[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents World War II Plus 70 Years: Seminar and Discussion Forum
First session: September 1, 2009. Last date to add: September 2, 2015.
Reading assignment: New York Times articles delivered daily to students on the 70th anniversary of original publication date. (Previously posted articles can be found by searching on keyword “realtime” Or view Homer’s posting history .)
To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by freepmail. Those on the Realtime +/- 70 Years ping list are automatically enrolled. Course description, prerequisites and tuition information is available at the bottom of Homer’s profile.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Winston S. Churchill, Their Finest Hour

[mainepatsfan]

Churchill was making things abundantly clear to the world that a deal with Hitler wasn’t likely.

[PAR35]

Yet more war crimes by the British.

The British didn’t mark the craft as a prison ship, making it a prime target.

There is evidence that the British guards shot up at least one lifeboat to prevent the civilians from escaping. http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/94/a2618994.shtml

The evacuation had to be organized by a German officer Otto Burfeind (one of the internees) who was recognized for his actions.

The British sent a rescue aircraft to drop cigarettes to the survivors.

The crew and guards saved themselves first, leaving the prisoners to their fate.

Crewmen
Killed 42 (including those killed in the initial explosion and engine room flooding)
Saved 119

Guards
Killed 37
Saved 163

Prisoners and Internees
Killed 713
Saved 586
http://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/406.html

The captain (who appears to have been an honorable man - see below) and two of his officers did stay at their post until the ship went down. Added to the two officer killed in the initial blast, that leaves 8 other officers lost in the sinking.

“The lifeboats were secured behind heavy wire mesh (some witnesses specified ‘barbed wire’ and reported lacerations to survivors) and sufficient only for the original cruising complement of 400. Alastair Maclean, in his book ‘The Lonely Sea’ (Collins 1985), claimed that obstructing access to the lifeboats was ordered in spite of protests by the ship’s captain, who pointed out that it rendered the boat a death trap. Safe evacuation of prisoners in an emergency was clearly not a priority.”
http://www.blackshouse.demon.co.uk/arandora_star.htm

[CougarGA7]

I've got one broadcast today from Arthur Mann in London.

MBS - Arthur Mann in London

Everyone have a safe 4th of July.