The Story of the
M.S. Wilhelm Gustloff
Construction & Launch
M.S. Wilhelm Gustloff
Construction & Launch
Wilhelm Gustloff Paintings - c1938 & 1941
Right: Original watercolor / gouche painting. Original frame and backing. Beautiful 25cm x 32cm painting which appears to have been done by one A.F. Muaker. *See below. Back-tagged Hermann Herforth, Kunsthandlung, Vergolderei, AltonaE Konigstr 142/144. Purchased from The B. Niggl Gallery of München, Germany.
Far Right: Original oil painting on wood. Still in the original frame and backing. Another beautiful 70 cm x 60 cm painting with slight paint loss and damage on the frame. Painted in 1941 by A. Stehning. Inscription on the back states in German:
"Gustloff leaving Hamburg Docks, Painting, Copy of
Prof. Hans Bohrdt." This shows Mr. Stehning intentionally copied the painting below and gives light to the name of the artist.
Right: Original watercolor / gouche painting. Original frame and backing. Beautiful 25cm x 32cm painting which appears to have been done by one A.F. Muaker. *See below. Back-tagged Hermann Herforth, Kunsthandlung, Vergolderei, AltonaE Konigstr 142/144. Purchased from The B. Niggl Gallery of München, Germany.
Far Right: Original oil painting on wood. Still in the original frame and backing. Another beautiful 70 cm x 60 cm painting with slight paint loss and damage on the frame. Painted in 1941 by A. Stehning. Inscription on the back states in German:
"Gustloff leaving Hamburg Docks, Painting, Copy of
Prof. Hans Bohrdt." This shows Mr. Stehning intentionally copied the painting below and gives light to the name of the artist.
Table Settings & China of the M.S. Wilhelm Gustloff & E.S. Robert Ley
Example table setting as used onboard the Wilhelm Gustloff.
"Once the story of the Wilhelm Gustloff is known, the information on these pages not only becomes more meaningful - but an awe-inspiring exhibit for history."
The Pegaway Rescue
Left: Painting of the Gustloff - presented as a postcard. This painting has been shown on the cover of a book on the Wilhelm Gustloff as well as reproduced in postcard form. Thanks to the copy painting above, we know that the artist of the original painting at left was Professor Hans Bohrdt - a noted German maritime artist of the 1930s. It is not known where this painting currently is.
The 1938 Wilhelm Gustloff Launch Film:
"Mein Schiff"
"Mein Schiff"
The two most notable Wilhelm Gustloff films are her maiden voyage film: Schiff ohne Klassen (Ship Without Classes) and her construction & launch film Schiff 754 (Ship 754). This next film is a third one on the Gustloff not heard of until a copy surfaced. Mein Schiff, or My Ship, is a 4 to 5 minute film on the Wilhelm Gustloff's construction and launch without sound. I have never seen Schiff 754 in its entirety, but several images from this film are the same. It may be the same release under a different name, or a different film with many of the same shots of the liner. On 16mm film for home viewing, below are several images from the film. It was converted to DVD and contains no sound.
The Wilhelm Gustloff fleeing Gotenhafen
By: Steffen Reichow - 2010
40 x 30 cm acrylic painting on canvas
By: Steffen Reichow - 2010
40 x 30 cm acrylic painting on canvas
Posted by: suverobo
Visit the Accommodation Ship page for the full history on these pieces.
By: Paul Wolde - WG Opuszcza Hamburg
European Collection
European Collection
Wilhelm Gustloff
Artist Unknown
Oil on Wood - 65 x 85 cm
European Collection
Artist Unknown
Oil on Wood - 65 x 85 cm
European Collection
Her second voyage into a stormy North Sea sets the stage for a dramatic rescue....
The story of the Wilhelm Gustloff doesn't begin with the construction of the ship, but rather with the man - Wilhelm Gustloff. He was the Nazi leader for the NSDAP in Switzerland for members who did not live within the confines of the Third Reich itself.
His name made headlines when on February 4th, 1937, a disgruntled Jewish student named David Frankfurter believed it was the time to take action against the Nazi party for their deeds against the Jewish community. After careful planning and the purchase of a revolver, Frankfurter arrives at the home of Herr Gustloff. Since the party leader was accustomed to greeting many visitors, Frau Hedwig Gustloff leads Frankfurter to his private study. When Gustloff enters the door, he greets his guest and Frankfurter pulls out his revolver and shoots Gustloff four times in the head and body.
His wife hears the gunshots and enters the room, seeing her dead husband slumped over. Frankfurter simply leaves the house and is comtemplating his next plan of action. Instead of making a run for it, he uses a neighbors phone to call in the murder and simply turns himself in to the local authorities.
