WORLD WAR II
JANUARY 30, 1945
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THE STORY OF THE WILHELM GUSTLOFF US $7.00
By Sophia Lambert C Block
A TRAGEDY OF WAR Gotenhafen,Poland 1945 On January 30th,1945, the Gotenhafen Port in Gdynia, Poland, was crowded with refugees desperate to board one of the massive ships that would bring them to freedom. Many suffered from illnesses such as typhoid and dysentery as well as starvation, frostbite and wounds. Hundreds died upon arrival to the port. All were victims to the war that raged around them. The largest ship in the harbor, the Wilhelm Gustloff, carried 10,563 passengers en route for Kiel, a city in Germany. At 9:15 pm of the same day, about 25 nautical miles offshore, it was torpedoed by a Russian submarine. More than 9,000 people lost their lives to the freezing Baltic Sea. The tragedy is considered the worst maritime disaster of them all. It’s legacy is only one of the horrific true stories of World War II.
Six Long Years
World War II started in 1939 and ended in 1945. Over the span of six years, over 25,000 people died in accidents similar to what happened to the Wilhelm Gustloff. Rosemarie Petrus-Resas, a survivor of the Gustloff sinking, describes her experience. [translated from German] “All of a sudden I realize there’s water in my ears, in my nose, my mouth. ‘God,’ I think, ‘Please let me lose consciousness, let me die quickly, just want to die quickly.’ And suddenly, I’ve got air again.”
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Dangers of the Baltic Traveling by ship was dangerous for the Germans. Soviet submarines prowled the waters underneath German war ships and freighters. “Our mission was the same as always: To destroy the enemy. We were to look for transport ships, and sink them.” says Fyodor Danilov, who was aboard the S-13 submarine that sunk the Gustloff. However, German ships were not without protection of their own. They sometimes had underwater escorts to protect them from the submarines. Unfortunately, the Wilhelm Gustloff had left Gotenhafen in a hurry and had not waited for an escort.
Three strikes you're out
The first torpedo hit near the bow of the ship near the crew’s living quarters. The second exploded underneath the ship’s swimming pool, which had been emptied to make room for the Naval Auxiliary women. The third and final torpedo hit the engine room and tore through the ship. This final blow caused the Wilhelm Gustloff to tilt to the port side and sink sideways. Thousands of people in the lower decks were killed immediately or trapped by the damage the torpedo had made. These people, along with many others, did not make it to the lifeboats.
Washed away with the tide
The Wilhelm Gustloff is considered the worst maritime catastrophe to ever happen, and yet, many people are unfamiliar of the event. After the sinking, the Germans and Russians alike fought to keep the incident quiet. For the survivors however, the memory stays very much alive. “A survivor once said ‘The dead are alright. They have it behind them. We die every year.’” said Jürgen Danöhl during his interview with National Geographic. “I’ve thought about that a lot, and he’s right.” Those who hear about it, will forget about it. Those who live it, will - Sophia Lambert never overpass their horrifying experience.
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World War II 19391945 Escape - People tried to escape the war and destruction. Evacuation - People were forced to evacuate their homes. Wilhelm Gustloff - A ship that held over 10,000 people and was torpedoed by a Russian submarine. Loss - In total, 60 million people died during World War II. Suffering - Due to the terrible living conditions for people fleeing the war, many people suffered from disease and starvation. KdF (KdF ship) - “Kraft durch Freude” which means “Strength through Joy” [Translated from German]
Lexicon Refugee - Many people were refugees seeking freedom and refuge. “Per aspera ad astra” - “Through hardship to the stars” [Translated from Latin] “Junker” - Young gentleman “Sippenhaft” - Blood guilt [Translated from German] Fight - Soldiers fought for their countries and civilians fought for survival. Hope - Although many died, the hope caused many to push on. Wounded - Soldiers and civilians alike were wounded by the war. “Volksdeutsche” - Of German ancestry [Translated from German] Desperation - People were desperate to get to survive and make it to freedom. 3
Photo Bibliographies "Flashback in History: Sinking of M/V Wilhelm Gustloff (estimated 9,300 People Lost) – 30 January 1945." Maritime Cyprus. N.p., 30 Jan. 2017. Web. 05 June 2017. "The Anti-Hero – Sinking MV Wilhelm Gustloff (Part Two)." Europe Between East And West. N.p., 23 July 2015. Web. 05 June 2017. "MV Wilhelm Gustloff." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 03 June 2017. Web. 05 June 2017. Enache, Mihaita. "Tragedy at Sea: Cu 70 De Ani în Urmă, Pe 30 Ianuarie, S-a Scufundat TITANICUL Lui Hitler ⋆ Redescoperă Istoria." Redescoperă Istoria. Redescoperă Istoria, 30 Jan. 2015. Web. 05 June 2017. "German–Soviet Commercial Agreement (1940)." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 21 May 2017. Web. 05 June 2017. Lazarettschiff D (Wilhelm Gustloff). N.p., n.d. Web. 05 June 2017. 4