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Originally Posted by Cybermat47
Your first priority is to win the war.
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Strange, when I say that in such totality, I take flak.
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Hartenstein had sunken an enemy vessel. Check.
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Unaware of its loading: 300+ passengers, and over one thousand Axis prisoners.
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Your second priority is your men's safety.
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Strange, when i say that it is second priority only, I take flak.
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Hartenstein radioed the Allies, informing them of the situation. Check.
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He did. idiot. He seriously beliueved the enemy would cooperate and cease the war because Hartenstein did a radio transmission: "Don't shoot, I mean no harm, I will start to fire at your ships again not before I unloaded my passengers." He wanted to ease his conscience which probably was disturbed. Still, what he did was naive.
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Your third priority is the safety of Civilians and captured enemy personnel. Hartenstein gave them food and water. Check.
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No, along with the second priority it is the maintaining of your combat efficiency and the maximising of your available combat power in times of combat powers. Foreign civilians and prisoners shall not make you compromise your logistic situation and your tactical and strategic situation if you allow that, you would violate your priorities one and two. And that is what Hartenstein did.
Civilians and prisoners are a burden you only shall take into your fomrula when you have the luxury of being in oversupply of goods and items, and your military situation is such that you can afford that generosity. While civilians that do not participate in supporting the enemy for sure must not be seen as a military target and thus can be saved from being targetted, presence of civilians shall not stop you to fire at the enemy if he is there. While prisoners you took must not be targetted, this is onmly as lonmg as there is no risk that they become a threat to your own effort and forces and logistics - by overwhelming the guards and breaking out, forming suddenly a potent threat in your middle or your rear.
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If the Allies had informed the Ascencion Island base that a U-boat was rescuing survivors, it would have all worked out.
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That's what
you want to believe. A German sub is a German sub. It kills ships, and this shipkiller's position now was known. So...