Claude was a tragic Belgium casualty of World War II. A member of the Belgian Resistance, he was arrested on August 8, 1944, and deported to the Neuengamme concentration camp. During the dying days of the war, as Nazi forces scrambled to cover up their crimes against humanity, Neuengamme was one of many camps evacuated. Its prisoners were forced onto a death march, which eventually culminated in ships stationed in the bay of Lübeck. Over 9,000 prisoners were loaded onto three waiting ships: the Thielbek, the Athen, and the grand Nazi cruise ship, Cap Arcona.
On May 3, 1945, British RAF fighters attacked the German ships, not knowing they were filled with concentration camp prisoners. The Athen, already anchored in Neustadt, managed to escape the attack. Fate was not so kind to the passengers of Thielbek and Cap Arcona. As bombs struck the ships, they caught fire and quickly capsized. An estimated 7,000+ prisoners lost their lives on 3 May, mere hours before liberation, in one of the greatest tragedies of the Second World War.
On May 3, 1945, British RAF fighters attacked the German ships, not knowing they were filled with concentration camp prisoners. The Athen, already anchored in Neustadt, managed to escape the attack. Fate was not so kind to the passengers of Thielbek and Cap Arcona. As bombs struck the ships, they caught fire and quickly capsized. An estimated 7,000+ prisoners lost their lives on 3 May, mere hours before liberation, in one of the greatest tragedies of the Second World War.
Claude was a tragic Belgium casualty of World War II. A member of the Belgian Resistance, he was arrested on August 8, 1944, and deported to the Neuengamme concentration camp. During the dying days of the war, as Nazi forces scrambled to cover up their crimes against humanity, Neuengamme was one of many camps evacuated. Its prisoners were forced onto a death march, which eventually culminated in ships stationed in the bay of Lübeck. Over 9,000 prisoners were loaded onto three waiting ships: the Thielbek, the Athen, and the grand Nazi cruise ship, Cap Arcona.
On May 3, 1945, British RAF fighters attacked the German ships, not knowing they were filled with concentration camp prisoners. The Athen, already anchored in Neustadt, managed to escape the attack. Fate was not so kind to the passengers of Thielbek and Cap Arcona. As bombs struck the ships, they caught fire and quickly capsized. An estimated 7,000+ prisoners lost their lives on 3 May, mere hours before liberation, in one of the greatest tragedies of the Second World War.
On May 3, 1945, British RAF fighters attacked the German ships, not knowing they were filled with concentration camp prisoners. The Athen, already anchored in Neustadt, managed to escape the attack. Fate was not so kind to the passengers of Thielbek and Cap Arcona. As bombs struck the ships, they caught fire and quickly capsized. An estimated 7,000+ prisoners lost their lives on 3 May, mere hours before liberation, in one of the greatest tragedies of the Second World War.
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