The worst maritime disaster ever occurred during World War II, when more than 9,000 German civilians drowned. It went unreported. January 1945: The outcome of World War II has been determined. The Third Reich is in free fall as the Russians close in from the east. Berlin plans an eleventh-hour exodus for the German civilians trapped in the Red Army's way. More than 10,000 women, children, sick, and elderly pack aboard the Wilhelm Gustloff, a former cruise ship. Soon after the ship leaves port and the passengers sigh in relief, three Soviet torpedoes strike it, inflicting catastrophic damage and throwing passengers into the frozen waters of the Baltic. More than 9,400 perished in the night—six times the number lost on the Titanic. Yet as the Cold War started no one wanted to acknowledge the sinking. Drawing on interviews with survivors, as well as the letters and diaries of those who perished, award-wining author Cathryn J. Prince reconstructs this forgotten moment in history with Death in the Baltic. She weaves these personal narratives into a broader story, finally giving this WWII tragedy its rightful remembrance.

Amid the turmoil of the dying days of the Second World War, a series of ships were sunk in the Baltic. These terrible disasters add up to be the greatest loss of life ever recorded at sea, but the stories of these ships have been lost from view. While everyone recognises the name Titanic, the names Cap Arcona, Goya, General von Steuben and Thielbek draw little more than blank stares. Claes-Göran Wetterholm brings the horror of these tragic events to life in this gripping study, first published in Swedish, as he collates the unknown stories of four major shipping disasters, the most terrible in history. Combining archive research with interviews with survivors and the relatives of those who died, Wetterholm vividly conveys his experiences of meeting many witnesses to a forgotten and horrifying piece of history.

#1 New York Times bestseller and winner of the Carnegie Medal! "A superlative novel . . . masterfully crafted."--The Wall Street Journal Based on "the forgotten tragedy that was six times deadlier than the Titanic."--Time Winter 1945. WWII. Four refugees. Four stories. Each one born of a different homeland; each one hunted, and haunted, by tragedy, lies, war. As thousands desperately flock to the coast in the midst of a Soviet advance, four paths converge, vying for passage aboard the Wilhelm Gustloff, a ship that promises safety and freedom. But not all promises can be kept . . . This paperback edition includes book club questions and exclusive interviews with Wilhelm Gustloff survivors and experts.

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 The port of Gotenhafen, in East Prussia, was a major hub for the German evacuation effort. It had come under Nazi control in 1939 after the Third Reich invaded Poland. The Germans renamed the seaside city after the Goths, an ancient German tribe. #2 The Wilhelm Gustloff was a German ship that was used as a hospital ship during World War II. It was used to transport wounded military personnel and war materiel, and secondarily refugees from the eastern territories. #3 The Woits set out from their house to reach Schwerin, a city northwest of Berlin. His mother, Meta, was deciding whether she and her son would stay in Germany or emigrate. The family had decided it would be best to meet in Schwerin, as it was likely to fall under American or British control. #4 The Wilhelm Gustloff was a cruise ship that was used to transport refugees away from the front lines. It was large, and easy to hit. Eva, a German Navy Women’s Auxiliary conscript, was stationed in Gotenhafen in January 1945, and she boarded the ship almost a full week before the other refugees.

Dawson and Lucy are working for MI6 to protect Viktor Nurmsalu, an inventor of cheap electricity. But Nurmsalu is killed, Dawson is kidnapped, Lucy is lost, and a hitman with a grudge is after them. It's mirth, mayhem and murder.

."..David Valentine's loyal Lieutenant Alessa Duvalier disobeys his orders--and finds herself uncovering a betrayal..."--Amazon.com.