The Prison Ships on the Baltic Sea
Because he had no more “reception camps” for the prisoners from the main camp at his disposal, the Hamburg NSDAP Gauleiter (regional party leader), Karl Kaufmann, requisitioned ships berthed in Lübeck. More than 9,000 prisoners were then taken to Lübeck and put on board these ships. On 3 May 1945, during a British aerial attack intended to stop German forces from retreating across the Baltic Sea, the ships “Cap Arcona” and “Thielbek”, which were lying at anchor just off the coast at Neustadt were bombed and set on fire. Almost 7,000 prisoners drowned, were burned alive, or shot dead while trying to save themselves. Only 450 prisoners survived.
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Media Type:
text
Media format:
digital media
Language:
english
Publisher:
KZ-Gedenkstätte Neuengamme
Published:
Hamburg: KZ-Gedenkstätte Neuengamme
Year of publication:
2005
Identifier:
W2.1136
Rights:
All rights reserved.