Wilhelm Gustloff: Deadliest Shipwreck

When Hitler learned of the Gustloff disaster (words are not needed for this video), he wanted to keep the terrible news from the German people. Why risk concerns about his invincibility? As a result, the story was not widely known at the time. It still isn’t.

Within ten days of the sinking, Alexander Marinesko struck again - not far from the wreck of the Gustloff. The victim of his next deadly attack was the Steuben.

Once again, a German ship was crowded with people escaping the Eastern Front. Once again, there was great loss of life as the Steuben went to the bottom of the frigid Baltic Sea. It is estimated around 3,000 people died.

One might think Alexander Marinesko, who did not realize he had sunk the Gustloff and Steuben until he returned to port, was a Soviet hero. He wasn’t. Because he had torpedoed ships loaded with fleeing civilians, including many women and children, he was vilified in his native land.

After the war, Marinesko found himself in the Gulag. His crime? Allowing a friend to take bricks from a construction site. After his release, Marinesko worked in an automobile factory.

He died in 1963, forgotten by all but his victims and their families. There were more than 14,000 of them.