Internationales Maritimes Museum Hamburg
@maritimesmuseum.bsky.social
The Maritime History of Humanity told through the worldwide largest maritime private collection of Prof. Peter Tamm at the heart of the Port of Hamburg.
https://www.imm-hamburg.de
https://www.imm-hamburg.de
her 1:100 scale model, used for special effects in the German ZDF TV-Production "Die Gustloff" (2008), stands on deck 4 of the museum.
January 30, 2025 at 3:48 PM
her 1:100 scale model, used for special effects in the German ZDF TV-Production "Die Gustloff" (2008), stands on deck 4 of the museum.
Sailing in deep waters with the torpedo boat Löwe as her single escort, a non-operational main radio system and by temperatures of -20°C that had frozen the mechanisms to lower the lifeboats. The exact number of persons who died most certainly exceeds 9.000.
January 30, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Sailing in deep waters with the torpedo boat Löwe as her single escort, a non-operational main radio system and by temperatures of -20°C that had frozen the mechanisms to lower the lifeboats. The exact number of persons who died most certainly exceeds 9.000.
On January the 30th 1945 the ship left her port as part of the last-minute evacuation of the area. In the chaos of the situation the ship, that was recognizable as a military vessel, took thousands of civilian refuge seekers aboard.
January 30, 2025 at 3:48 PM
On January the 30th 1945 the ship left her port as part of the last-minute evacuation of the area. In the chaos of the situation the ship, that was recognizable as a military vessel, took thousands of civilian refuge seekers aboard.
After Germany started World War II, the Gustloff served as a hospital ship until November 1940. She was then painted in naval grey and became floating barracks at the port of Gdyna, that had been renamed Gotenhafen by the German occupation.
January 30, 2025 at 3:47 PM
After Germany started World War II, the Gustloff served as a hospital ship until November 1940. She was then painted in naval grey and became floating barracks at the port of Gdyna, that had been renamed Gotenhafen by the German occupation.
As such, she was a propagandistic instrument for the dictatorship. She was a very interesting ship from a naval architecture perspective, as the solution met for her function made her structurally similar to modern cruise ships.
January 30, 2025 at 3:47 PM
As such, she was a propagandistic instrument for the dictatorship. She was a very interesting ship from a naval architecture perspective, as the solution met for her function made her structurally similar to modern cruise ships.
Built to be transformed into an hospital ship in wartime, she was originally a cruise ship owned by the German Labour Front (DAF), the organisation that had suppressed all trade unions in Nazi Germany. The ship made cruises for the Strength Through Joy (KdF), a sub-organisation of the DAF.
January 30, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Built to be transformed into an hospital ship in wartime, she was originally a cruise ship owned by the German Labour Front (DAF), the organisation that had suppressed all trade unions in Nazi Germany. The ship made cruises for the Strength Through Joy (KdF), a sub-organisation of the DAF.
She was built between 1936 and 1937 at the Blohm+Voss B.V. & Co. KG shipyard in Hamburg. It was named after the founder of the Nazi Party branch in Switzerland, declared a martyr by the German propaganda after his murder in 1936.
January 30, 2025 at 3:46 PM
She was built between 1936 and 1937 at the Blohm+Voss B.V. & Co. KG shipyard in Hamburg. It was named after the founder of the Nazi Party branch in Switzerland, declared a martyr by the German propaganda after his murder in 1936.
This is by any means the largest loss of lives by the sinking of a single ship in history.
January 30, 2025 at 3:45 PM
This is by any means the largest loss of lives by the sinking of a single ship in history.
Beside military passengers, the ship was overcrowded with civilians seeking refuge from the advances of the Red Army. Only 1.239 passengers of an estimated number of over 10.000 survived the tragedy.
January 30, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Beside military passengers, the ship was overcrowded with civilians seeking refuge from the advances of the Red Army. Only 1.239 passengers of an estimated number of over 10.000 survived the tragedy.
80 years ago to this day, on January the 30th 1945, the armed military transport of Nazi Germany Wilhelm Gustloff was sunk by the Soviet submarine S-13, 23 sea miles off the Harbour of Ustka in the Baltic Sea.
January 30, 2025 at 3:44 PM
80 years ago to this day, on January the 30th 1945, the armed military transport of Nazi Germany Wilhelm Gustloff was sunk by the Soviet submarine S-13, 23 sea miles off the Harbour of Ustka in the Baltic Sea.
When David Ben Gurion declared the independence of Israel on Mai 1948, most of the refugees form the “Exodus” had already made it to their destination.
This model of the exodus from our collection was built in a scale of 1:125 by Robert Mourat and is displayed on deck 6 of the museum.
This model of the exodus from our collection was built in a scale of 1:125 by Robert Mourat and is displayed on deck 6 of the museum.
January 27, 2025 at 4:00 PM
When David Ben Gurion declared the independence of Israel on Mai 1948, most of the refugees form the “Exodus” had already made it to their destination.
This model of the exodus from our collection was built in a scale of 1:125 by Robert Mourat and is displayed on deck 6 of the museum.
This model of the exodus from our collection was built in a scale of 1:125 by Robert Mourat and is displayed on deck 6 of the museum.
But the international press had started reporting on the story and the drama turned into a media scandal. On October the 6th, the British authorities set the prisoners free.
January 27, 2025 at 4:00 PM
But the international press had started reporting on the story and the drama turned into a media scandal. On October the 6th, the British authorities set the prisoners free.
