[elcid1970]

Over half the dead in the Wilhelm Gustloff sinking were children. The ship was on an evacuation mission.

There are leftists in Germany today who argue that the torpedoing of the Gustloff was a legitimate act of war.

[jbrown7.62x39]

While that may be, one should also consider the fact that the kriegsmarine repainted it from hospital ship colors to regular navy gray. S-13 saw the AA guns and figured her for a warship. What was the sub skipper supposed to think? I realize your average Russian isn’t the sharpest tool, but look at it from his perspective. Had we been in his position, would we have fired? I would have.

[A Formerly Proud Canadian]

I am neither German or a leftist. From what I've read, the Soviet sub was within its rights to torpedo the Wilhelm Gustloff. The ship was armed with AAA and because of this, was NOT marked as a hospital ship and was carrying approximately 1,000 Kriegsmarine members. Unfortunately, they also carried 5,000 children and sailed basically unescorted. IF they had ditched the AAA, registered her as a hospital ship with the Red Cross, and painted it as a hospital ship, THEN the S-13 and her skipper would have committed a criminal act. He was within his rights. The Nazis failed we at protecting their civilians.