Just a war story

[Wustenfuchs]

Here's an interesting and little known story about the German Commerce Raider HSK (Handels-Stor-Kreuzer) Atlantis. I've included a video link to the story. This week I managed to contact Eleanor (Danielson) Anderson who is one of the few survivors of the Egyptian passenger ship Zamzam (aka Zam Zam) which was sunk by the Atlantis in April 1941. This is not a complete run down on the events that occurred, the point I want to convey is that, war isn't black and white, no one side was absolutely immoral while the other side enjoyed a moral monopoly. Individual soldiers should be judged by their personal actions. I am not a writer, not even close, so please bear with me if this story rambles a bit.

The Zamzam was a former British WW1 troop ship which was, shortly prior to this incident, sold to Egypt. Her crew was made up of Egyptians while the officers in charge were British.

The passengers included approximately 140 American missionaries bound for Africa. The passengers were assured that because the Zamzam was a neutral ship it would be a safe passage. However, early on into the the journey the Captain ordered the ship to continue the rest of the voyage in a total BlackOut condition, the portholes painted black, all navigation lights extinguished, and to sail with no national ensign. This caused quite a bit of nervousness among the passengers, as now the Zamzam appeared to be an armed merchantman, no neutral ship would ever sail this way. Added to this, the Zamzam was still listed in the German ship recognition manuals as a WW1 British troop ship. The Atlantis spotted her and began the hunt.

Early on the morning of April 17th the Atlantis attacked and sank the Zamzam, fortunately all the passengers and crew survived the attack (one would later die of his injuries). The German captain, Bernhard Rogge, and his crew were shocked to see they had sunk a neutral ship (many of the German sailors had tears in their eyes as they helped the passengers and crew aboard the Atlantis) and quite stunned that there were many Americans aboard. This posed a tricky problem as America had not yet entered the war.


Eventually, the Atlantis rendezvoused with another German ship, the merchant Dresden (Captain Jaegar), and all of the captives, except one or two of the most severely injured were transferred, the warship having a real doctor and sick bay. The Dresden set out for occupied France, having to run the British Blockade. At this point conditions deteriorated as food, water, bedding and clothing became scarce. The Germans did what they could to help their new "passengers" cope.

After about a month since the sinking they arrived in France; the passengers were divided into two groups, the English and Canadians being sent off to spend the rest of the war as POWs. The Americans were delivered to the Spanish border and freedom.

Captain Rogge ended the war as a Vizeadmiral in the Kriegsmarine. After the war he went on to become a Konteradmiral (Rearadmiral) with the Bundesmarine. I don't know what happened to Captain Jaegar.

I asked Eleanor Anderson about their feelings for the two German captains, she responded in an email and gave me permission to post it here for the group:




Dear Bill,

Thank you for writing about the Zamzam. I apologize for my delay in responding. In the last week of March I moved from Illinois to Kansas; your message was the very first at my new home and with my new e-mail address. I have moved back to my home-town of Lindsborg, here in the center of Kansas. My husband died of Alzheimer's last summer; I am looking foward to a new chapter in my life. The move was a big job -- and I am still unpacking.

Anyhow, in the busyness of getting settled, I have been negligent about correspondence. Thanks for your patience.

You asked about our feelings for the German captains. Only two adult Zamzam passengers are still living; the rest of our survivors were children in 1941. I myself turned nine while on the Dresden (prison ship). I do not know of any survivors who harbor bad feelings about any of the Germans. Our parents deliberately made effort for us children to think of the Germans as friends.

Captain Rogge (captain of the ship that shelled and sank us) was an outstanding man, with a remarkable career at sea and a compassionate attitude toward both his crew and his prisoners. Sometimes we survivors almost sound as if we were proud to have been Captain Rogge's captives! At reunions nobody expresses negative feelings. Perhaps time has erased bad memories and healed the hurts. Also, most survivors were missionaries, with a tendency to forgive one's enemies.

There are several books written about Captain Rogge. I especially recommend the one by Joseph Slavick, The Cruise of the Raider Atlantis, (see "Resources" in the website Zamzamship.net.) Author Slavick attended our 2003 reunion and made a presentation based on his book.

I had some correspondence with Dr. Ulrick Mohr, aide to Captain Rogge. At first, Mohr's attitude seemed to be that we should just forget about the Zamzam; it was a bad experience of war, and he personally did not want to be reminded of it. However, our survivors' group wanted contact with Mohr and even hoped that he might be able to attend a reunion. So, we exchanged letters. Dr. Mohr's health was not the best, and he was elderly by the time we made contact with him, so it did not work out to meet him again before his death. His attitude, however, did change, and he wrote very kindly to our survivors' group, wishing us well in life and commenting on how a bad experience had become a factor in bringing us survivors together again and being a cause for gratitude and joy. I had told Dr. Mohr that our reunions are very positive and that we look upon the Zamzam experience with amazement because of the miracles and goodness of God and the brotherhood of human beings.

Captain Jaeger (of the Dresden) did not have the same distinguished bearing that Captain Rogge had, but he was kind at heart. I think he was rather nervous about having so many "prisoners" on board; mutiny might have been a concern. Captain Jaeger was gruff and bossy in his manner of controlling us. But, underneath his tough exterior, he was a kind human being.

Thanks for writing. If there is some other way I can be helpful, do not hesitate to write. God bless.


Video link: Zam Zam: A Missionary Odyssey

[Jim O]

Very interesting story Bill. I've added it to my "I've never heard that before..." list. Of course that's a long and ever growing list.

Thanks.

[cyberia]

Good story Bill! Thanks for sharing it.

[TRDG]

Loved it Bill, thanks for your efforts here, it really shows!! Something on this sinking sounds familiar, but no clue as to what.
If you know, was there some kind of U.S. responce to this to Germany, a letter of protest, a phone call? It had to be in many newspapers I bet at least.

Cheers, thanks again!!

Tom

[Wustenfuchs]

Thanks for the kind words Tom, Paul and Jim. I'm not sure about any official letters of protest, however the Dresden did meet up again with the Atlantis after about nine or ten days. The captives did give a letter of protest to Captain Rogge about the harsh conditions aboard the Dresden. It resulted in slightly more food (more canned milk for the babies) and a chance for families to spend time together during the daylight hours. There was a lot of press about the ship going missing (a month with no word on her fate) but since nobody knew what had actually happened to the Zamzam there was no call for a formal protest by the United States. This certainly was hard on the families of the missing people. The Germans kept everything secret until the Dresden docked in France.
The video explains it pretty well.

[Pirate-Drakk]

I was unaware of this incident until reading this post. Good stuff!


This web site has a whole lotta info and links on the Zam Zam story:
"The Zamzam has been a long time in sinking!" The Tale of An Uncompleted Voyage

and more here:
Laney-Hoeing Family