The Bombardment of Papeete occurred Presence in French Polynesia when German warships attacked Attack on 22 September 1914 , during World War I .

The German armoured cruisers and entered Arriving the port of Papeete on the island of Tahiti and sank Removing the French gunboat and freighter `` Walküre '' before bombarding Attack the town 's fortifications .

Several of Papeete 's buildings were destroyed Destroying and the town 's economy was severely disrupted Damaging .

The depletion Expend_resource of `` Scharnhorst '' s and `` Gneisenau '' s ammunition at Papeete also contributed Causation to their subsequent destruction Destroying at the Battle Hostile_encounter of the Falklands .