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Draka · 11-09-10, 08:42 AM

From http://www.century-of-flight.net/Avi...2/involved.htm

Colombia
After the attack on Pearl Harbour, Colombia broke diplomatic relations with the Axis powers. Then, in 1943, the U-505 German submarine destroyed a Colombian schooner, which caused Colombia to declare a "status of belligerency" against Germany. The German ambassador left the country and measures of control were implemented, including concentration of German citizens in designated areas.

From http://www.historynet.com/german-sub...d-war-ii.htm/1

U-505's double success seemed to have frightened away all other shipping in the area. For the next month, the sub spotted nothing but Allied aircraft. She had to crash-dive an average of more than once per day to avoid attack. Then, on July 22, a seemingly insignificant incident spelled the end of Axel Loewe's tenure as captain of U-505. 'We spotted a three-masted schooner flying no flag that was making violent zigzags back and forth,' Goebeler remembers. 'Not the kind of zigzags a sailing ship makes to move across the wind, but the kind a ship makes to avoid torpedoes. This made us suspicious, so we surfaced, and the Kapitän ordered a shot to be fired across her bow. Well, the deck officer must have misunderstood his order because the first shot took off the ship's mainmast, and that ship wasn't a sailing ship any more! We couldn't leave the evidence floating around, so we sank her with the deck gun.
'The boat turned out to be the property of a Colombian diplomat, and the incident caused Colombia to declare war against Germany! Well, at that point in the war, having Colombia declare war against Germany was like a dog howling at the moon; it doesn't matter to the moon at all. But Kapitän Loewe blamed himself. We finally had to stop our patrol and return to Lorient earlier than planned. Loewe was having very bad trouble with his appendix, but I think his worry over the sailing ship was the main problem.'
Admiral Donitz's comment in U-505's war diary was that the sinking of the schooner 'had better been left undone.' Loewe was relieved of his command and assigned to shore duty as a member of Donitz's staff. U-505's second war patrol, which had begun so auspiciously, had ended in frustration.

Oops! indeed.

11-09-10, 08:42 AM	#4
Draka Lieutenant Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 256 Downloads: 322 Uploads: 0	From http://www.century-of-flight.net/Avi...2/involved.htm Colombia After the attack on Pearl Harbour, Colombia broke diplomatic relations with the Axis powers. Then, in 1943, the U-505 German submarine destroyed a Colombian schooner, which caused Colombia to declare a "status of belligerency" against Germany. The German ambassador left the country and measures of control were implemented, including concentration of German citizens in designated areas. From http://www.historynet.com/german-sub...d-war-ii.htm/1 U-505's double success seemed to have frightened away all other shipping in the area. For the next month, the sub spotted nothing but Allied aircraft. She had to crash-dive an average of more than once per day to avoid attack. Then, on July 22, a seemingly insignificant incident spelled the end of Axel Loewe's tenure as captain of U-505. 'We spotted a three-masted schooner flying no flag that was making violent zigzags back and forth,' Goebeler remembers. 'Not the kind of zigzags a sailing ship makes to move across the wind, but the kind a ship makes to avoid torpedoes. This made us suspicious, so we surfaced, and the Kapitän ordered a shot to be fired across her bow. Well, the deck officer must have misunderstood his order because the first shot took off the ship's mainmast, and that ship wasn't a sailing ship any more! We couldn't leave the evidence floating around, so we sank her with the deck gun. 'The boat turned out to be the property of a Colombian diplomat, and the incident caused Colombia to declare war against Germany! Well, at that point in the war, having Colombia declare war against Germany was like a dog howling at the moon; it doesn't matter to the moon at all. But Kapitän Loewe blamed himself. We finally had to stop our patrol and return to Lorient earlier than planned. Loewe was having very bad trouble with his appendix, but I think his worry over the sailing ship was the main problem.' Admiral Donitz's comment in U-505's war diary was that the sinking of the schooner 'had better been left undone.' Loewe was relieved of his command and assigned to shore duty as a member of Donitz's staff. U-505's second war patrol, which had begun so auspiciously, had ended in frustration. Oops! indeed.