German submarines and the German prize rules according to a report of the American Naval Attaché at Berlin, Germany Nr. R562 dated 15 September 1939

Diary note dated Friday 8 September 1939. An item reported that the Embassy received a study of the German prize rules conform the convention for regulating submarine warfare of commerce as signed by the Germany in 1935. It was based on visit and search principles allowing the submarine asking for the papers to be examined. A prize could not be sunk before her crew and passengers was in safety. The German prize rules made clear that the ship’s boats were not to be considered as a place of safety when seas were running, the coastline on a far distance without any rescue in sight etc. The submarine commanders were ordered to assist the boats if necessary to reach safety by supplying compass courses to land etc. The German submarine expert admiral Spindler (1) remarked that under the convention of 1935 merchant ships part of a convoy of the enemy was subject of sinking without a warning but that armed merchantmen were a problem under this convention and so an open question.

Note

1. Arno Splindler (10 May 1880 Gleiwitz [Gliwice, Poland]-18 May 1968 Hamburg, Germany)m since 31 October 1925 rear admiral, commanded submarines in the First World War. Author of the Der Krieg zur See 1914-1918: Handelskrieg mit U-Boote

Source

National Archives. FDR Presidential Library&Museum Roosevelt PSFC000175. War diary Naval Attaché Berlin, volume 1 (1 September 1939-26 May 1940)