“Now the decision as to whether the situation at sea permits of rescue attempts no longer rests with you. Rescue measures are prohibited from now on.”
FLOTTENRICHTER KRANZBÜHLER: Do you mean to say that during the whole of the rest of the war—that is, for 2½ years—the commanders continued to be told about the Laconia incident, or was that only done immediately after this incident in the autumn of 1942?
HESSLER: I would say up to January 1943 at the latest. After that, no further mention was made of it.
FLOTTENRICHTER KRANZBÜHLER: You mean, no further mention of the incident?
HESSLER: No further mention of the Laconia incident.
FLOTTENRICHTER KRANZBÜHLER: But the orders issued as a result of it were mentioned?
HESSLER: Yes, that a specific order not to take any more rescue measures had been issued.
FLOTTENRICHTER KRANZBÜHLER: Did the commanders at any time receive orders or suggestions from you or from one of your staff to shoot at survivors?
HESSLER: Never.
FLOTTENRICHTER KRANZBÜHLER: Were the commanders told by you about the order to take captains and chief engineers on board, if possible?