A catastrophe occurred in the Bay of Lübeck shortly before the end of the Second World War in Europe. On May 03, 1945, the British Royal Air Force bombed the cargo ship “Thielbek” and the passenger ship “Cap Arcona”, which were anchored in Lübeck Bay off Neustadt, assuming that there were German troops on the ships. However, on board were mostly prisoners from the Neuengamme concentration camp – almost 7,000 of them died that day.
About 10,000 prisoners had been transferred from Neuengamme concentration camp to Lübeck at the end of April as part of an evacuation operation. The SS then eventually forced them onto four different ships in Lübeck harbor, including the “Thielbek” and the “Cap Arcona.” The conditions on board of these ships were catastrophic, so that many prisoners died already in the days before the attack.
When the British Air Force bombed the “Thielbek” and the “Cap Arcona” on May 3, 1945, as part of a campaign to “destroy enemy ship accumulation in Lübeck Bay,” nearly 7,000 prisoners burned or drowned in Lübeck Bay. Some who managed to escape from the water were shot on the beach – only a few hours before their possible liberation.
What is the meaning of this catastrophe for us today, in Neustadt and worldwide? How do we want to commemorate in the future? The Amicale Internationale KZ Neuengamme (AIN) takes up these questions. As an umbrella organization of national associations of former prisoners of Neuengamme Concentration Camp and their relatives, the ranks of its members also include descendants of victims of the disaster in the Bay of Lübeck. Many of them will travel to Neustadt in Holstein on May 2 and 3 this year to take part in the commemoration of the 77th anniversary of the bombing of the prisoner ships in Neustadt Bay.
Here, some members of the AIN share their thoughts on the significance of the commemoration in Neustadt:
In commemorating this terrible event and the other despicable crimes of the Nazi regime, we remain mindful of the importance of the rule of law, and in recent months we have once again become aware of how little it can be taken for granted. The survivors of this catastrophe and of the Neuengamme concentration camp have experienced this firsthand.
It is no coincidence that the founders of the Amicale Internationale formulated the first goal of the organization as follows: “They wanted to preserve peace and European security, to work for international understanding, the strengthening of international friendship and the fight against neo-Nazism, neo-fascism and revanchist activities.”
That is why the story of the disaster in the Bay of Lübeck must be told again, especially now.
Martine Letterie, President of AIN, granddaughter of Martinus Letterie, who died in Neuengamme concentration camp
For me, commemoration and remembrance is not only a “debt of gratitude” to our parents and grandparents who stood on the right side during this time and risked their lives for peace and freedom. Commemoration and remembering must not stop: Without remembering, there is no “history” and no dialogue between the generations.
Bruno Neurath-Wilson, son of Willi Neurath, survivor of the bombing of the Cap Arcona
Just until recently, one could have hoped that such war-tragedies would not be repeated, at least not on European land. But unfortunately, it did happen again. Although you have to be careful about comparing different war tragedies, the horrific consequences of the bombings in Mariupol and other cities in Ukraine, reminded me again of what my father went through.
We must never forget what war can lead to of human suffering. And we must never forget how important it is to resist, even though it can have great costs. It is, therefore, important to keep the memory of these tragedies alive.
Bernard Jeune, son of Eugene Jeune, victim of the bombing of the Cap Arcona
In the second half of April 1945, my grandfather, Kazimierz Wajsen, was evacuated to Lübeck along with other prisoners from Neuengamme concentration camp. The people were loaded onto the ship Athen, after a few days they were transferred to the Cap Arcona and finally back to the Athen, where my grandfather stayed until May 3, 1945. Thanks to the fact that the captain raised the white flag, the ship was not bombed and was able to dock in Neustadt again unharmed. My grandfather was one of those who gained their lives that day – all the bad of captivity ended. A few days after the liberation something wonderful happened – he met my grandmother in the deportation camp, and he was with her until the end of his days. Neustadt is a place where so many people died, it was the end of everything. For my grandfather it was the end of everything that was bad and the beginning of everything that was good. Still, it’s a tragic place for me, so many people suffered here, so many died. They didn’t manage to live on like my grandfather….
Magda Wajsen, granddaughter of Kazimierz Wajsen, former prisoner of Neuengamme concentration camp
It was only in 2012, after my father’s death, that I learned that my uncle, who had been arrested by the Gestapo as a resistance fighter and deported to Neuengamme, probably died on one of the bombed ships at the end of the war.
This discovery left its mark on me. What happened to my uncle? How was he remembered? Who will continue to remember him? It became important for me to research his fate and do everything possible to keep him in memory.
The commemoration in Neustadt makes it possible for all the victims of this tragedy to be honored and remembered, to have their common sufferings recognized, and thus to have their dignity restored. This is essential for the relatives.
At the same time, the commemoration helps to reflect on the background of the events of this dark history and on the value of our freedom.
Françoise Plaza-Carlström, niece of Jacques Scherer, victim of the bombing of the Cap Arcona
For me the commemoration is very important. First of all it is important due to the fact that is was an enormous sad day for more than 7000 former concentration campprisoners that died so close to the end of the war and unfortunately (the historical reasons are still not 100% clear) killed by an action of the allied forces who were there to liberate Germany and all the prisoners. Second, I always want to be there on the 3th of May because it is a very special place for me personaly because on the 3th of May 1945 my grandfather was amongst the survivors of that terrible day. So when I stand there it gives a very mixed feeling. He was liberated at that place so that was very good news and gives me a positive feeling standing there, but in the meantime more than 7000 of his comrades died that day and that gives me a very bad feeling.
Kristof van Mierop, Secretary General of AIN, grandson of Roger Vyvey, survivor of the Lübeck Bay bombing.
