Synopses & Reviews
Duffy discusses in rich detail the dire and dramatic true story of the sinking of the British Liner Laconia by the dreaded U-Boat 156, a vessel crowded with 1800 Italian POWs; 103 Polish soldiers; and 463 officers and crew. Lieutenant-Commander Werner Hartenstein, ace sub skipper whose reputation as a brilliant sub commander and a gentleman was widely known in the submarine service, would destroy the vessel only to find out that allied POWs were among the victims. Hartenstein immediately began rescue operations, but the small submarine was a poor lifeboat for so many in need. Off the coast of West Africa, allied and axis powers met in rescue attempts, but were nonetheless forced to leave over 1,000 survivors to their watery graves.
Duffy discusses in rich detail the dire and dramatic true story of the sinking of the British Liner Laconia by the dreaded U-Boat 156, a vessel crowded with 1800 Italian POWs; 103 Polish soldiers; and 463 officers and crew. Lieutenant-Commander Werner Hartenstein, ace sub skipper whose reputation as a brilliant sub commander and a gentleman was widely known in the submarine service, would destroy the vessel only to find out that allied POWs were among the victims. Hartenstein immediately began rescue operations, but the small submarine was a poor lifeboat for so many in need. Off the coast of West Africa, allied and axis powers met in rescue attempts, but were nonetheless forced to leave over 1,000 survivors to their watery graves.
This dramatic book highlights the trials and tribulations of World War II at sea, focusing on German U-boat 156 commanded by Admiral Werner Hartenstein, which mistakenly fired torpedoes into the British Liner Laconia off the coast of West Africa on September 12, 1942. What transpired quickly after was a temporary cease-fire to focus on the rescue efforts of both Allied and Axis Power survivors. Despite operating under a Red Cross signal, miscommunication on allied and axis fronts lead to over 1,000 fatalities. Soon, post-war charges of war crimes at sea followed based on Admiral Karl Doenitz's instruction's known as the Laconia Order. His instructions were: all attempts to rescue the crews of sunken ships will cease forthwith. The Laconia Order forbade any other remaining survivors from receiving any form of rescue at sea. Over the next five days two U-boats, one Italian submarine, and finally two French warships arrived to assist in rescue efforts. The order provoked an international outcry against what was called the inhumane treatment of survivors stranded at sea.
Review
"Duffy is an author and military historian, and he documents the controversial 1942 sinking of the British liner Laconia and the rescue operations that were initiated by the same German U-Boat that fired the torpedoes. Written for military and history buffs, this book details the moral and procedural complexities of confrontations between military and merchant forces, especially in regards to ships such as the Laconia that were transporting POWs and operating under the flags of the Red Cross. The consequences of the sinking, which resulted in indictments at the Nuremburg Trials, are also analyzed." - Reference & Research Book News
Synopsis
Duffy discusses in rich detail the dire and dramatic true story of the sinking of the British Liner
Laconia by the dreaded U-Boat 156, a vessel crowded with 1800 Italian POWs, 103 Polish soldiers, and 463 officers and crew. As Laconia went down, U-156 surfaced and sent a signal that brought two other U-boats, an Italian submarine, and three Vichy French warships to assist with rescue operations. But on the morning of September 16, a U.S. bomber flew over U-156, now packed with several hundred Laconia survivors. The crew unfurled a large Red Cross flag. Nevertheless, the submarine was attacked. The
Laconia survivors were ordered over the side into lifeboats. Damaged, U-156 left the area as other U-boats commenced rescue operations.
In the wake of the incident, German Admiral Karl Donitz issued the Laconia Order demanding that all attempts to rescue Allied survivors of merchant ships be ended. The order provoked an international outcry against inhumane treatment of survivors stranded at sea. In the aftermath of the war, Donitz was charged and acquitted of war crimes in connection with this order.
Synopsis
Packed with rich detail and analysis, this exciting tale of war at sea relates the dramatic and moving true story of the sinking of the British liner Laconia and its consequences for the conduct of marine warfare.
Synopsis
• Relates a dramatic and little-known tale that and had major repercussions for the conduct of World War II at sea
• Highlights the trials and tribulations, the humanity and inhumanity, that were all part of this global conflagration
Synopsis
. 19 illustrations