Episode 21: The Sinking of the Wilhelm Gustlaff

In the icy cold January of 1945, all was quiet in the Baltic Sea.  The Wilhelm Gustlaff floated silently along.  Later that evening a national broadcast from Hitler blared through the boats speakers, echoing across the water.

A man named Aleksander took his shot.

In a loss of life that accounted to nearly 9000 people, the tragedy of the Wilhelm Gustlaff is that of the largest loss of human life at sea.

Listen to the podcast to learn more!

SHOW NOTES:

0:10 Peter’s Youth

2:00 The Encroachment of  the Russians

2:56 The History of  the Gustlaff

3:55 The Gustlaff Sets Sail

4:20 The Gustlaff is Spotted

4:40 The Gustlafff is Hit

5:12 Scenes of Terror on the Gustlaff

6:25 Patrol Boat 1703

6:55 The Gustlaff Findling

7:5- Peter’s Childhood

8:40 Freymuller

9:25 Peter’s Adult Life

9:42 Heinz Schön

10:40 The History Sinks Beneath the Waves with the Gustlaff

 

Related Links:

CRABWALK - Gunter Grass

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