Dutch tanker Hermes bound for England according to a letter of the German naval attaché at Istanbul dated 9 December 1939

In his letter dated Istanbul, 9 December 1939 No. 505 g. reported the German naval attaché to the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht Abteilung Ausland the ships passing Istanbul coming out of the Black Sea westward bound and loaded with contraband for the enemy. An item reported the Dutch tanker Hermes passing on 7 December with 4,880 ton petrol for England, declared Gibraltar for orders.

Source

Bundesarchiv. German Marineattaché for , Greece, Romania and Bulgaria 1939-1941. RM 12-II/459.