The Laconia Order
A decision made for practical reasons in 1942 would later come back to haunt Donitz – and was responsible for his conviction for war crimes. It was customary for Kriegsmarine vessels to pick up any allied survivors of their attacks. In September 1942, German U-boats were rescuing survivors- including women and children- from the RMS Laconia on the West African coast. They had informed the allies of their rescue efforts and were on their way to transfer the survivors to Vichy French ships. But despite this, American aircraft attacked them. Dozens of survivors were killed.
Donitz issued what became known as the Laconia order. This stated that: “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.The orders concerning the bringing-in of captains and chief engineers stay in effect.Survivors are to be saved only if their statements are important for the boat.Stay firm. Remember that the enemy has no regard for women and children when bombing German cities!”
It was also later claimed that Donitz also ordered the deliberate killing of survivors. In 1943, the German navy captured members of an allied torpedo boat. They were interrogated for intelligence purposes. But afterward, they were turned over to the SD and shot. Donitz always insisted he had never been aware of the incident and that the admiral in charge was actually a subordinate of the Army general in command of occupied Norway. But, this, taken with the Laconia order built-up a picture of a hard-hearted man- when in fact Donitz was essentially simply protecting his troops- and ensuring that he minimized naval losses.