(U-41 AND HMS WYANDRA INCIDENT) IWAN CROMPTON

(U-41 AND HMS WYANDRA INCIDENT) IWAN CROMPTON

IWAN CROMPTON Oberleutnant zur See aboard German U-41 and one of only two survivors when the vessel was sunk by British Q-ship HMS WYANDRA in a most shameful "sneak attack". Rare A.L.S. "Crompton im Kriege U-41" on the verso of a postcard, Konigsberg, June 18, 1931 in German. Not translated, but apparently providing his address. After stopping 6,651 GRT merchantman URBINO, U-41 sent a boarding party aboard to inspect the cargo. After finding war material on board, the Germans put the merchant crew off the ship in the lifeboats. As U-41 shelled the URBINO, HMS WYANDRA (a Q-ship in the guise of the American-flagged merchantman BARALONG) arrived on the scene, flying an American flag. When U-41 approached, WYANDRA fired on and sank the U-boat without striking the American flag. This was a violation of the rules of war; while the use of a False Flag was allowed, it was required that a belligerent identify itself before initiating hostilities. The event generated widespread outrage in Germany, especially among Kriegsmarine officers.