Post by Administrator on Dec 2, 2015 22:17:39 GMT
The lost library that saved lives:
In 1940 an Austrian publisher named chmidt, having lost his Austrian citizenship, decamped for England. The poor chap seemingly couldn't win. On arriving in Britain he was judged to be an enemy alien and arrested. Soon afterwards he found himself on the SS Dunera en route to Australia. During the voyage, his cabin was ransacked. Everything of value was taken. However, as the publisher’s treasured library was considered worthless it was tossed overboard.
Records later revealed that, at the time, U-56 was stalking the British troopship and the submarine let loose three torpedoes. Two missed their target and one failed to explode. Surfacing to attack with its deck gun the crew found chmidt’s German language books bobbing about in the water. Deciding that the ship was carrying German prisoners-of-war the U-Boat's officers abandoned the attack.
The crew and the passengers of the SS Dunera, unaware of their lucky escape due to the unfortunate incident, blithely sailed on. The prisoner was embittered to the end of his days. Would he have felt so badly had he realised that the loss of his library had saved not only his own life but that of others?