The prisoners were then taken to the British Occupation Zone in Northern Germany. They arrived in September to Hamburg. There, the prisoners were taken out of the ships by force and interned in camps.
January 27, 2025 at 4:00 PM
The prisoners were then taken to the British Occupation Zone in Northern Germany. They arrived in September to Hamburg. There, the prisoners were taken out of the ships by force and interned in camps.
Upon arrival in Haifa, most of the migrants were moved to prison ships. Only pregnant women and the wounded were allowed to stay.
The prison ships were to take the migrants back to France but in Port-de-Bouc only a few accepted to leave the ships.
The prison ships were to take the migrants back to France but in Port-de-Bouc only a few accepted to leave the ships.
January 27, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Upon arrival in Haifa, most of the migrants were moved to prison ships. Only pregnant women and the wounded were allowed to stay.
The prison ships were to take the migrants back to France but in Port-de-Bouc only a few accepted to leave the ships.
The prison ships were to take the migrants back to France but in Port-de-Bouc only a few accepted to leave the ships.
The Exodus sailed to Haifa then. But, during the next night, the British rammed and boarded the ship. The migrants posed a strong resistance. There were numerous wounded and five dead: four Jews and one British sailor.
January 27, 2025 at 3:59 PM
The Exodus sailed to Haifa then. But, during the next night, the British rammed and boarded the ship. The migrants posed a strong resistance. There were numerous wounded and five dead: four Jews and one British sailor.
On July the 11th 1947 the ship left the port of Sète in France. 4.515 Jewish DPs were on board, 650 of them were children. The Royal Navy followed them with HMS Ajax and five destroyers. On July the 17th, the ship was renamed “Exodus from Europe 1947” and a flag with the Star of David was risen.
January 27, 2025 at 3:58 PM
On July the 11th 1947 the ship left the port of Sète in France. 4.515 Jewish DPs were on board, 650 of them were children. The Royal Navy followed them with HMS Ajax and five destroyers. On July the 17th, the ship was renamed “Exodus from Europe 1947” and a flag with the Star of David was risen.
For this reason, the Jewish underground organisation Haganah had been organising illegal migration to Palestine since the early 1930s.
The US-American steam ship President Warfield was purchased and modified for this purpose in 1946.
January 27, 2025 at 3:57 PM
For this reason, the Jewish underground organisation Haganah had been organising illegal migration to Palestine since the early 1930s.
The US-American steam ship President Warfield was purchased and modified for this purpose in 1946.
Palestine, under British control at the time, was one of the principal migration objectives for those DPs. But the UK had had a very restrictive immigration policy regarding Jews to Palestine for decades, and no intention to change it.
January 27, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Palestine, under British control at the time, was one of the principal migration objectives for those DPs. But the UK had had a very restrictive immigration policy regarding Jews to Palestine for decades, and no intention to change it.
Many survivors became DPs (“Displaced Persons”) after the war. In Western Germany and other West European countries, this people were taken care of in “DP Camps”. In 1947 there were over 250.000 Jewish DPs in Germany and 40.000 in France.
January 27, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Many survivors became DPs (“Displaced Persons”) after the war. In Western Germany and other West European countries, this people were taken care of in “DP Camps”. In 1947 there were over 250.000 Jewish DPs in Germany and 40.000 in France.
For the survivors, the liberation of the camps meant an end to the systematic torture and mass murder, but not an end to suffering. Everything had been taken away from them. Only a few had a place they could return to and, even for those, the end of Nazism had not ended Antisemitism.
January 27, 2025 at 3:55 PM
For the survivors, the liberation of the camps meant an end to the systematic torture and mass murder, but not an end to suffering. Everything had been taken away from them. Only a few had a place they could return to and, even for those, the end of Nazism had not ended Antisemitism.
Stats:
Length / width / draught: 29.90 m / 8.00 m / 1.6 m
Crew/ scientists: 2 (+1) / 12
Laboratory area/ working deck area: 47 m²/ 70 m²
Operating range: coastal cruising international 100 nautical miles
Speed: max. 12 knots
Engine power: 750 kW
Operating days/year: approx. 225
Length / width / draught: 29.90 m / 8.00 m / 1.6 m
Crew/ scientists: 2 (+1) / 12
Laboratory area/ working deck area: 47 m²/ 70 m²
Operating range: coastal cruising international 100 nautical miles
Speed: max. 12 knots
Engine power: 750 kW
Operating days/year: approx. 225
January 24, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Stats:
Length / width / draught: 29.90 m / 8.00 m / 1.6 m
Crew/ scientists: 2 (+1) / 12
Laboratory area/ working deck area: 47 m²/ 70 m²
Operating range: coastal cruising international 100 nautical miles
Speed: max. 12 knots
Engine power: 750 kW
Operating days/year: approx. 225
Length / width / draught: 29.90 m / 8.00 m / 1.6 m
Crew/ scientists: 2 (+1) / 12
Laboratory area/ working deck area: 47 m²/ 70 m²
Operating range: coastal cruising international 100 nautical miles
Speed: max. 12 knots
Engine power: 750 kW
Operating days/year: approx. 225
The model is now in our collection and will eventually become part of our oceanographic exhibition in deck 7.
January 24, 2025 at 4:37 PM
The model is now in our collection and will eventually become part of our oceanographic exhibition in deck 7.