LT|t|abbr=on}}). ''Komet'' then tried to sink ''Triadic'' with [[scuttling]] charges, but this was unsuccessful and ''Orion'' sank the merchant ship with gunfire. ''Komet'' later sank the British steamer ''Komata'' ({{convert|3900|LT|t|abbr=on}}). Following these attacks, the two raiders and ''Kulmerland'' withdrew and assembled {{convert|20|mi|nmi km|lk=on|abbr=on}} east of Nauru. As the weather precluded a landing on the island, it was decided that ''Komet'' and ''Kulmerland'' would go to [[Ailinglaplap Atoll|Ailinglaplap]] in the [[Marshall Islands]], where ''Komet'' would refuel while ''Orion'' operated northwest of Nauru. After this, the ships met off the island and make another attempt to land a raiding party.<ref name="Gill_281"/>

[[File:Germans attacks on Nauru-en.svg|thumb|300px|left|alt=Map of the Nauru region showing the movements of German ships and locations where Allied ships were sunk as described in the article|The German attacks on Nauru on 7–8&nbsp;December and 27&nbsp;December 1940.]]
When the German force reassembled off Nauru on 15&nbsp;December, the weather remained too bad to allow a landing, so the attack on Nauru was broken off. Further attacks on shipping were judged impractical, as the raiders had intercepted radio messages ordering vessels bound for Nauru and Ocean Island to disperse. Instead, the three German ships proceeded to the Australian-administered island of [[Emirau]] to disembark the 675 prisoners they were carrying.<ref name="Gill_281"/> Weyher refused to release any of the European ethnic prisoners on board ''Orion'', as he believed that "trained officers and crews are as much a problem for Britain as shipping itself". The ships landed 343 Europeans and 171 Chinese and South Pacific-ethnic people.<ref name="Waters_145">Waters (1956), p. 145</ref> The prisoners on ''Orion'' were eventually taken back to Germany, where most of them saw out the war in the [[Marlag und Milag Nord]] prison camps in Germany.

Fortunately for the Germans, Emirau was one of the few islands in the region to not have a [[Royal Australian Navy]]-supplied radio to contact the Australian authorities.<ref name="Jackson_95">Jackson (1998), p. 95</ref> The two European families on the island provided the released prisoners with supplies, and sent a canoe to [[Kavieng]] in [[New Ireland (island)|New Ireland]] to notify the Australian colonial government. A [[schooner]] was dispatched to bring additional supplies to Emirau, and arrived there on 24&nbsp;December. The colonial administrator of [[New Britain]] and further supplies was also flown to Emirau on board a flying boat. The released prisoners were embarked onto the steamer ''Nellore'' on 29&nbsp;December to be transported to [[Townsville]] in [[Queensland]], where they arrived on 1 January&nbsp;1941. They provided useful intelligence on the German raiders' operations, and the German Naval Staff issued a directive on 19&nbsp;February 1941 prohibiting raiders from releasing further prisoners.<ref name="Waters_145-146">Waters (1956), pp. 145–146</ref>

The three German ships parted company after leaving Emirau on 21&nbsp;December. ''Orion'' proceeded to Lamutrik and then [[Maug Islands|Maug]] in the [[Mariana Islands]] to overhaul her engines, ''Kulmerland'' went to Japan, and only ''Komet'' continued operations in the South Pacific. She attempted to lay [[naval mine|mines]] off [[Rabaul]] on 24&nbsp;December using her motor boat, but this project was abandoned when the boat's engines failed.<ref name="Gill_281"/>

''Komet'' returned to Nauru following the unsuccessful attempt to mine Rabaul, and arrived off the island at 05:45 on the morning of 27&nbsp;December. After issuing a warning for those on shore to not use radio and signalling her intent to destroy the phosphate loading plant, she opened fire at 06:40. The bombardment lasted for about an hour, during which the raider wrecked the loading plant, oil tanks, boats, buildings and mooring buoys. Following this attack, she sailed to the southeast and Nauru broadcast news of the attack to Australia.<ref name="Gill_281"/> This was the last visit of German ships to Nauru during the war, and ''Komet'' moved to the [[Indian Ocean]].<ref name="Gill_282">Gill (1957), p. 282</ref>

==Aftermath==
[[File:HMAS Manoora Nauru.jpg|thumb|alt=Black and white photo of a large ship anchored off a beach. A damaged buoy is in the foreground of the photo.|HMAS ''Manoora'' off Nauru in January 1941]]

The German raids on Nauru affected the Australian and New Zealand economies and were the greatest success achieved by German raiders in the Pacific Ocean in World War II.<ref name= "Waters_147-148">Waters (1956), pp. 147–148</ref> It took ten weeks to resume phosphate shipments from Nauru, and the loss of ships and damaged infrastructure led to a significant decline in output. The resulting phosphate shortages forced the introduction of fertilizer [[rationing]] in New Zealand from July 1941. ''Komet''{{'}}s bombardment of the island also interfered with phosphate consignments to Japan, which caused the Japanese government to threaten to reduce the aid it was providing to Germany.<ref name= "Waters_147-148"/> The success of the attacks on Nauru led to rumours in Australia and New Zealand that the raiders had been aided by treachery in the islands. Several investigations were conducted into the rumours and proved them to be unfounded.<ref name="Gill_282"/>

