HESSLER: From October 1940 till November 1941.
FLOTTENRICHTER KRANZBÜHLER: In what areas did you operate?
HESSLER: South of Iceland, west of the North Channel, in the waters between Cape Verde and the Azores, and in the area west of Freetown.
FLOTTENRICHTER KRANZBÜHLER: What success did you have against merchant shipping?
HESSLER: I sank 21 ships, totaling more than 130,000 tons.
FLOTTENRICHTER KRANZBÜHLER: You received the Knight’s Cross?
HESSLER: Yes.
FLOTTENRICHTER KRANZBÜHLER: How did you act toward the survivors of the crews of the ships you sank?
HESSLER: In most cases the situation was such that I was compelled to leave the scene of the wreck without delay on account of danger from enemy naval or air forces. In two cases the danger was not quite so great. I was able to approach the lifeboats and help them.
FLOTTENRICHTER KRANZBÜHLER: What were the ships concerned?