MV Wilhelm Gustloff

MV Wilhelm Gustloff, Danzig, 1939.

The MV Wilhelm Gustloff was a German transport ship that was sunk near the end of World War II. It was being used to evacuate refugees from East Prussia through the Baltic Sea. The ship was followed by a Soviet submarine and sunk by hits from three torpedoes.

Due to the freezing temperatures the lifeboats were unable to be deployed and there were very few survivors. It was the largest loss of life in any maritime disaster.