German ship Petrella
Encyclopedia
The Petrella was an German merchant ship, which sank on February 8, 1944 north of Suda Bay, Crete, killing some 2,670 Italian POWs.
, as it was known in World War II, had been captured by the Germans in the Battle of Crete
in May 1941, and was occupied by a mixed German-Italian force.
The Italian garrison unit was the 51 Infantry Division Siena
consisting of some 21,700 men, which occupied the easternmost prefecture of Lasithi
.
On September 8, 1943 the Armistice between Italy and Allied armed forces was signed, and the Italians in Crete were disarmed by the Germans without major problems. As elsewhere, they were given the choice to continue the war alongside Germany, or to be sent to the Reich to do forced labor
.
A minority chose to continue the fight and formed the Legione Italiana Volontari Creta.
On February 8, 1944, some 3,173 prisoners were crammed into the hull of the Petrella.
The ship was detected by the British submarine HMS Sportsman
and torpedoed. The ship did not sink immediately, but the German guards kept the POW rooms closed and fired at those who tried to break out.
Only 500 Italians managed to escape the sinking ship. 2,670 drowned.
Background
Fortress CreteFortress Crete
Fortress Crete was the term used during World War II by the German occupation forces to refer to the garrison and fortification of the Greek island of Crete, which they had captured after a fierce battle at the end of May 1941...
, as it was known in World War II, had been captured by the Germans in the Battle of Crete
Battle of Crete
The Battle of Crete was a battle during World War II on the Greek island of Crete. It began on the morning of 20 May 1941, when Nazi Germany launched an airborne invasion of Crete under the code-name Unternehmen Merkur...
in May 1941, and was occupied by a mixed German-Italian force.
The Italian garrison unit was the 51 Infantry Division Siena
51 Infantry Division Siena
The 51 Infantry Division Siena was a regular Infantry Division of the Italian Army during World War II. The Siena Division was fully mobilized in August 1940, for service in the occupation of Albania in the following September. It took part in the Greco-Italian War as part of the Italian VIII...
consisting of some 21,700 men, which occupied the easternmost prefecture of Lasithi
Lasithi
Lasithi is the easternmost regional unit on the island of Crete, to the east of Heraklion. Its capital is Agios Nikolaos, the other major towns being Ierapetra, Sitia and Neapoli. The mountains include the Dikte to the west and the Sitia Mountains to the east...
.
On September 8, 1943 the Armistice between Italy and Allied armed forces was signed, and the Italians in Crete were disarmed by the Germans without major problems. As elsewhere, they were given the choice to continue the war alongside Germany, or to be sent to the Reich to do forced labor
Italian military internees
Italian military internees was the official name given by Germany to the Italian soldiers captured, rounded up and deported in the territories of the Third Reich in Operation Achse in the days immediately following the Armistice between Italy and Allied armed forces .After disarmament by the...
.
A minority chose to continue the fight and formed the Legione Italiana Volontari Creta.
The disaster
The Petrella was the former French merchant ship Aveyron of 4785 tons. As ordered by Adolf Hitler, the Italians were transported in often unseaworthy vessels, without any safety standard.On February 8, 1944, some 3,173 prisoners were crammed into the hull of the Petrella.
The ship was detected by the British submarine HMS Sportsman
HMS Sportsman (P229)
HMS Sportsman was an S class submarine of the Royal Navy, and part of the Third Group built of that class. She was built at Chatham Dockyard and launched on 17 April 1942. So far she has been the only ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name Sportsman.In 1951 it was lent to the French Navy who...
and torpedoed. The ship did not sink immediately, but the German guards kept the POW rooms closed and fired at those who tried to break out.
Only 500 Italians managed to escape the sinking ship. 2,670 drowned.