“Ambassador Oshima heartily agreed with the Fuehrer’s comments, and said that the Japanese too are forced to follow these methods.” (D-423)
An extract from the BDU War Diary of 16 September 1942 is part of the story in the sense that it was on the following day that the annihilation order was issued. It records an attack on a U-boat, which was rescuing survivors, chiefly the Italian survivors of the Allied liner “Laconia,” when it was attacked by an Allied aircraft (D-446).
A Top Secret order, sent to all commanding officers of U-boats from Doenitz’s headquarters, dated 17 September 1942, provided:
“1. No attempt of any kind must be made at rescuing members of ships sunk, and this includes picking up persons in the water and putting them in lifeboats, righting capsized lifeboats, and handing over food and water. Rescue runs counter to the rudimentary demands of warfare for the destruction of enemy ships and crews.
“2. Orders for bringing in Captains and Chief Engineers still apply.
“3. Rescue the shipwrecked only if their statements will be of importance for your boat.
“4. Be harsh, having in mind that the enemy takes no regard of women and children in his bombing attacks on German cities.” (D-630)
The intentions of this carefully worded order are made clear by an extract from Doenitz’s War Diary which is personally signed by Doenitz. The War Diary entry for 17 September 1942 reads:
“The attention of all commanding officers is again drawn to the fact that all efforts to rescue members of the crews of ships which have been sunk contradict the most primitive demands for the conduct of warfare by annihilating enemy ships and their crews. Orders concerning the bringing in of the Captains and Chief Engineers still stand.” (D-630).
In this connection, a telegram from the Commander of the U-boat “Schacht” to Doenitz’s headquarters, and the reply, are significant. “Schacht” had been taking part in the rescue of survivors from the “Laconia.” The telegram from “Schacht,” dated 18 September 1942, reads: