Alan bleasdale drama sets the record straight on heroic uboat captain this article is more than 9 years old. The sinking of the laconia by ken duken, franka potente. The sinking of the laconia watch full episodes and clips. About the sinking of the laconia the sinking of the. It casted a long shadow over the uboat service and was to have far reaching consequences after the war. 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. This is the conclusion of the first hand account of the sinking of the cunard laconia by chicago tribune reported floyd gibbons in 1917.
The main extra attraction is a highly engaging 29minute documentary titled the sinking of the laconia. The waiting in the lifeboats, rescue at sea and the consequence of germanys act of war. Duffy relates the story of the sinking of the british liner laconia by the german uboat u156. When realising that there are pows and civilians on board, and that they are facing. 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 crew. Watch the sinking of the laconia online full series. 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. Bbc the sinking of the rms laconia in world war ii. The large vessel was the british liner laconia 19,695 tons which sank at 2323 hours. 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. What followed is a harrowing true story of heroism, heartbreak, and unexpected humanity in the midst of the bloodiest conflict in history. The sinking of the laconia history yesterday channel. The sinking of the laconia and the uboat war disaster in the midatlantic. 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.
Having sunk the ship, hartenstein should have left them to. 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. Rms laconia, carrying 2,732 crew, passengers, soldiers and prisoners of war, was torpedoed and sunk by u156, a german uboat. The sinking of the laconia and the uboat war by duffy. Instantly find any the sinking of the laconia full episode available from all 1. Commander werner hartensteins role in the sinking of the laconia and rescue of. The uboat commander werner hartenstein then staged a dramatic effort to rescue the passengers and the crew of laconia, which involved additional german uboats and became known as the laconia incident. In september 1942, at the height of wwii, a german uboat torpedoed the rms laconia, unaware that it carried more than 2,000 passengers. The sinking of the laconia is a twopart tv film, first aired on 6 and 7 january 2011 on bbc two, about the laconia incident. The sinking of the cunard line rms laconia i part ii. The sinking of the laconia tv series 20112011 the movie.
The sinking of the laconia dvd central arkansas library. Documentary following the story of the sinking of the cunard liner laconia in world war ii through the personal testimonies of six survivors. However, on 12 december 1942, it was torpedoed by a german uboat off the coast of west africa. The sinking of the laconia complete hdtv sd720p september 1942. Hartenstein gave orders for messages to be sent out to the allies to organise a rescue of the survivors, but they were spotted by american b24 liberator bombers which moved in to attack. She carried a motley crew of women, children, wounded soldiers and italian prisoners of war.
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. What followed is a harrowing true story of heroism. Watch full length episodes, video clips, highlights and more. I got an interesting little window into the postproduction process watching alan bleasdales excellent second world war drama the sinking of the laconia bbc2. Floyds story appeared in newspapers throughout the united states. 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. The new ship was launched on 9 april 1921, and made her maiden voyage on 25 may 1922 from southampton to new york city. 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. Alan bleasdale drama sets the record straight on heroic u. Laconia ss i laconia ss was a cunard liner of 18,099grt. 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. Click here and start watching the sinking of the laconia in seconds. The sinking of the laconia watch full episodes and clips search. The drama is based upon real events that occurred during world war ii when a german uboat torpedoed a british ship that was transporting.
Part two uboat commander werner hartenstein has torpedoed the laconia and then mounted an extraordinary rescue operation. Twopart 2011 miniseries which originally aired on the beeb depicting the real life events surrounding the sinking of hms laconia by a uboat in september 1942, and the subsequent rescue of the survivors by the crew of the submarine. When war broke out, the ship was commandeered by the british government for use as a troopship and fitted with eight sixinch guns. With world war ii at its peak, a german uboat torpedoes the rms laconia. 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. Werner hartenstein torpedoed a large target in the south atlantic in position 05. The sinking of the rms laconia marked a major turning point in world war ii. When the question of drama at sea is raised inevitably mi. Jun 07, 2016 the sinking of the laconia part 1 bbc movie the laconia incident refers to the controversial events surrounding the sinking and subsequent aborted rescue attempt of a british troopship in the. The sinking of the laconia, 1942 the navy records society. On the 12th september the german u boat u156 torpedoed a passenger ship off the coast of africa. Sep, 2018 part two uboat commander werner hartenstein has torpedoed the laconia and then mounted an extraordinary rescue operation.
When realising that there are pows and civilians on board, and that they. Wet from spray, we returned within and in one of the corridors met the captain of the ship. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. The true story of the allied ship laconia, sunk in wwii by a german uboat. Season 1 episode 2 the sinking of laconia sbs on demand. I have serious doubts whether this is a real story. Learn about the history and the unfolding of one of the most controversial incidents of the uboat war, the laconia incident. Molly davidsons audio account of the sinking of the troop transport laconia in august 1942. A britishgerman coproduction of the bbc and ard, it was directed by german uwe jansen and written by british alan bleasdale. The following is an extract from a letter by horst bredow of september 2011 directed to all members of the ftu. Originally broadcast in great britain as a television miniseries, this docudrama travels back to the fateful month of september 1942 and recreates a stunning series of events. The sinking of the laconia and the uboat war by duffy, james.
Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. There is a movie quite well done about the laconia incident, free to watch on youtube, and also a book the sinking of the laconia and the uboat war by james p. The sinking of the cunard line rms laconia i part v. Her lively and detailed firsthand account of what became known as the laconia incident encompasses abandoning. The sinking of the british liner laconia, with 2,500 souls aboard, including some 1,800 italian prisoners of war, marked a turning point in the battle of the atlantic. Watch the sinking of the laconia full episodes online. 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. The liner was carrying a 6man crew, some 80 civilians, military material and personnel 268 men and. The sinking of the laconia tv miniseries 2010 imdb. Molly was just nineteen when in august 1942 she and her mother were evacuated by air from malta and took passage from egypt to britain.
This incident prompted one of the most controversial order donitz ever issued, usually known as the laconia order today, it made it absolutely clear that no uboats were to take part in any rescue operations from that date and leave any survivors in the sea. 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. The sinking of the laconia part 1 bbc movie the laconia incident refers to the controversial events surrounding the sinking and subsequent aborted rescue attempt of a british troopship in the. The liner rms laconia, torpedoed on the 12th september 1942. Sep 19, 2007 the sinking of the ss laconia post by jfko6 wed dec 14, 2016 8. The sinking of the laconia takes a look at the human side of the remarkable events that took place. 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. The sinking of the laconia gallery the sinking of the.
U156s deck is crowded with allied survivors fished out of the south. The sinking of the laconia part2 bbc movie the laconia incident refers to the controversial events surrounding the sinking and subsequent aborted rescue attempt of a british troopship in the. The sinking of the laconia first aired on bbc2 in january 2011, then in the united states on the ovation channel in april 2012. Rms laconia andrew buchan junior third officer thomas mortimer rms laconia andrew buchan junior third officer thomas mortimer rms laconia.
This twopart drama brings to life one of the most of the dramatic stories of world war ii. 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. Jan 01, 2011 alan bleasdale drama sets the record straight on heroic uboat captain this article is more than 9 years old. Jan 06, 2011 the sinking of the rms laconia marked a major turning point in world war ii. The laconia is sunk by a german sub which then rescues victims as an american bomber sets to attack. Jun 07, 2016 the sinking of the laconia part2 bbc movie the laconia incident refers to the controversial events surrounding the sinking and subsequent aborted rescue attempt of a british troopship in the. With world war ii at its peak, a german uboat torpedoes the rms laconia sans the knowledge that its transporting over. 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. 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. 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.
A gallery of the docudrama telling the true story of the sinking of the liner laconia by a german uboat in 1942 through the eyes of six survivors. Jan 06, 2011 watch the sinking of the laconia add to watchlist this dramatic documentary series uses interviews with survivors to tell the true story of the british troopship laconia, which was sunk in 1942 by a german uboat while positioned hundreds of miles off the coast of africa, travelling from cape town to the united kingdom. That night after dinner dugan and i took a brisk walk around the darkened promenade deck of the laconia. The liner laconia on sept 12, 1942 at 2207 hours u156 under the command of kptlt. There was nothing remarkable about that until they discovered who was being transported aboard her italian prisoners of war. This marks the dvd debut of the program, with a total running time of 171 minutes. The night was very dark, a stiff wind was blowing and the laconia was rolling slightly in the trough of the waves. The laconia was sunk by a german uboat off the coast.
Now, almost a year later, we received the results on dvd in english and german. The true story of the allied ship laconia, sunk in wwii by a german uboat, which then surfaced against orders to rescue the civilian crew. Documentary telling the true story of the sinking of the liner laconia by a german uboat in 1942 through the eyes of six survivors. My dads uncle was aboard this boat when it happened, so it was a must to purchase this adaptation of the sinking of the laconia. Watch the sinking of the laconia online full episodes of. I am not entirely certain that it is not all a dream.
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