The Athenia 1939: Eyewitness World War II series

By Leonard James

An ebook contianing eyewitness accounts of the first British ship to be sunk in World War II - just 10 hours after war was declared. Complete with explanatory text and background on the men and machines involved.
The Athenia left port in peacetime, heading for Canada with more than a thousand passengers and crew on board. Nobody had any idea that they were steaming into any kind of danger at all. But lurking in her path was U-30 a Type VIIA U-boat armed to the teeth and sent to sea even before war began to prey on British merchant shipping.
Alone and unarmed the Athenia made an easy target. A torpedo struck home in her engine room, killing dozens of crew and passengers in the dining room above - and fatally wounding the ship.
When the German Naval command realised that American citizens had been killed they hastily denied that the Athenia had been sunk by a U-boat and claimed it must have hit a British mine instead. The truth did not come out until after the war.
The “Eyewitness World War II” series is a growing collection of ebooks that contain original eyewitness accounts and contemporary newspaper reports of the action in question. You can find more ebooks in this series by searching for “Eyewitness World War II” or by visiting the military page of our website.

Contents
Chapter 1 Background
Chapter 2 Men and Machines
Chapter 3 Contemporary Press Reports & Eyewitness Reports

About the Author

Leonard James has written dozens of books, mostly on history or military subjects for a wide audience. He is uniquely placed to analyse and comment upon the accounts used in the “Eyewitness World War II” series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bretwalda Books
• Release date: Apr 8, 2013
• ISBN: 9781909698215

Leonard James

About the AuthorLeonard James is the son of an RAF veteran who fought in the Battle of Britain until wounded. Leonard grew up in a household dominated the RAF, and later married the daughter of an RAF squadron leader.

Book preview

Eyewitness Second World War

The Athenia 1939

by Leonard James

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Published by Bretwalda Books at Smashwords

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This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

First Published 2013

Copyright © Bretwalda Books 2013

Leonard James asserts his moral rights to be regarded as the author of this work.

ISBN 978-1-909698-21-5

Contents

Chapter 1 Background