In response to the attacks, Australian prime minister [[Robert Menzies]] emphasised that Nauru had been undefended under the terms of the League of Nations mandate. Menzies stated that the raids were "another example of German duplicity and lack of regard for any of the common decencies which exist among civilised nations" and would "only deepen, if possible, the disgust with which Nazi Germany is regarded and the contempt in which she is held".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/25840276|title=Nauru Island heavily shelled|newspaper=The Mercury|location=Hobart|date=28 December 1940}}</ref>

Following the raids, the Commonwealth military forces in the Pacific took steps to prevent further attacks by raiders. The [[Royal Australian Air Force]] and [[Royal New Zealand Air Force]] flew an increased number of patrols in search of raiders operating near major ports.<ref name="Forczyk_62">Forczyk (2010), p. 62</ref> In addition, the Australian Naval Board requested that the British Admiralty authorise the redeployment of Australian naval units to meet the threat posed by raiders. This was agreed to, and the [[light cruiser]] {{HMAS|Sydney|1934|6}} and armed merchant cruiser {{HMAS|Kanimbla|1936|6}} returned to Australia from other stations. This allowed naval protection to be provided to Nauru and Ocean islands, and the armed merchant cruiser {{HMAS|Manoora|1935|6}} arrived off Ocean Island on 4&nbsp;January 1941 escorting ''Trienza''. Several Australian and New Zealand warships maintained a continual presence off the islands in subsequent months, and two [[field gun]]s were deployed to each island. The attacks also led to the introduction of [[convoy]]s between Australia and New Zealand.<ref name="Gill_284">Gill (1957), p. 284</ref> The naval authorities were able to use the intelligence they gained from the prisoners landed at Emirau to re-route merchant ships away from the areas in which the German raiders were operating; this greatly reduced the effectiveness of the raiders, and ''Komet'' and ''Orion'' only sank three ships in the period between the attack on Nauru and their return to Europe in late 1941.<ref name=Forczyk_62 />

==Ships sunk==
; by ''Komet''
*1940-12-06 ''Triona'' {{GRT|4413}}
*1940-12-07 ''Vinni''<ref name="Vinni">{{cite web|url=http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?181099|title=MV Vinni (+1940)|publisher=Wreaksite|access-date=5 December 2013}}</ref> {{GRT|5181}}
*1940-12-07 ''Komata''<ref name="Komata">{{cite web|url=http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?136334|title=SS Komata (+1940)|publisher=Wreaksite|access-date=5 December 2013}}</ref> {{GRT|3900}}

; by ''Komet'' together with ''Orion''
*1940-12-08 ''Triadic''<ref name="Triadic">{{cite web|url=http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?31189|title=MV Triadic (+1940)|publisher=Wreaksite|access-date=5 December 2013}}</ref> {{GRT|6378}}
*1940-12-08 ''Triaster''<ref name="Triaster">{{cite web|url=http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?138653|title=MV Triaster (+1940)|publisher=Wreaksite|access-date=5 December 2013}}</ref> {{GRT|6032}}

==See also==
*[[Japanese occupation of Nauru]]
*[[Japanese occupation of the Gilbert Islands]]
*[[Frederick Royden Chalmers]] (Administrator of Nauru)

==Notes==
{{reflist|2}}

==References==
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite book|last=Forczyk|first=Robert|title=German Commerce Raider vs British Cruiser : The Atlantic & The Pacific, 1941|year=2010|publisher=Osprey|location=Oxford|isbn=978-1-84603-918-8}}
*{{cite book |last=Gill |first=G. Hermon |author-link=G. Hermon Gill |title=Royal Australian Navy 1939–1942 |url=https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/RCDIG1070207/|series=[[Australia in the War of 1939–1945|Australia in the War of 1939–1945. Series 2 – Navy]]|volume=1|year=1957 |publisher=Australian War Memorial |location=Canberra |oclc=848228 }}
*{{cite book|last=Jackson|first=Richard|title=Maritime Power in the 20th Century: The Australian Experience|editor=David Stevens|publisher=Allen & Unwin|location=Sydney|year=1998|chapter=Forcing Force Development: The Impact of the German raiders on New Zealand's Maritime Defences|isbn= 1-86448-736-4|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cUcmQvge2pwC&q=Nauru&pg=PA95}}
*{{cite journal|last=Pretes|first=Michael|year=2003|title=The Nauru Connection|journal=Wartime| publisher=Australian War Memorial|location=Canberra|issue=23|issn=1328-2727}}
*{{cite book|last=Waters|first=Sydney David|title=The Royal New Zealand Navy|publisher=Historical Publications Branch|location=Wellington|year=1956|series=The Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939–1945|url=https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2Navy.html}}
{{refend}}

{{coord|0|32|11.28|S|166|54|33.78|E|type:event_region:NR|display=title}}

{{Nauru topics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nauru}}
[[Category:Conflicts in 1940]]
[[Category:1940 in Nauru]]
[[Category:Wars involving Nauru]]
[[Category:Military attacks against Australia]]
[[Category:Naval battles of World War II involving Germany]]
[[Category:Naval battles of World War II involving Australia]]
[[Category:Naval battles of World War II involving Norway]]
[[Category:Pacific Ocean theater of World War II]]
[[Category:Naval battles and operations of World War II involving the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:December 1940 in Oceania]]