The MV Wilhelm Gustloff was originally built to be a German Cruise liner, in Kraft dur Freude (Strength through Joy) called the Adolf Hitler, and it was first built in 1937, constructed by Blohm + Voss but it's voyage was cut short in 1939 after WWII was declared, and transformed into ship used by the Kriegsmarine- changing it's name to Wilhelm Gustloff after an assassinated Swiss Nazi Party Official; after Hitler himself attended the mans funeral and spoke to Gustloff's widow.
In 1941, it was bought by the Kriegsmarine (German Navy) and first used as a floating barracks for navy soldiers.
In 1942, it became a hospital ship for wounded soldiers- UNTIL
1945, it was altered into a refugee ship-
It's first haul of passengers set to be on January 30th, 1945
And, at 9 pm that fateful night, the war that was already, seemingly, tearing the world apart
took a turn for (even) worse, in an event that made God weep above the clouds.
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The Wilhelm Gustloff: The Forgotten Greatest Maritime Disaster in History
Non-FictionOn January 30th, 1945 The Wilhelm Gustloff, a Former Cruise Liner, Now Carrying Over 10,000 Refugees Fleeing the Invading Red Army, Was Struck by 3 Soviet Submarine Torpedoes. Resulting in over 9,400 Men, Women and Children Losing Their Lives. Nami...
