Americans help U-boat war prisoners

[shegeek72]

While researching U-boats on wikipedia I found this poignant photo of Americans helping German survivors after an attack on their U-boat.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:U..._survivors.png
I enhanced the pic in PS.

[enaceo]

I'm sure the germans would've done the same if they were the winners if they did not have an order from Donitz no to do so.

[shegeek72]

Originally Posted by enaceo

I'm sure the germans would've done the same if they were the winners if they did not have an order from Donitz no to do so.

Of course. Most humans are basically good people. It's politicians who start wars, not the military.
--

[Kruger]

And beyond that, there has allways been a certain feeling among the sailors, regardless of the language they speak.

[joea]

Originally Posted by Kruger

And beyond that, there has allways been a certain feeling among the sailors, regardless of the language they speak.

Yes that is true many sailors speak of it.

[kiwi_2005]

True story: I read in a book, about a Uboat picked up a survivor unconsious, they took him below and looked after him, hrs later he woke and realised he was in a submarine, he then turned to the german tending to his wounds and said boy am i glad you guys rescued me their was a bloody uboat in this area if i could get my hands on those nazi bastards i would strangle them. He didn't realise he was in a uboat but thought he was rescued by a british sub. They feed him gave him a ciggarette and told him to go up on deck, they never let on he was in a german uboat but just listened to his bemoaning about the nazi scums and how he would love to kill them all. Not one of them spoke to him until it was time to go up the ladder one of them said when you get up on deck have a look at the captains cap. ( which i presume would show the nazi symbol or cross?) He went up and according to the author the guy was shocked & speechless at what he saw and realised he was agmonst germans!
They put him in a liferaft threw him a carton of ciggarettes, water bottles and a map and let him go. Then the captain said something along the lines of if you head east your make your way back to england - good luck and they left the area, all the while the british guy looking stunned, but managed to say a quick thankyou.

Ive still got the whole story somewhere, i have so many uboat books and have read many storys such as this one, alot of uboats did help survivors some would just throw them ciggarettes or water or give them directions. Later on in the war Hitler found out about what some uboat commanders were doing & ordered no more helping survivors.

[Captain Nemo]

Originally Posted by shegeek72

Of course. Most humans are basically good people. It's politicians who start wars, not the military.

Most humans are basically good people, which I agree with. However, to say that it's politcians who start wars not the military is not right in all cases. For example, if it hadn't been for the politicians during the Cuban missile crisis we probably wouldn't be here today. If the American military's top brass had had their way WWIII would have kicked off with everyone on the planet feeling the consequences.

Nemo

[Dowly]

I´ve also heard that there was a unwritten rule not to attack ships that are in process on picking up survivors from the sea.

[_Seth_]

They look really clean and shaved, doesnt they.....? Wonder how long they've been to sea......... (Big picture, i know.............zolly)

[P_Funk]

Originally Posted by shegeek72

Of course. Most humans are basically good people. It's politicians who start wars, not the military.
--

Actuallt it's usually the military that STARTS the war. Pliticians don't have the power to start wars without a military to do so. Bush ain't nosoldier, nor is Cheney but they managed to push one forward. It is the military element of a country which leads to the policy of war. For the US the military industrial complex requires war to be profitable and even to remain in existance. So it is both politicians and the military who do it but the military is often the empowering force which lets politicians run away with their power.

The soldiers themselves aren't bad but the leadership of career soldiers who have lost all perspective because they see the world only through the eyes of a soldier.

Usually it is when the separation of powers becomes blurred that we see war. Executive power isn't held accountable by the judiciary or the Legislative. Look to the US and how Bush says he can do anything and claims right beyond the consitution and you see what I mean.

But the decency of men is always present in war no matter how much the state cultivates national hatred.

[Kruger]

I really don't know how to put this in english in order not to offence anyone. Maybe someone who understands this will translate it better. I"ll try it though.

In razboi sa te feresti intotdeauna de tarile inapoiate, cu militari needucati si fara onoare = in war, you should always beware of the countries with uneducated military men, and no honour.


In the end, it matters more how you fight, rather than what you fight for.

[SubConscious]

Originally Posted by Kruger

In the end, it matters more how you fight, rather than what you fight for.

Very well said. I wholeheartedly agree with you.

[cmdrk]

Originally Posted by enaceo

I'm sure the germans would've done the same if they were the winners if they did not have an order from Donitz no to do so.

I think they did one time. A bit fuzzy on the details. A boat sunk a ship and there were lots of people in the water. The seas were getting rough and it was believed no other ships were close to pick them up. Another boat was called in and survivors packed the deck. There were radio calls out to identify these boats were conducting a rescue, but a British plane attacked them. After that, no more rescues.

[Myxale]

Originally Posted by cmdrk

I think they did one time. A bit fuzzy on the details. A boat sunk a ship and there were lots of people in the water. The seas were getting rough and it was believed no other ships were close to pick them up. Another boat was called in and survivors packed the deck. There were radio calls out to identify these boats were conducting a rescue, but a British plane attacked them. After that, no more rescues.

Yep! That would be the "Laconia" incident! Look it up! On one of the better U-Boot sites, and you'll see a sad story!

[enaceo]

Originally Posted by cmdrk

I think they did one time. A bit fuzzy on the details. A boat sunk a ship and there were lots of people in the water. The seas were getting rough and it was believed no other ships were close to pick them up. Another boat was called in and survivors packed the deck. There were radio calls out to identify these boats were conducting a rescue, but a British plane attacked them. After that, no more rescues.

Yep the Laconia incident.Look it up on Uboat.net .That was the incident that made Donitz give the order not to take survivours on(thx to BBW for showing me that )