description SS Cap Arcona Overview
SS Cap Arcona was a German passenger liner launched for transatlantic service and later used by Nazi Germany during the Second World War. On 3 May 1945, British aircraft attacked and sank it in the Bay of Lubeck while thousands of concentration camp prisoners were confined aboard. Most of the prisoners on the ship died from the bombing, fire, drowning, or violence during attempted escape.
insights Ranking position
SS Cap Arcona ranks #12 of 186 in the Shipwreck ranking, behind MV Estonia, ahead of SS Mont-Blanc.
help SS Cap Arcona FAQ
Why were concentration camp prisoners aboard the Cap Arcona?
Near the end of World War II, prisoners evacuated from Neuengamme concentration camp were forced onto the Cap Arcona and other ships in Lübeck Bay. Their transfer formed part of the SS effort to remove prisoners as Allied forces approached.
Why did British aircraft attack the Cap Arcona?
Royal Air Force pilots attacked the ships on 3 May 1945 because they were believed to be carrying German personnel escaping the area. The attacking forces were not effectively informed that thousands of concentration camp prisoners were aboard.
How many people died in the Cap Arcona disaster?
The precise total varies between historical accounts, but several thousand prisoners died aboard the Cap Arcona alone. Additional victims were killed on nearby vessels, making the attacks in Lübeck Bay one of history's deadliest maritime disasters.
Was the Cap Arcona originally a military ship?
No, it began as a German luxury passenger liner operated by the Hamburg Süd company. Launched in 1927, it was later requisitioned and used for wartime purposes by Nazi Germany.
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