The narrative centers on the tragic sinking of the Llandovery Castle, a Canadian hospital ship, by a German submarine during World War I, which led to widespread outrage due to violations of international law. The U-86's commander attempted to cover up the incident by attacking survivors, but one lifeboat escaped to witness the atrocity. This event was later addressed at the Leipzig War Crimes Trials, establishing a legal precedent for future war crime prosecutions, including the Nuremberg Trials. The book also examines the broader impact of this largely forgotten tragedy.
