FLOTTENRICHTER KRANZBÜHLER: No, Mr. President. That means that captains and ships’ officers of neutral ships might be left in the lifeboats and need not be taken aboard the submarine from the lifeboats. The fact that it was actually much safer in the lifeboats than on the submarine is seen from the English order instructing captains to remain in the lifeboats and hide from the U-boats.
THE PRESIDENT: What if they do not have lifeboats?
FLOTTENRICHTER KRANZBÜHLER: I believe, Mr. President, that that case has not been ruled on here. I know of no case where a ship did not have lifeboats, especially in 1943, in which year the order originated. Every ship was provided not only with lifeboats but also with automatically inflating rafts.
Figure 2 refers only to the question of capture of neutral captains. May I continue, please?
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, you may.
FLOTTENRICHTER KRANZBÜHLER: A number of instances showing that captains were rescued after these orders were issued are quoted in the statements by commanders reproduced on Pages 22, 25, and 26, under Exhibit Number Dönitz-13.
I now come to the case of Submarine U-386, which figures very largely in Korvettenkapitän Möhle’s statement. The Tribunal will remember that this case was the decisive reason for the way in which Möhle interpreted the Laconia order. With reference to this case, I submit Exhibit Number Dönitz-26, the affidavit made by Captain Witt. I should like to read a few paragraphs from that.
THE PRESIDENT: What page?
FLOTTENRICHTER KRANZBÜHLER: On Page 50, Mr. President.
“In November 1943, in the course of my official duties as a member of the staff of Commander of U-boats, I had to interview Lieutenant Albrecht, commander of U-boat U-386, on his experiences during the action which had just terminated. Albrecht reported to me that in the latitude of Cape Finisterre he had sighted in daylight a rubber boat with shipwrecked British airmen in the Bay of Biscay. He did not take any steps to rescue them because he was on his way to a convoy in process of formation. He could only reach his position by continuing without a stop. Besides he was afraid...”