The new Electo-U-boats were the first submarines to operate primarily submerged, as opposed to spending large periods of time on the surface. The Type XXIII was a smaller coastal version. The massive Type XXI was planned to replace the conventional Atlantic U-boat that had seen service so far in the war. Instead they became the forebears of the Cold War's much dreaded hunter killer submarines. U-boats having been to much of a threat to allied shipping and the outcome of the war.ДГ¶nitz served 11 years and 6 months in prison.Launched during the last days of the Third Reich in an attempt to restart the Battle of the Atlantic, the majority of the revolutionary Electro-U-boats never saw action. Thus many say that DГ¶nitz was simply punished for being too efficient at his job and his Hard but fair considering the situation and the US submarine force fought with the sameДЄggressiveness against japanese shipping (and if anything the US subs were more unforgiving). Most sensible people agree that the German U-boats fought This order was used as an excuse for the controversial conviction of DГ¶nitz for warД¬rimes at NГјremberg in 1946. Don't forget, that the enemy didn't take any regard for woman and children when bombarding German towns.

Survivors are only to rescue, if their statements are important for the boat.

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

the destruction of enemy ships and their crews. These rescues contradict the primitive demands of

Every attempt to save survivors of sunken ships, also the fishing up of swimming men and putting them on board lifeboats, the setup right of overturned lifeboats, the handing over of food and water have be discontinued.

Time U-boats had on very many occasions helped the survivors of their victims with supplies, water, Take part in any rescue operations from that date and leave any survivors in the sea. Known as the Laconia order today, it made it absolutely clear that no U-boats were to This incident prompted one of the most controversial order DГ¶nitz ever issued, usually (only because the bomber failed to sink them though). Also many had been taken into the U-boats themselves and were safe there Thankfully this US intervention caused not as much loss of life as it could have as shortlyДЄfterwards some neutral French warships from Dakar arrived at the scene and started picking The lines to the life boats and submerge immediately, leaving hundreds of people again struggling Instructions and was told to attack at once which he did at 1232 hours, forcing the U-boats to cut

The pilot radioed back to his base asking for Island arrived at the scene where its pilot spotted the boats (which at that time flew the Red CrossДЇlag and were clearly not hostile to anyone). On Sept 16, at 1125 hours an American B-24 Liberator bomber operating from the Ascension

Were both in and inside the U-boats themselves.

The boats headed for shore, towing the lifeboats behind them and hundreds of survivors Harro Schacht and the Italian submarine Cappellini alsoДЄrrived. On Sept 15, at 1130 hours U-506 under Kptlt Erich WГјrdemannДЄrrived at the scene and continued to rescue the survivors. In the next days U-156 saved some 400 survivors, hold 200 on board and the otherДў00 in lifeboats. Hartenstein's U 156 loaded with Laconia survivors If any ship will assist the ship-wrecked 'Laconia'-crew, I will not attack providing I am not beingДЄttacked by ship or air forces.

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