Quote:
Originally Posted by Kapitän
Started new career in August 2019 to commemorate the beginning of WWII, 80 years before ...
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Saturday, 12 September 1942 - Paris, Avenue Maréchal Maunoury
U 156 (Hartenstein) sank the British "Laconia" (19,695 GRT) at 0110 in FF 7721, course 3100. After torpedoing her, boat discovered that the ship had 1500 Italian prisoners of war on board. Group "Eisbär", including "Milk Cow" U 459 (von Wilamowitz-Möllendorf), and U 506 (Würdemann) and U 507 (Schacht), are ordered to proceed to the scene at once at high speed. An Italian boat (Cappellini) in the vicinity is also directed there. It is intended to make for "Bingerville" (French Ivory Coast) in the first place with the survivors. Meanwhile U 156 has taken 193 persons on board, including 21 British. Further orders will be given.
Today, Prince Emanuel Galitzine, great grandson of Russian emperor Paul I, in a specially modified Spitfire IX fighter, intercepted a high-flying pressurized Junkers Ju 86 over the Solent in southern England, at an altitude of over 42,000 feet, far higher than any other RAF fighter could attain. After evading four attempts by Galitzine to shoot down the intruder, the German bomber, expertly flown by Oberfeldwebel Horst Goetz, jettisoned its 550-pound bomb and escaped to land at Caen, France with only one cannon hole in its wing.
The 6th Army under General Friedrich Paulus, began a fresh offensive toward Stalingrad, with artillery and aerial bombardments.The ground troops then reached the strategically vital hill 102 of Mamayev Kurgan, which overlooks the city. This hill, an important line of defence for centuries, will now see a bloody struggle by both sides, as it allows our troops to control the entire river, across which all Soviet supplies have to travel. By the end of today, the Soviet 62nd Army will have been reduced to 90 tanks, 700 mortars and 20,000 men.
Our troops in the Caucasus region, report the first snow of winter.
KvtKpt.& A I op
(convoy staff officer
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Started new career in August 2019 to commemorate the beginning of WWII, 80 years before ...
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Sunday, 13 September 1942 - Paris, Avenue Maréchal Maunoury
On Sept.12, 2222h, "Laconia" had sent the following radio on the 600 meters-frequency: "SSS SSS 0434 South / 1125 West Laconia torpedoed."
Today, at 0125h, U 156 sent the following radio message:
"Sunk by Hartenstein British "Laconia". Grid FF 7721 310 degrees. Unfortunately with 1,500 Italian POW's. Till now 90 fished. 157 cubic meters (oil). 19 eels (torpedoes), trade wind, ask for orders.", and again ...
... at 0600h, the uncoded message on the 25 meters-frequency:
"If any ship will assist the ship-wrecked 'Laconia'-crew, I will not attack providing I am not being attacked by ship or air forces. I picked up 193 men. 4, 53 South, 11, 26 West. - German submarine."
U 156 (Hartenstein) has been ordered to remain at the position of the sinking. U 506 (Würdemann) and U 507 (Schacht) are making for there at maximum speed to take over survivors. Fast French ships have left Bingerville and Dakar, to take over survivors which are in the U-boats or still in lifeboats. Remaining boats of Group "Eisbär" are continuing their passage south.
Today, 446 British bombers attacked Bremen, damaging the Lloyd dynamo works, the Focke-Wulf factory, 7 historical buildings, 6 schools, and 2 hospitals; 70 civilians were killed; 21 enemy bombers were shot down.
At
Stalingrad, the Soviet 13th Guards Rifle Division attacked our postitions in heavy fighting at Mamayev Hill and Railway Station No. 1, and will lose a third of its strength in the fighting.
Allied troops conducted an amphibious landing near
Tobruk, Libya, for a raiding mission. Meanwhile, about 50 kilometers to the northeast, raiders of the British Long Range Desert Group, have begun to launch a raid against Barce, Libya.
KvtKpt.& A I op
(convoy staff office