[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.

[dfwgator]

Considering what Frau Goebbels did to her children, I don’t think by then the Nazis really cared about their own children anyway.

[elcid1970]

The Soviet commander of the sub that sank the Gustloff was posthumously awarded Hero of the Soviet Union by Mikhail Gorbachev in 1990.

Kind of an up yours to newly reunified Germany, IMO.