On September 12, 1942, U-156 commander Werner Hartenstein torpedoed the RMS Laconia, a former Cunard White Star liner that was converted into a troopship during the war. On board that day, traveling from South Africa to England, were 1,500 Italian prisoners of war, military personnel, and women and children.

After the attack, and realizing there were German allies and women and children on board, Hartenstein called other U-boats to aid in the rescue. What happens next when he decides to request assistance from the Allies would change the course of the war, leading to even more casualties.

Today you'll hear an episode on the Laconia Incident by History Daily with Host Lindsay Graham. With new episodes every weekday, you'll hear the fascinating stories of what happened "on this day" in history. Like our pod ...