Background
The passenger liner Athenia was torpedoed on 3 September 1939 - the same day that France and Great Britain declared war on Germany. No warning was given and the submarine took no action to help the surviving passengers. There was international outrage as the attack breached International agreements about submarine warfare. The Nazis denied responsibility and blamed Churchill - not that anyone believed them. The full story of what happened emerged during the Nuremberg Trials of major war criminals that took place in 1945-6.
I have used contemporary press cuttings and witness statements to present a picture of what ordinary people would have known at the time, and included detailed information about the preparation for the International War Crimes Tribunal, and evidence of the fate of Athenia from the trial transcripts. Since this part of my website went live in 2010, I have been contacted by many people who have contributed additional information and 'Survivor Accounts' - some of which are very sad.
The Content Overview page describes what is here but I suggest you view the material in chronological order by using the links at the bottom of each page, starting with the Introduction page that is linked at the bottom of this page. The menu includes links to other sections of the Benjidog site, a feedback page, a visitors book and site search facilities.
What's New?
- 5 February 2026: New account of the rescue by Axel Johansson
- 12 August 2024: General tidying and standardisation of colours
- 9 February 2024: Style refresh and minor corrections to text
- 2 April 2023: New page including Ship's manifest. Additional reports, letters and press cuttings from the National Archives added.
- 9 February 2023: Site restructured to improve display of tables and for the use of handheld devices.
- 4 December 2022: Style standardised and refreshed and minor errors corrected.
- 2 April 2021: Complete update with additional information about passengers and crew, more first hand accounts, more about the 80th anniversary 'Survivors Reunion' and general style improvements.
- 26 March 2021: Updated crew list and new item about a survivor.
- 31 August 2020: Modifications to improve the visibility of tables on hand-held devices, improved crew list and deck plans and addition of a photos and a video of an 80th anniversary re-union of survivors.
Brian Watson
5 February 2026