The Sinking of the Laconia (2011)

In the throbbing heart of the Atlantic, 600 miles from Africa's embrace, the British vessel Laconia, laden with 1,800 Italian POWs, 80 British civilians, and 268 soldiers of Polish and British descent, meets its watery grave at the hands of the German U-boat, U-156, in the somber days of September 1942. Upon the chilling realization that the ship's passengers were not simply foes, but civilians and POWs, U-Boat Commander Werner Hartenstein (Duken) makes a decision that shatters the iron-clad orders of the Nazi high command. Braving the vast, unforgiving ocean, U-156 surfaces, its crew driven by a shared purpose - to salvage as many lives from the shipwreck's icy grip as possible. Over the course of several heart-wrenching days, the submarine becomes an unlikely ark, saving 400 individuals, with half clinging to life aboard the surfaced submarine and half huddled in lifeboats. Hartenstein, demonstrating a humanity that transcends the boundary of uniforms, sends out pleas to the Allies for a large-scale rescue. But their glimmer of hope is threatened as American B-24 Liberator bombers spot the submarine and prepare for an assault. "The Sinking of the Laconia" is an evocative exploration of the human essence amidst a tempest of world conflict, illuminating the bonds forged, the bravery exhibited, and the indomitable spirit of humanity that prevails in the face of unimaginable adversity.

The Sinking of the Laconia is a drama show featuring Franka Potente.

The Sinking of the Laconia is currently streaming on PBS Masterpiece Amazon Channel.