The Nazis seize the opportunity to exploit the murder to its fullest, prosecuting Frankfurter and converting Gustloff into a martyr who died for the Nazi cause. After a state funeral on February 12th, a memorial service brings about a ship's name. Hitler announces that the newest KdF ship currently under construction will not bear the name "Adolf Hitler" as originally intended, but she will now become the "Wilhelm Gustloff".
His name made headlines when on February 4th, 1937, a disgruntled Jewish student named David Frankfurter believed it was the time to take action against the Nazi party for their deeds against the Jewish community. After careful planning and the purchase of a revolver, Frankfurter arrives at the home of Herr Gustloff. Since the party leader was accustomed to greeting many visitors, Frau Hedwig Gustloff leads Frankfurter to his private study. When Gustloff enters the door, he greets his guest and Frankfurter pulls out his revolver and shoots Gustloff four times in the head and body.
His wife hears the gunshots and enters the room, seeing her dead husband slumped over. Frankfurter simply leaves the house and is comtemplating his next plan of action. Instead of making a run for it, he uses a neighbors phone to call in the murder and simply turns himself in to the local authorities.
The Nazis seize the opportunity to exploit the murder to its fullest, prosecuting Frankfurter and converting Gustloff into a martyr who died for the Nazi cause. After a state funeral on February 12th, a memorial service brings about a ship's name. Hitler announces that the newest KdF ship currently under construction will not bear the name "Adolf Hitler" as originally intended, but she will now become the "Wilhelm Gustloff".
Portrait photo of Wilhelm Gustloff in 1936.
Construction and Launch of the new Kraft Durch Freude Flagship
M.S. Wilhelm Gustloff: 1936-1937
The "Kraft Durch Freude", or KdF, was Germany's "Strength through Joy" program headed by Dr. Robert Ley under the parent organisation the German Labor Front, or DAF. It's primary objective was to promote tourism and vacations within the Third Reich. In order to get people to join, the program offered low-cost cruises to exotic places for the German working class. The idea was that happy people work harder and it soon became the most effective program in the Third Reich. When first created, it employed ocean liners that would have otherwise been mothballed from the depression. These liners came from the Hamburg South-America Line, Hamburg-Amerika Line, and Norddeutshcer Lloyd companies. They included the Berlin, Der Deutsche, Milwaukee, Monte Olivia, Monte Rosa, Monte Sacrmeinto, St. Louis, Sierra Cordoba, and the Stuttgart.
As Nazi Germany progressed and membership continued to grow, voyages for these ships were booked solid. Dr. Ley soon decided to build two liners specifically geared towards the KdF and its voyages. These ships would be known for their equal classes onboard, open spaces, and every cabin would have an ocean view with no interior cabins. Several of the Arbeitertum magazines under said page boast the Gustloff throughout her construction and first voyages. The first new flagship for the KdF, the "Adolf Hitler", had its name changed to the "Wilhelm Gustloff" in 1936. The second liner, the Robert Ley, was also under construction at the time. Ley's vision was to build 20 new liners for the program, but only these two were ever built.
As Nazi Germany progressed and membership continued to grow, voyages for these ships were booked solid. Dr. Ley soon decided to build two liners specifically geared towards the KdF and its voyages. These ships would be known for their equal classes onboard, open spaces, and every cabin would have an ocean view with no interior cabins. Several of the Arbeitertum magazines under said page boast the Gustloff throughout her construction and first voyages. The first new flagship for the KdF, the "Adolf Hitler", had its name changed to the "Wilhelm Gustloff" in 1936. The second liner, the Robert Ley, was also under construction at the time. Ley's vision was to build 20 new liners for the program, but only these two were ever built.
Original photographs from the launch of the
Wilhelm Gustloff - Wednesday: May 5th, 1937
Wilhelm Gustloff - Wednesday: May 5th, 1937
On May 5th, 1938 at platform #511 in the Blohm & Voss Shipyard, the weather may have been gloomy, but the excitement surging through the crowd was not. Hitler himself was present at the launch and can be seen in #6 at right inspecting the new liner. Herr Hedwig Gustloff did the honor of smashing the bottle on her bow. (Above inset). Then the Wilhelm Gustloff's new name flips down from her bow and the massive liner slowly begins moving towards the river.
At right are 14 launch photos and outfitting photos of the Gustloff in Hamburg. The first is the liner in the shipyard. I have also seen this photo as a postcard. Photo #2 and #3 are of the liner on the slipway with the parade and party members surrounding her. Photos #4 and 5 are close-up photos taken near the ship.
