[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***A total of 2,200 German sailors were lost, while just 111 were rescued.***

When the British navy stopped to pick up survivors it was reported a periscope had been seen. Believing it may have been German the British left the scene and the Germans in the water died of cold.

So are the rules of war.

[Oatka]

When the British navy stopped to pick up survivors it was reported a periscope had been seen. Believing it may have been German the British left the scene and the Germans in the water died of cold.

Good alibi. I understand there was a seething anger at the Bismark for sinking the Hood. I read where one British seaman climbed down the cargo net to rescue a Bismark survivor who had his arms blown off. They tried to court-martial the Brit with "desertion of station while under fire", but cooler heads prevailed and it was later dropped.