Just finished reading an excellent book 'War Beneath The Sea' by Peter Padfield.
In it I found a transcript of an order Donitz made on April 1st 1944 headed 'Reckless Attack!', regarding the expected allied invasion.
Every enemy vessel taking part in the landing, even if it only carries half a hundred soldiers or one tank, is a target which demands the full mission of the U-Boat. It is to be attacked even if this carries the risk of the loss of one's own boat. If it is a question of approaching the enemy invasion fleet no regard is to be paid to dangers such as flat water or possible mine barriers or any other considerations. Every man and weapon of the enemy destroyed before landing reduces the enemy prospects of success. The boat that causes the enemy losses in the invasion has fulfilled its highest task and justified its existence, even if it is lost.
Very close to an order to go on a suicide mission. Only a few crews made it back, but none of them were admonished for their lack of success or even the fact that they made it back when so many of their comrades had not.
I think Donitz realised they had tried their best in an impossible situation.
Also it must be remembered that by this time, Donitz was no longer head of the just U-boat arm, but head of the Navy and had moved Headquarters to Berlin. He no longer had day to day contact with his Uboatmen.
The above order sounds more like one of Hitlers 'to the last man, to the last bullet' orders doesn't it? Maybe he was now spending so much time in Hitlers inner circle that it was difficult not to be affected by his paranoid fanatacism?
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