Abstract

JAUREGUI LOBERA, Ignacio. Navigation and history of science: the Laconia incident and the total war at sea (The Laws of War). JONNPR [online]. 2020, vol.5, n.1, pp.104-120.  Epub June 29, 2020. ISSN 2529-850X.  https://dx.doi.org/10.19230/jonnpr.3307.

On September 12, 1942, the British ship Laconia was sunk off the coast of West Africa by the submarine U Boat 156 commanded by Korvettenkapitän Werner Hartenstein. The Laconia carried 1,800 Italian war prisoners, 80 civilians and 428 British and Polish soldiers. After the disaster, seeing the situation, Hartenstein began his work fulfilling the duty of relief and displaying a Red Cross flag. Despite this, an American B-24 bomber attacked thus expanding the disaster. British propaganda displayed the idea that German submarines mercilessly attacked convoys. The "Laconia Order" was not completely fulfilled because the Germans continued their help despite the "letter" of that order. The U-Boat Commander, Karl Dönitz, was prosecuted in Nuremberg, and the testimony of Admiral Nimitz clarified many things. Those who died remain in the Atlantic Ocean. Rest in peace.

Keywords : World War II; Laconia; submarines; Law of War; shipwreck; rescue; Karl Dönitz; Werner Hartenstein; Chester W. Nimitz.

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