At right are 14 launch photos and outfitting photos of the Gustloff in Hamburg. The first is the liner in the shipyard. I have also seen this photo as a postcard. Photo #2 and #3 are of the liner on the slipway with the parade and party members surrounding her. Photos #4 and 5 are close-up photos taken near the ship.
Photo #6 shows Hitler inspecting the new liner, #7 shows the initial beginning of the launch without her name board, #8 shows her new name for the first time. She slides down the ramp in #9, and #10 & 11 are just after the launch. #12, 13, and 14 are of the Gustloff in outfitting. Finally in March of 1938, the Gustloff is ready for her trials at sea. Her first sailing ever begins on March 14th as a 2 day test run to break in her new machinery with mostly shipyard workers and officials onboard. Even with rough seas, those onboard are excited to be the first to sail in the new liner.
Her unofficial maiden voyage takes place on Thursday, March 24th, 1939 with a specific goal in mind. (A menu from the end of this voyage can be seen under the first speisekarten page.) The voting to bring Austria into Germany is soon taking place and most of those onboard are Austrians to which Germany is trying to proverbially "woo" to vote yes. (Though in reality, the annexation will take place regardless.) Still, it provides the KdF with a great deal of propaganda. Captain Carl Lübbe steers the Gustloff into the North Sea with an additional 300 girls from the Federation of German Girls (BDM - Bund Deutscher Mädel) and 165 journalists. Once the voyage ends, Hitler goes on an official visit to the ship on March 29th, 1938. His last time onboard.
Her unofficial maiden voyage takes place on Thursday, March 24th, 1939 with a specific goal in mind. (A menu from the end of this voyage can be seen under the first speisekarten page.) The voting to bring Austria into Germany is soon taking place and most of those onboard are Austrians to which Germany is trying to proverbially "woo" to vote yes. (Though in reality, the annexation will take place regardless.) Still, it provides the KdF with a great deal of propaganda. Captain Carl Lübbe steers the Gustloff into the North Sea with an additional 300 girls from the Federation of German Girls (BDM - Bund Deutscher Mädel) and 165 journalists. Once the voyage ends, Hitler goes on an official visit to the ship on March 29th, 1938. His last time onboard.
While none of the following items (sans the menu) were directly used onboard the Wilhelm Gustloff, this is an introduction into the dining room wares as used onboard. As noted from historical accounts and in postcards of the Wilhelm Gustloff & Robert Ley's dining rooms, the standard china used onboard was that of the red rimmed DAF (Deutsche Arbeitsfront - German Labor Front) china. This china is also known as RAD (Reichsarbeitdienst - German National Work Service) china. Both of these organizations were closely related in their missions, and since the DAF ran the KdF liners, the use of this china came about in their dining rooms. There are different variations, some with one red line, others with two. There are also different makers marks above the cogwheels, but at least one is known to definitely have been used on the Gustloff - Rosenthal. In another photo, it appears the blue-rimmed china may have been used onboard the Robert Ley at one point as well.
The 9 pieces currently in our collection consist of a 9" soup bowl, 7 3/4" salad plate, 4.5" creamer, 7.5" x 3.5" gravy bowl & catch tray, 3.5" mug, 6" saucer, and 8" bread plate. The back stamps consist of "Rosenthal", with a green DAF 'cogwheel' stamp with the words "Modell Des Amtes / Schonheit Der Arbeit" listed around the outside. This motto translates to "Model of the Office / Beauty of Work". The silverware is an 8" fork and 8" spoon which are not in the exact pattern used onboard, but they have the same stamp as the china. These are backmarked MDA (For Modell Des Amtes) and Sch.d.A. (Schonheit Der Arbeit). While this china was used elsewhere aside from the KdF liners of the 1930s, it is still harder to come by because of its affiliation with Nazi Germany. Additional interior features can be seen throughout the Albums & Photos pages (including official Blohm & Voss official images), and under the 1937-1945 Publications page.
The 9 pieces currently in our collection consist of a 9" soup bowl, 7 3/4" salad plate, 4.5" creamer, 7.5" x 3.5" gravy bowl & catch tray, 3.5" mug, 6" saucer, and 8" bread plate. The back stamps consist of "Rosenthal", with a green DAF 'cogwheel' stamp with the words "Modell Des Amtes / Schonheit Der Arbeit" listed around the outside. This motto translates to "Model of the Office / Beauty of Work". The silverware is an 8" fork and 8" spoon which are not in the exact pattern used onboard, but they have the same stamp as the china. These are backmarked MDA (For Modell Des Amtes) and Sch.d.A. (Schonheit Der Arbeit). While this china was used elsewhere aside from the KdF liners of the 1930s, it is still harder to come by because of its affiliation with Nazi Germany. Additional interior features can be seen throughout the Albums & Photos pages (including official Blohm & Voss official images), and under the 1937-1945 Publications page.
