After conducting training and gunnery exercises off Spain and Portugal the corvette SMS Gneisenau made for
the port at Malaga, Spain, on board were fourteen officers, forty-nine cadets, two hundred men and two hundred
and thirty boys training for a career in the German navy. The ship anchored just outside the entrance of the
harbor on Dec. 16, 1900 and the boys were being inspected when a gale blew in. The captain, Kretzschmann,
ordered the engines to make steam, but before this could the anchor parted and she was dashed onto the rocks
and began to sink. Within a half an hour the ship was resting on the bottom, only her masts still visible.

Men and boys jumped into the sea and swam to shore, many were rescued by local seamen, including Angel Tou,
who rescued more than 15 himself by passing a rope to the stricken ship and hauling the men ashore. Soon the
news of the loss was reported and at first it was thought that most of those on board had gone down with the
ship. The numbers were later revised to "about 100", but it seems that the press jumped the gun and the final
toll was forty-two, including Kretzschmann.

Kretzschmann, was reported to have refused rescue and even tossed his sword to a Spanish seaman who
attempted to remove him from the ship. However, it was later said that he caused the loss of his ship by
refusing to move her into the harbor before the storm arrived, a fact he was informed of.

Owing to the large number of young men on board and the possible heavy loss of life, the news of the sinking
caused a great outpouring of sympathy from around the world, including Vice Admiral Sir John Fisher who
telegraphed from Malta "the warm sympathy of the Mediterranean Squadron" to Emperor and to the German
navy. The Admiralty even dispatched HMS Pioneer to the scene from Malta to render what ever assistance she
could. Other messages came from the Queen-Regent of Spain, the French Minister of Marine, the King of Italy
Victor Emmaunal III and the Sultan of Turkey just to name a few.

The following appeared in the North German Gazette;
"Germany deeply mourns the loss of these gallant sailors who perished in the faithful discharge of their
duty. It is a tragic coincidence that, about the very hour when the capital of the German Empire was preparing to celebrate a day of honour for the navy by its reception of the men returning from China, the comrades of these men were struggling for their lives with the waves of the Mediterranean. Instead of the joy of the approaching Christmastide sorrow will now enter many a home in the German Empire."

Kaiser Wilhelm II made the following statement;
"My navy has again made great sacrifices, but it will not allow itself to be turned aside from its proud duty of struggle and endurance, no matter what trials God's Providence may place upon it; of that I am confident."

Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz, Secretary of State for the Navy, sent the following message to to Vice-Admiral Sir John Fisher, Commander of the Mediterranean Squadron, in reply to his telegram;
" The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has informed me of your Excellency's telegram regarding the loss of the
Gneisenau. In the name of the German navy I offer your Excellency and your comrades of the Mediterranean Fleet my warmest thanks for your sympathy and your offer of assistance. Should aid at the scene of the disaster be needed, I know that the German navy can count on the Queen of England's Mediterranean Fleet."

The survivors were take to hospitals and even housed in private homes until arrangements could be made
for their return to Germany. Less than a decade and a half later some of those who survived the loss of the
Gneisenau were shooting at the Royal Navy, and the respect shown between Fisher and Tirpitz would be
forgotten.