0
Between Fire and Ice: The Story of the Wilhelm Gustloff
Thomas Goodrich
Ever heard of the Wilhelm Gustloff? Neither had I. To this day, the deliberate sinking of this refugee ship filled with women and children remains not only the worst nautical disaster in world history but one of the most heartless and sadistic war crimes ever committed. The following is from my book, Hellstorm–The Death of Nazi Germany, 1944-1947
For millions of Germans cut off on the Baltic coast by the rapid Red Army advance, only one avenue of escape remained open—the sea. Even here, however, Soviet aircraft controlled the skies above and submarines prowled unseen below. In the various ports along the coast, thousands upon thousands of ragged, frozen refugees pressed to the water’s edge in hopes of landing a spot on one of the few vessels available. The numbers were so great and the fear so consuming that efforts to board when ships did dock often resembled riots...
http://www.renegadetribune.com/betwe...helm-gustloff/
Bookmarks