"Victors' Justice" [View All]

[Mairead]

The crimes against humanity we deplore today aren't by any means the first blots on the US record.

In 1942, a German U-boat commander, Kapitänleutnant Werner Hartenstein, radioed for help. He'd just sunk what he'd thought was a troop transport off the coast of Africa only to find out it had been filled with Italian POWs and British civilians. Admiral Dönitz, then commander of subs, ordered 3 other subs to the area to help with the rescue.

As they motored for shore, with over a thousand of the Laconia surviors littering the subs' decks and being towed behind in life-rafts, Hartenstein sent out a call in clear giving their position and asking any ships in the area to come take the survivors on board. He promised a truce for the purpose of the rescue.

A US bomber overflew the position and Hartenstein radioed the pilot, requesting assistance. The pilot radioed back to base that there were 4 German subs with Red Cross flags draped over their guns that were engaged in a rescue operation and asking for help.

The duty officer that day, one Captain Robert Richardson III, replied 'sink the subs'.

The bomber pilot obeyed orders, circling around and attacking the subs with bombs. This forced the sub commanders to dive, abandoning the surviors, many of whom died as a result.

Admiral Dönitz issued an order that no more rescue attempts were to be made: 'All efforts to save the survivors of torpedoed ships, such as rescuing swimmers and getting them into lifeboats, righting overturned lifeboats, or handing over food and water, must stop. ... Harden your hearts. Remember that when bombing German cities our opponents have no regard for women or children!'.

For that order, he was convicted of war crimes and served a prison term.

It was never explained why Captain Richardson was not even charged with a war crime, much less convicted. Instead, he enjoyed a nice career, rising to the rank of Brigadier General before retiring.

Ave bossa nova, similis bossa seneca.