Six hundred miles from the coast of africa, in september 1942, a german uboat, u156, sinks the british troopship laconia which is en route from cape town to the united kingdom. Duffy relates the story of the sinking of the british liner laconia by the german uboat u156. Twopart drama based on the true story of the allied ship laconia, sunk in wwii by a german uboat, which then surfaced against orders to rescue the civilian. U156 was on patrol in the south atlantic, off the bulge of west africa, midway between liberia and the ascension island. Home browse books book details, decision for war, 1917. Apparently the cut of the german version was different, creating a somewhat different impression, if not to say moreless seems to almost have. Dec 28, 2010 the last voyage of the lakonia deadly christmas cruise posted on december 28, 2010 by rick spilman forty seven years ago, passengers on the cruise ship laconia were promised a marvelous christmas cruise to sunny madeira and the canary islands. The laconia sinking and the zimmermann telegram as key factors in the public reaction against germany 1953. Jan 01, 2011 the sinking of the laconia, which begins on bbc2 on thursday, tells of the extraordinary events that took place in the south atlantic in september 1942.
Jun 07, 2016 the laconia incident refers to the controversial events surrounding the sinking and subsequent aborted rescue attempt of a british troopship in the atlantic ocean during world war ii. The laconia incident refers to the controversial events surrounding the sinking and subsequent aborted rescue attempt of a british troopship in the atlantic ocean during world war ii. The drama is based upon real events that occurred during world war ii when a german uboat torpedoed a british ship that was transporting. The sinking of the laconia kieran kinsella august will be an exciting month for fans of british tv as acorn media are set to release the critically acclaimed bbc two production of the sinking of the laconia.
Just imagine, we needed to sink a 600foot oceanliner on screen and. According to radio call sign is the steamer laconia, cunard white star line, liverpool. While junior third officer thomas mortimer befriends the. Laconia was delivered to the cunard line on 12 december 1911, and began service on 20 january 1912. The laconia sinking and the zimmermann telegram as key factors in the public reaction against germany. Duffy discusses in rich detail the dire and dramatic true story of the sinking of the british liner laconia by the dreaded uboat 156, a vessel crowded with 1800 italian pows, 103 polish soldiers, and 463 officers and crew. Jun 26, 2017 furthermore this sinking, and the events that followed, would help to cause unrestricted uboat warfare to become even more brutal than before. The story of the laconia incident began on the morning of september 12 1942. The film producers from teamworx visited us in october 2010 asking for support of a project, they were engaged in cooperation with a british production team. On the 12th september 1942 the laconia a cruise ship turned troop ship was torpedoed and sunk by german submarine u156, commanded by werner hartenstein. Its the highest military honour germany has to offer, and he suddenly feels humbled to be awarded such a distinction. This marks the dvd debut of the program, with a total running time of 171 minutes. Laconia ss i laconia ss was a cunard liner of 18,099grt.
The remarkable true wwii story superb the daily mail u. The sinking of the laconia 2011 8 supernatural 1 stargate atlantis 1 due south 1 hot fuzz 2007 1 xmen movieverse 1 star trek. The sinking of the cunard line rms laconia i part iv. The ship was the rms laconia a british cunard liner brought into war service and she was sunk on the 12th september 1942 by the german uboat u156. When war broke out, the ship was commandeered by the british government for use as a troopship and fitted with eight sixinch guns. In 1942, a german uboat torpedoed the rms laconia, sinking the british ship, which carried more than 2, 000 passengers. Commanded by kl werner hartenstein, she was one of the many type ixcs stationed along the west coast of africa. Pdf download the sinking of the laconia and the u boat.
The sinking of the laconia is a twopart television film, first aired on 6 and 7 january 2011 on bbc two, about the laconia incident. The main extra attraction is a highly engaging 29minute documentary titled the sinking of the laconia. She carried a motley crew of women, children, wounded soldiers and italian prisoners of war. Laconia is a talkbackthames production, in association with teamworx and. The sinking of the laconia history yesterday channel.
The last voyage of the lakonia deadly christmas cruiseold. Jan 07, 2011 i got an interesting little window into the postproduction process watching alan bleasdales excellent second world war drama the sinking of the laconia bbc2. The sinking of the rms laconia marked a major turning point in world war ii. The sinking of the laconia the tragedy that changed the. The rms laconia travels the atlantic ocean carrying italian prisoners of war, british troops, and civilian passengers. On may 7, 1915, less than a year after world war i 191418 began in europe, a german uboat torpedoed and sank the rms lusitania, a british ocean.
