Fine period photo, 4.5 x 3.25 in. b/w, depicting the ill-fated passenger ship, Wilhelm Gustloff. The ship was sunk by the Soviet submarine S-13 on Jan. 30, 1945, during Operation Hannibal to evacuate German troops and civilians from East Prussia as a response to the Red Army advancement. This tragedy resulted from the failure of the Germans to mark her as a hospital ship and fitting it with anti-aircraft guns, with a total of approx. 9,600 people dead. To this day, the wreck is considered the largest loss of life in a single ship sinking in history. Mounting remnants on the verso, else fine.