Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Episode 1

Drama telling the true story of the Laconia, sunk on the 12th September 1942 by a German U-Boat, which then surfaced against orders to rescue the women, children and POWs on board.

Part one of a two-part drama. On the 12th September 1942 the Laconia - a cruise ship turned troop ship - was torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-156 commanded by Werner Hartenstein. She carried a motley crew of women, children, wounded soldiers and Italian Prisoners of War. Having sunk the ship, Hartenstein should have left them to their uncertain fate in the water, but instead he made the incredible decision to save as many lives as he could. A true story of unexpected gallantry and humanity in the fog of war.

1 hour, 30 minutes

Last on

Sat 26 May 2018 14:00

More episodes

Previous

You are at the first episode

Next

See all episodes from The Sinking of the Laconia

Credits

Role Contributor
Director Uwe Janson
Hartenstein Ken Duken
Mortimer Andrew Buchan
Hilda Franka Potente
Elizabeth Fullwood Lindsay Duncan
Captain Sharp Brian Cox
Laura Ferguson Morven Christie
Mannesmann Jacob Matschenz
Fiedler Frederick Lau
Weber Jorg Malchow
Remmert Stefan Rudolf
Rostau Matthias Koeberlin
Schaht, Harro Simon Verhoeven
Danitz, Admiral Thomas Kretschmann
Walter Drexler Nikolai Kinski
Sarah Fullwood Jodi Balfour
Captain Coutts Nicholas Burns
Declan McDermott Ciaran McMenamin
Billy Hardacre Lenny Wood
Harry Townes Ben Crompton
William Williams Matthew Aubrey
Di Giovanni Ludovico Fremont
Henry Bates Paul Hilton
Producer Hilary Norrish
Producer Jonathon Young
Writer Alan Bleasdale
Actor Brian Cox

Broadcasts

  • Thu 6 Jan 2011 21:00
  • Wed 12 Jan 2011 21:00
  • Wed 12 Sep 2012 22:30
  • Sat 26 May 2018 14:00