Jan 06, 2011 the sinking of the rms laconia marked a major turning point in world war ii. Commanded by kl werner hartenstein, she was one of the. The event changed the general attitude of germanys naval personnel towards rescuing. Over 100,000 german translations of english words and phrases. Holding in position, downwind range 23000 meters, waiting for sinking. The liner was carrying a 6man crew, some 80 civilians, military material and personnel 268 men and approx. The liner laconia on sept 12, 1942 at 2207 hours u156 under the command of kptlt. On the outbreak of ww1 laconia ss was turned into an armed merchant cruiser in 1914 and based at simonstown in the south atlantic, from which she patrolled the south atlantic and indian ocean until april 1915. Most survive, but 6 of the 73 passengers and another 6 of the 216 crew members are killed.
The laconia incident was a series of events surrounding the sinking of a british troopship in the. Season 1 episode 2 the sinking of laconia sbs on demand. The uboat war in world war two kriegsmarine, 19391945 and world war one kaiserliche marine, 19141918 and the allied efforts to counter the threat. Pdf the sinking of the laconia and the u boat war download. When realising that there are pows and civilians on board, and that they are facing. As seen on ovation in september 1942 at the height of the battle for the atlantic, a german uboat torpedoed the rms laconia, sinking the british ship without knowing that it carried more than 2,000 passengers, many of them civilians. About the sinking of the laconia the sinking of the. The drama is based upon real events that occurred during world war ii when a german uboat torpedoed a british ship that was transporting civilians and italian pows off the coast of africa. Rms laconia, carrying 2,732 crew, passengers, soldiers and prisoners of war, was torpedoed and. His published account of the sinking of the laconia some eight days later off the irish coast played no small part in changing american isolationist sentiment and pushing us into the declaration of war against germany that would follow in less than two months. Among the dead passengers are two american citizens, mrs mary hoy and her daughter elizabeth. Packed with rich detail and analysis of what often transpired when merchant ships were sunk by uboats, this dramatic book highlights the hazards of world war ii at sea. The last voyage of the lakonia deadly christmas cruise posted on december 28, 2010 by rick spilman forty seven years ago, passengers on the cruise ship laconia were promised a marvelous christmas cruise to sunny madeira and the canary islands.
Dramatisation of the true story of the sinking of the liner laconia by a german. Rudolph sharp and carrying some 2,732 crew, passengers, soldiers and pows, was torpedoed and sunk by german uboat u156 off the coast. I got an interesting little window into the postproduction process watching alan bleasdales excellent second world war drama the sinking. On the very day of laconias sinking, german soldiers who took the. Bbc press office cast for alan bleasdales the sinking. Documentary following the story of the sinking of the cunard liner laconia in world war ii through the personal testimonies of six survivors. I feel that in a few minutes i may wake up back in stateroom b19 on the promenade deck of the cunarder laconia and hear my cockney steward informing me with an abundance of and sirs that it is a fine morning it is now a little over thirty hours since i. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. Jan 07, 2011 ert11 hitler watches the blockbuster the sinking of the laconia but takes an instant dislike to admiral donitz whom he fails instantly to recognise and suspects of planning an antic. Jul 15, 2012 the sinking of the laconia first aired on bbc2 in january 2011, then in the united states on the ovation channel in april 2012. The sinking of the laconia 2011 works archive of our own. She was then used as a headquarters ship for the operations to capture tanga. During a circle to windward italian cries for help are heard. Part two uboat commander werner hartenstein has torpedoed the laconia and then mounted an extraordinary rescue operation.
U156s deck is crowded with allied survivors fished out of the south. The laconia order was issued by uboat headquarters in lorient in 1942 following an incident in the atlantic. On september 12, 1942, as laconia sailed crowded with 1,800 italian prisoners of war, 103 polish soldiers, 286 mostly severely wounded british military personnel, 80 civilians, and 463 officers and crew, she was hit by two. I am not entirely certain that it is not all a dream. A german uboat sinks a british troop ship, the laconia, killing more than 1,400 men on september 12, 1942.
