The German vessel Wilhelm Gustloff was carrying up to 10,000 military personnel and civilians across the Baltic Sea when it was attacked by a Soviet submarine on January 30, 1945.

As the tides of World War II began to turn against Nazi Germany, its people began to worry. Stories of Soviet revenge had spread among the populace, and as the Red Army encroached upon German territory, some Nazi officials began to share their people’s fears.

In January 1945, they launched Operation Hannibal, a mass naval evacuation of German military personnel and civilians from the ports of East Prussia, which were in the direct path of the approaching Soviets.

Every available ship was called for the operation, including ships like the MV Wilhelm Gustloff , which had been used as a hospital ship and barr

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