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DUO Publications & Documentation R&D
The Prince of Plauen, A Study of Contrasts
The Prince of Plauen, A Study of Contrasts
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This is the fourth of the continuing Valiant Scatter series featuring the inanimate expressions of ships lost in military situations. The IXC-Type German submarine, U-156, along with his captain and crew sank the British troopship, RMS Laconia, on 12 September 1942. Those on board the submarine considered the sinking to be a German victory, but upon surfacing, the crew of U-156 found the sea littered with survivors including a large number of Italian prisoners captured in North African campaigns. Facing these survivors, who were considered Axis comrades, caused Captain Hartenstein, Commander of U-156 to initiate one of the most remarkable rescue operations of WWII, in coordination, and with the knowledge of Admiral Karl Donitz, the Commander of U-boat operations.
According to U-156, himself, he was awestruck by the depth of humanity displayed by his Captain and crew, who literally stopped the war in the South Atlantic and radioed for assistance. Captain Hartenstein was a true warrior and never forgot his responsibilities on the sea to render help to those adrift; but unfortunately, his efforts turned tragic, due to the commission and omission of the British Admiralty, as well as officers on Ascension Island, and the Commander of a vagrant American B-24 bomber of the USAAF, temporarily situated on a secret Ascension Island airbase.
The pilot of the aircraft was ordered by officials on Ascension Island to "sink sub," even though the deck gun was covered with a make-shift Red Cross cover. Radio contact was never completed or never acknowledged, and the aircraft attacked, killing survivors, damaging U-156 and attacking three additional submarines, two German and one Italian, as well as three ships sent by the Vichy French. The rescue was completed without the assistance of the British and Americans.
Damaged, U-156 was forced to divest himself of Italian, as well as British survivors that included women and children, and make his way to safety, never to return to the scene. Many were saved in those few days, to the credit of the ships and crews, who with their human burden, made their way north. U-156 continued on patrol after repairs, and after sinking one more ship, the Quebec City, was eventually lost to an American Antisubmarine Group, VP-53 off Barbados on 8 March 1943.
U-156, now lying in sections on the floor of the sea, relays his own version of the story as revealed to the authors. U-156 was lost with all 53 shipmates. There were 11 survivors and despite the efforts of the VP-53 aircrew to drop rafts and supplies, all 11 were lost. Read these moving expressions and experience the event known as "The Laconia Affair," like others in the series, from the viewpoint and perspective of the ship, in this case, U-156.
According to U-156, himself, he was awestruck by the depth of humanity displayed by his Captain and crew, who literally stopped the war in the South Atlantic and radioed for assistance. Captain Hartenstein was a true warrior and never forgot his responsibilities on the sea to render help to those adrift; but unfortunately, his efforts turned tragic, due to the commission and omission of the British Admiralty, as well as officers on Ascension Island, and the Commander of a vagrant American B-24 bomber of the USAAF, temporarily situated on a secret Ascension Island airbase.
The pilot of the aircraft was ordered by officials on Ascension Island to "sink sub," even though the deck gun was covered with a make-shift Red Cross cover. Radio contact was never completed or never acknowledged, and the aircraft attacked, killing survivors, damaging U-156 and attacking three additional submarines, two German and one Italian, as well as three ships sent by the Vichy French. The rescue was completed without the assistance of the British and Americans.
Damaged, U-156 was forced to divest himself of Italian, as well as British survivors that included women and children, and make his way to safety, never to return to the scene. Many were saved in those few days, to the credit of the ships and crews, who with their human burden, made their way north. U-156 continued on patrol after repairs, and after sinking one more ship, the Quebec City, was eventually lost to an American Antisubmarine Group, VP-53 off Barbados on 8 March 1943.
U-156, now lying in sections on the floor of the sea, relays his own version of the story as revealed to the authors. U-156 was lost with all 53 shipmates. There were 11 survivors and despite the efforts of the VP-53 aircrew to drop rafts and supplies, all 11 were lost. Read these moving expressions and experience the event known as "The Laconia Affair," like others in the series, from the viewpoint and perspective of the ship, in this case, U-156.
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