Dramatisation of the true story of the sinking of the liner laconia by a german uboat in 1942 through the eyes of six survivors. Furthermore this sinking, and the events that followed, would help to cause unrestricted uboat warfare to become even more brutal than before. Feb 25, 2017 the laconias passengers and crew abandon ship. On may 7, 1915, less than a year after world war i 191418 began in europe, a german uboat torpedoed and sank the rms lusitania, a british ocean liner en route from new york to liverpool, england. The liner was carrying a 6man crew, some 80 civilians, military material and. However, on 12 december 1942, it was torpedoed by a german uboat off the coast of west africa. Now, almost a year later, we received the results on dvd in english and german. Having sunk the ship, hartenstein should have left them to.
The sinking of the laconia ran on germa tv under the title laconia. Jan 08, 2011 documentary following the story of the sinking of the cunard liner laconia in world war ii through the personal testimonies of six survivors. Download now packed with rich detail and analysis of what often transpired when merchant ships were sunk by uboats, this dramatic book highlights the hazards of world war ii at sea. Dramatisation of the true story of the sinking of the liner laconia by a german u boat. Bbc press office cast for alan bleasdales the sinking of.
Rms laconia, carrying 2,732 crew, passengers, soldiers and prisoners of war, was torpedoed and sunk by u156, a german uboat, off the west african. Sep, 2018 part two uboat commander werner hartenstein has torpedoed the laconia and then mounted an extraordinary rescue operation. Jan 06, 2011 mirroring the internationalist theme of its story, the sinking of the laconia is an anglogerman coproduction which will also air on the german national broadcaster, ard. Watch full length episodes, video clips, highlights and more. Logged i was proud to be involved with planning qe2s 50 year conference in september 2017 in clydebank bruce nicholls. The laconia incident was a series of events surrounding the sinking of a british troopship in the atlantic ocean on 12 september 1942, during world war ii, and a subsequent aerial attack on german and italian submarines involved in rescue attempts. Pdf download the sinking of the laconia and the u boat war. With andrew buchan, ken duken, franka potente, thomas kretschmann. German translation of sinking collins englishgerman. The new ship was launched on 9 april 1921, and made her maiden voyage on 25 may 1922 from southampton to new york.
I have serious doubts whether this is a real story. The sinking of the laconia tv miniseries 2010 imdb. Sep 24, 2014 the cast also includes some of germany s biggest names, including matthias koeberlin, frederick lau and thomas kretschmann. As laconia went down, u156 surfaced and sent a signal that brought two other uboats, an italian submarine, and three. The laconia was sunk by a german uboat off the coast. The story continues with the lowering of lifeboats into the atlantic ocean after the cunard steamship laconia was torpedoed by a german uboat. The keel for this boat was laid on 11 october 1940 at the deschimag ag weser yard in bremen, germany, as yard number 998. Bbc the sinking of the rms laconia in world war ii. Like her predecessor, sunk during the first world war, this laconia would also be destroyed by a german uboat. The sinking of the laconia watch full episodes and clips. The original series 1 star trek 1 generation kill 1 band of brothers 1 include characters werner hartenstein 8 thomas mortimer 7 sam winchester 1 dean winchester 1 ronon dex 1. She was torpedoed and sunk on 25 february 1917 during world war i.
A german uboat sinks a british troop ship, the laconia, killing more than 1400 men on september 12, 1942. The sinking of the laconia laconia ger le naufrage du laconia fr 2011. German translation of sinking the official collins englishgerman dictionary online. Bruce sorry to hear about your grandfather not surviving the sinking of the laconia in 1963 which is a tragic story in your family history. Laconia british troop transport ships hit by german u. This inquiry proceeded from an interest in determining the covert act which precipitated the entrance of the united states into war with germany in april, 1917.
The sinking of the laconia, which begins on bbc2 on thursday, tells of the extraordinary events that took place in the south atlantic in september 1942. The usa has already broken off diplomatic relations with germany as a result of the escalated uboat war. This twopart drama brings to life one of the most of the dramatic stories of world war ii. Werner hartenstein torpedoed a large target in the south atlantic in position 05. The sinking of the laconia 14th march 2011 dvd 171 mins 1. Documentary telling the true story of the sinking of the liner laconia by a german uboat in 1942 through the eyes of six survivors. In an ideal world, things would have been different. Mirroring the internationalist theme of its story, the sinking of the laconia is an anglogerman coproduction which will also air on the german national broadcaster, ard. The following is an extract from a letter by horst bredow of september 2011 directed to all members of the ftu.