Quote:
Originally Posted by Randomizer
The "against orders of the Nazi high command" comment is a bit of a stretch since BdU actually ordered other U-Boats to U-156's aid prior to the air attack. Still, one can well imagine what a Hollywood version might look like, hopefully this guy can do the incident justice.
Good Hunting
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Correct,
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Meanwhile, back in U-boat headquarters in Paris, Donitz was startled by Hartenstein’s actions. Although he ordered for no such rescues to take place, this time he not only allowed it, but nevertheless supported it. Donitz would explain many years later, “to give them an order contrary to the laws of humanity would have destroyed it (the crews morale) utterly”.
In fact:
" Admiral Dönitz, immediately ordered two other U-boats to divert to the scene".
Under the Hague Conventions (1899 and 1907)
The
Hague Conventions were international treaties negotiated at the First and Second Peace Conferences at The Hague, Netherlands in 1899 and 1907, respectively, and were, along with the Geneva Conventions, among the first formal statements of the laws of war and war crimes in the nascent body of secular international law....
, hospital ships are protected from attack, but their identity must be communicated to belligerents (III, 1-3) (WHICH THE U-BOOT DID), they must be painted white with a Red Cross emblem (III, 5), (OK, SO NOT PAINTED, BUT A FLAG), and must not be used for other purposes (III, 4) (WHICH THE U-BOOT WASN'T). Since a submarine remained a military vessel even if
hors de combat.
Hors de Combat, literally meaning "out of the fight," is a French term used in diplomacy and international law to refer to soldiers who are incapable of performing their military function....
, the Red Cross emblem did not confer automatic protection, although in many cases it would have been allowed as a practical matter. The order given by Richardson has been called a possibleWar crime
War crimes are "violations of the laws or customs of war"; including but not limited to "murder, the ill-treatment or deportation of civilian residents of an occupied territory to slave labor camps", "the murder or ill-treatment of prisoner of war", the killing of hostages, "the wanton destruction of cities, towns and villages, and any devast...
, but the use of a Red Cross flag by an armed military vessel would also be a violation.(I CAN SEE WHY, BUT SURELY IT WAS PLAIN TO SEE THAT A RESCUE MISSION WAS IN EFFECT). There is no provision in either convention for temporary designation of a hospital or rescue ship. Under the informal rules of war at sea, however, ships engaged in rescue operations are held immune from attack. (PURELY DISCRETIONARY THIS ONE OBVIOUSLY).
My thoughts are that the bombing and depth-charging was "in very bad taste", that of course is a understatement to say the least, guess i'm being diplomatic.