Are we tough enough?

@papa_smurf
The problem was that Dønitz was not aquited.
In spite of 2 USN admirals testifying in his defense, and noting that US Submarines were operating under identical orders, Dønitz was sentenced to 10 years by a kangaroo court.

2 US admirals testified for the defense of Dønitz:
Nimitz, Commander and Chief Pacific.
Lockwood, Commander and Chief Submarines Pacific.

[PhantomLord]

This message is from november 1939. The Laconia incident and the following order was from 1942. Some time warping here?


This is the Laconia order 1942:

"1. All efforts to save survivors of sunken ships, such as the fishing out of swimming men and putting them on board lifeboats, the righting of overturned lifeboats, or the handing over of food and water, must stop. Rescue contradicts the most basic demands of the war: the destruction of hostile ships and their crews.

2. The orders concerning the bringing-in of skippers and chief engineers stay in effect.

3. Survivors are to be saved only if their statements are important for the boat.

4. Stay firm. Remember that the enemy has no regard for women and children when bombing German cities!"

AFAIK the above 1939 order was given because many commanders offered help to the torpedoed sailors. In some cases they were in dangerous situations while doing this (caught by a plane or escort ship). As a part of the unrestricted u-boat warfare no one should be rescued. Sailors are the same important "war material" like ships, tanks, planes, ammo and so on.

This text is not exhaustive, i´ve to re-check my books

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Snestorm

@papa_smurf
The problem was that Dønitz was not aquited.
In spite of 2 USN admirals testifying in his defense, and noting that US Submarines were operating under identical orders, Dønitz was sentenced to 10 years by a kangaroo court.

2 US admirals testified for the defense of Dønitz:
Nimitz, Commander and Chief Pacific.
Lockwood, Commander and Chief Submarines Pacific.

It could also be said that the sentence he received was lenient....there were powerful voices out there at the time who expected the death penalty.

[ediko]

Well history is written by the victors. In this case seems that the sentences too.

[CherryHarbey]

Originally Posted by ediko

Well history is written by the victors. In this case seems that the sentences too.

very true, I wonder how many war criminals we would have seen on the allies side had they lost.

[Draka]

I suspect none, as the Axis only did the "war crimes" bit for propaganda, as they had no concept of it themselves - at least the leadership ("Final Solution" ring a bell?). If they had won, then there would have been no audience for them .....

[HW3]

I wonder if any kaleuns ignored the order and continued to give aid to survivors of their victims as the war went on?

Yes they did. I have read at uboat.net numerous reports of them giving food, water, directions, and first aid to survivors. Some even picked up swimmers and placed them in the lifeboats.

[OSU]

Originally Posted by Draka

I suspect none, as the Axis only did the "war crimes" bit for propaganda, as they had no concept of it themselves - at least the leadership ("Final Solution" ring a bell?). If they had won, then there would have been no audience for them .....

I'm not entirely sure about that. The Axis would have crucified any Russian they could get their hands on, and I know that they would look into war crimes for the Americans and British. The Axis were responsible for most of the war crimes in WWII, (Final Solution, Japanese execution and eating of American pilots, the Waffen-SS and the Malmedy massacre) the Allies weren't exactly exempt either. They had their fair share of war crimes too.

[Gerald]

submarines could support crew, from ship has sunk,