Breach of international rules of war?

[Brian]

Hi guys

In case you did not notice my earlier enquiry regarding Graf Spee's Ar196, it has come to my notice (via the excllent input of 'Seaplanes' and others)that the Arado carried British or French roundels on the undersides of its wings, presumably to fool allied merchantmen it overflew that it was not hostile. Perhaps this has been known for a long time by historians/ enthusiasts, but not by me.
My question is - was this a breach of the international rules of war - or was there not such an animal?

Cheers
Brian

[Graham Boak]

Perhaps it could be considered in the same context as a raider surviving by masquerading as a neutral or friendly ship. From what is said in books on this subject, my understanding is that no direct action can be taken other than under the proper flag. The first action is to drop the disguise and show the "true colours", before firing can commence.

By this logic the Arado would not be permitted to drop bombs or fire on any target whilst flying under false colours, but overflights would not be breaking any international convention.

I believe (without direct evidence to hand) that it was the 1912 Geneva Convention that required all military/combatant/belligerent aircraft to carry national markings of identity visible in all six directions - something rarely if ever achieved from front and rear, at least!

[Brian]

Thanks Graham

Graf Spee's Arado certainly did open fire on at least one British vessel, slightly wounding at least one person!

Very interesting
Brian

[Nick Beale]

I believe that achieving surprise under false colours is permitted as a "ruse de guerre" but as Graham says you must fight under your own flag.

Certainly this had been custom and practice in naval warfare for centuries.

[VtwinVince]

International rules of war? That's rich. I think those were pretty much thrown out a few years ago by a certain North American superpower.

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by VtwinVince

International rules of war? That's rich. I think those were pretty much thrown out a few years ago by a certain North American superpower.

But we're talking about 1939–45.

[RT]

At see there are no rules, the pirats can be anoblished, still today the right at sea is by many aspect different that on the "earth", the bombing of the french flotte at Mers el Kébir, obeying at that rule in fact at that no-rule

remi

[hihotte]

Holá Nick, talking about 39-45, if the false national markings of the Spee Arado was the start of breaking (disregarding) international rules than it continued with everydays breaking rules in WWII - from all combatants. The next remarkable one was the Cossack attack and freeing of PoW's on Altmarck, the supply merchant of Graf Spee in neutral waters of Joessingfjord, Norway. Nazi Germany welcomed this affair to occupy Norway under the excuse Norway could not protect their own neutrality. I think that caused a lot of trouble in the next 4 1/2 years to the British War office. Anyhow as Clausewitz stated: At war and in love everything is allowed.
Have a nice sunday
Horst Schmidt

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Just to add a touch of information during Cold War: I heard of a PRU American pilot who told me about his flights with a PR9 Camberra over the North Artic without any markings - the plane was entirely silver and the Nav/Radio-operator a Polac fluent in Russian...I think a lot of actions like that ocurred ( remember the histories of KG 200; the Brandenburgers; the SOE agents disguised as Germans - "the white rabbit"; etc....)
Adriano

[Brian]

Hi guys

I hear what is being put forward but being specific, we are talking about an aeroplane using false identification - not a ship that can hoist another flag or an aircraft without any national markings. Assuming that the Arado carried false markings under its wings when it attacked the British vessel Clement on 30 September 1939, then it does not equate with Q ships or pirate ships or clandestine flights post WWII.

Kapt Hans Langsdorff of the Graf Spee is portrayed as being an honourable and chivalrous gentleman of the old school, which no doubt he was considering that he took his own life, but one wonders if he authorised/ condoned the disguise of the Arado? Was this the only such case?

Food for thought
Brian