Tag: torpedo

WWII: The ‘Correct’ Soviet Sinking of the Nazi German Ship – MV Wilhelm Gustloff [1945]! (29.10.2022)

With the US, UK and EU actively supporting the political rightwing and far-right as a policy decision in this power bloc’s opposition to any and all Workers’ Movements anywhere in the world – the idea that the Soviet sinking of the MV Wilhelm Gustloff was a ‘War Crime’ still carries significant persuasive force that even permeates Western classrooms (including those of ‘modern’ Russia) and is a common idea held throughout society. Alexander Marinesko did not commit a ‘War Crime’ or a ‘Crime Against Humanity’ because from the point of view of International Maritime Law, the ship was a legitimate target for the following reasons: 

a) The ship was fitted with artillery (including anti-aircraft guns). 

b) The ship was escorted by armed warships. 

c) The ship and was painted in gray ‘camouflage’ colours to assist in its combat missions. 

d) The ship was not Registered with the Red Cross. 

e) The ship was carrying active military personnel. 

f) The ship was travelling through a declared combat zone at the time of sinking. 

g) The ship sailed under the (military) flag of the Reichskriegsmarine.

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Lisbon Maru (1942): In Praise of the Chinese Fishermen of Dongji! The People of Britain Thank You! (29.8.2022)

The remaining 936 British POWs were transported to Japan on the ‘Shinsei Maru’. By the time this ship reached the port of Moji in Kyushu – a further five British POWs had died. Of the original number of 1,816 British POWs that had boarded the ‘Lisbon Maru’ on September 27th, 1942, by the time they eventually arrived in Japan (around October 8th, 1942), only 931 British POWs remained! (What happened to the five seriously wounded British POWs left in Shanghai I do not know). This entire episode means that through a combination of a US ‘War Crime’ and continued Imperial Japanese ‘War Crimes’, in a matter of just eleven days in 1942, these two countries conspired to murder 885 British POWs! The number would have been much higher if not for the selfless actions of the Chinese fishermen (and their families) who came from Dongji Island!  

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