“In discussing the possibility that there might be frequent
differences of opinion, the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy
mentioned President Roosevelt’s order prohibiting American
shipping in the dangerous zones around England. He said, ‘This
prohibition is the best proof against England’s practice of
forcing neutrals to sail through these zones without being able
to guarantee their security. Germany can only advise all
neutrals to imitate the policy of your President.’
“Question: ‘Thus, according to this state of affairs, there is
no protection for neutral shipping in the war-endangered zones?’
“Answer: ‘Probably not, so long as England adheres to her
methods....’”
With the collapse of France, the entire U.S.A. combat zone was declared
a German blockade area. That is shown by the next document, Dönitz-104,
Page 212. I read from the middle of the long paragraph on that page:
“The entire sea area around England has thus become a theater of
operations. Every ship sailing this zone runs the risk of being
destroyed not only by mines but also by other combat means....”
THE PRESIDENT: Dr. Kranzbühler, did you call that Exhibit Dönitz-60
or...
FLOTTENRICHTER KRANZBÜHLER: That was originally also one of the
documents from Dönitz-60, Mr. President, to which I have now given a new
number. It is now Dönitz-104.
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, thank you.
FLOTTENRICHTER KRANZBÜHLER: “Every ship sailing this zone runs
the risk of being destroyed not only by mines but also by other
combat means. For that reason the German Government issues a
fresh and most urgent warning against sailing in the danger
zone.”
At the end of the note, the German Government refuses to assume any
responsibility for damage or loss incurred in this area.
I produce as the next document, on Page 214, with the new Exhibit Number
Dönitz-105, an official German statement made on the occasion of the
announcement of the total blockade of 17 August 1940. I only want to
mention it.
I now come to several documents dealing with the treatment of neutrals
outside the declared danger zones. As the first document, I submit, on
Page 226, an excerpt of the Prosecution’s Exhibit GB-196. It is a
standing war order from the Commander of U-boats which was also issued
before May 1940. I read the first sentences:
“Not to be sunk are:
“(a) All ships readily recognized as neutral so long as they do
not (1) move in any enemy convoy, (2) move into a declared
danger zone.”
The next document, Dönitz-76, Page 227, shows the concern of the Naval
Operations Staff that the neutrals should really be recognizable as
such. I read the first sentences of the entry of 10 January 1942:
“In view of the further extension of the war, the Naval
Operations Staff has asked the Foreign Office to point out again
to the neutral seafaring nations, with the exception of Sweden,
the necessity of carefully marking their ships in order that
they shall not be mistaken for enemy ships.”
The next Document, Dönitz-77, on Page 228, is an entry dated 24 June
1942, from the War Diary of the Flag Officer of U-boats:
“All commanders will again be given detailed instructions as to
their conduct toward neutrals.”
I have already submitted Dönitz-78—excuse me, it has not been
submitted. Dönitz-78, Page 229, contains examples of the consideration
which the Commander of U-boats showed to neutrals. The entry of 23
November 1942 shows that a submarine was ordered to leave one area
solely because there was a great deal of neutral traffic in that area.
The second entry of December 1942 specifies that Portuguese naval
tankers had to be treated in accordance with directives, in other words,
allowed to proceed.
On Page 230 there is a document which I have already mentioned. It
contains an account of court-martial proceedings taken against a
commanding officer who had torpedoed a neutral by mistake.
The next document, Dönitz-79, on Page 231, is an order decreeing the
manner of treating neutrals which remained in force up to the end of the
war. I do not think I have to read it. It again stresses the necessity
of neutral ships being easily recognizable as such and refers to
shipping agreements which have been made with a number of countries,
such as Spain, Portugal, Sweden, and Switzerland.
THE PRESIDENT: What is the correct date of it? You said...
FLOTTENRICHTER KRANZBÜHLER: August 1944, Mr. President.
THE PRESIDENT: That is on the original...
FLOTTENRICHTER KRANZBÜHLER: The original date was 1 April 1943. The
order was revised on 1 August 1944 on the basis of the revisions
necessitated by the shipping agreements.
So far I have dealt with the general principles which have been attacked
by the Prosecution’s Exhibit GB-191 and GB-224. Now I should like to
submit several documents on individual points contained in the
Prosecution’s Exhibit GB-191. Mention is made there of a speech by Adolf
Hitler ending with the words:
“Every ship, with or without escort, which comes within range of
our torpedo tubes will be torpedoed.”
I now wish to present as Dönitz-80, on Page 232, an excerpt from that
speech. It shows that in that context the Führer’s statement only
applied to ships carrying war materials to England.
I now come to two examples mentioned in GB-191 as characteristic
examples of illegal German naval warfare. The first is the case of the
Danish steamer _Vendia_. The Prosecution’s document says:
“On 30 September 1939 the first sinking of a neutral ship by a
submarine took place without a warning signal having been given.
On that occasion some people lost their lives. The ship was the
Danish steamer _Vendia_.”
With reference to this I am submitting Dönitz-83, on Page 235. That is
the War Log of Submarine U-3, which sank the _Vendia_. I should like to
read parts of it on account of its importance. I begin with the second
sentence:
“The steamer turns away gradually and increases speed. The boat
comes up only very slowly. Obvious attempt to escape. The
steamer is clearly recognizable as the Danish steamer _Vendia_.
Boat reduces speed and uncovers her machine gun. Several warning
shots are fired across the steamer’s bow. Thereupon the steamer
stops very slowly; nothing more happens for a while. Then some
more shots are fired. The _Vendia_ lies into the wind.
“For 10 minutes nothing is visible on deck to remove suspicion
of possible intended resistance; at 1124 hours I suddenly see
bow waves and screw movements. The steamer swings sharply round
toward the boat. The officer on watch and the first mate agree
with my view that this is an attempt at ramming. For this reason
I turn in the same angle as the steamer. A torpedo is fired 30
seconds later; point of aim, bow; point of impact, extreme rear
of stern. The stern is torn off and goes down. The front part
remains afloat.
“By risking the loss of our own crew and boat (heavy sea and
numerous floating pieces of wreckage) six men of the Danish crew
are rescued, among them the captain and helmsman. No further
survivors can be seen. In the meantime the Danish steamer
_Swawa_ approaches and is stopped. She is requested to send her
papers across in a boat. She is carrying a mixed cargo from
Amsterdam to Copenhagen. The six persons rescued are transferred
to the steamer for repatriation.”