Is it a war crime?
On my return to St. Nazaire, sailing in the Bay of Biscay, the Watch Officer spots a British trawler. The weather is pristine, so I order deck and flak guns to be manned, and proceed at maximum speed towards the trawler. Once in range, the deck gun crew opens fire, sinking it in less than three minutes.
My question is--would it be considered a war crime to attack trawlers and fishcutters. They have no military value or purpose. It seems like these are exclusively civilian targets.
Should the trawler have radioed for help, and should the captain have noticed my emblem, I suppose it could be trouble for myself and my crew should Germany lose the war.
EW
|