The Wilhelm Gustloff Art Gallery
For those who are more visual learners like myself, the video at right is a wonderful summary of the Gustloff's life with great scoring and original footage.
It begins with original footage of Ship 754 and the construction of the Gustloff, continuing with her launch. Most of the color footage that follows is actually onboard the sister ship, the Robert Ley. For some reason, a great deal exists of the Ley in color, but not the Gustloff.
The film then switches to the more somber tone of war, and several clips are taken from documentaries of the sinking as well as the German movie "Die Gustloff". The film ends with underwater footage of the wreck by divers.
The video also contains subtitles in Polish and can be found on Youtube. A must for anyone who has yet to see it!
It begins with original footage of Ship 754 and the construction of the Gustloff, continuing with her launch. Most of the color footage that follows is actually onboard the sister ship, the Robert Ley. For some reason, a great deal exists of the Ley in color, but not the Gustloff.
The film then switches to the more somber tone of war, and several clips are taken from documentaries of the sinking as well as the German movie "Die Gustloff". The film ends with underwater footage of the wreck by divers.
The video also contains subtitles in Polish and can be found on Youtube. A must for anyone who has yet to see it!
Wehrarbeit - Berlin, June 1937
2. Jahrgang. Launching of the Wilhelm Gustloff.
2. Jahrgang. Launching of the Wilhelm Gustloff.
Early postcard of the Wilhelm Gustloff in outfitting. Note the missing lifeboats. Several items seem to be penciled in, including her name on the bow of the ship. Other photos can be seen under the publications pages.
Specifications on the M.S. Wilhelm Gustloff
Weight:
25,484 GRT (Gross Registered Tons)
Length:
208.5 metres (684 feet)
Width:
23.5 metres (77 feet)
Height:
56 metres (184 feet) keel to masthead
Engines:
Four 8-cylinder MAN diesel engines
Shafts/Props:
2 (“twin-screw”). 4 blades per prop.
Horsepower:
9,500 hp
Anchors:
3 (1 port, 2 starboard)
Weight:
25,484 GRT (Gross Registered Tons)
Length:
208.5 metres (684 feet)
Width:
23.5 metres (77 feet)
Height:
56 metres (184 feet) keel to masthead
Engines:
Four 8-cylinder MAN diesel engines
Shafts/Props:
2 (“twin-screw”). 4 blades per prop.
Horsepower:
9,500 hp
Anchors:
3 (1 port, 2 starboard)
Speed:
15.5 knots (approx. 29 km/h or 18 mph)
Range:
12,000 nautical miles @ 15 knots
Passengers:
1,463
Crew:
417
Passenger Cabins:
489 (248 two-bed and 241 four-bed)
Classes:
Only 1
Number of Decks:
8
Deck Space:
5,000 square metres
15.5 knots (approx. 29 km/h or 18 mph)
Range:
12,000 nautical miles @ 15 knots
Passengers:
1,463
Crew:
417
Passenger Cabins:
489 (248 two-bed and 241 four-bed)
Classes:
Only 1
Number of Decks:
8
Deck Space:
5,000 square metres
Watertight Bulkheads:
12
Plumbing:
50 bathrooms, 100 showers, 145 toilets
Lifeboats:
22
Builder:
Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard #:
511
Owner:
Deutsche Arbeitsfront (DAF) - KdF
Interior Design:
Professor Woldemar Brinkmann, Munich
Cost:
25 Million Reichmarks
12
Plumbing:
50 bathrooms, 100 showers, 145 toilets
Lifeboats:
22
Builder:
Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard #:
511
Owner:
Deutsche Arbeitsfront (DAF) - KdF
Interior Design:
Professor Woldemar Brinkmann, Munich
Cost:
25 Million Reichmarks
Managed By:
Hamburg-South America Line
Radio ID:
DJVZ
Keel Laid:
August 1, 1936
Launch:
May 5, 1937
Delivery:
March 15, 1938
Sinking:
January 30, 1945
Hamburg-South America Line
Radio ID:
DJVZ
Keel Laid:
August 1, 1936
Launch:
May 5, 1937
Delivery:
March 15, 1938
Sinking:
January 30, 1945
