MV Wilhelm Gustloff

The MV Wilhelm Gustloff was a German passenger ship built in 1937, originally intended for tourism and propaganda purposes. During World War II, it was repurposed as a military evacuation vessel, transporting thousands of stranded civilians, soldiers, and refugees fleeing the advancing Soviet forces. In January 1945, while sailing in the Baltic Sea, it was tragically sunk by a Soviet submarine. The sinking resulted in the loss of approximately 9,000 lives, making it one of the deadliest maritime disasters in history. The incident highlights the chaos and human suffering caused by war.