RAPORT O WRAKU / REPORT OF WRECKS

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by
Sebastian Popek popeks@balticwrecks.com
Maciej Rułka maciek@balticwrecks.com

Passenger ship. Two 3 cilnders steam engines, two propellers and four steam boilers. Maximum speed 15,5 knots. Pacients 485, medical personel 138 and estimated 297 crew members.

Works started on March 1923 in AG Vulcan shipyard in Szczecin. Shipyard number 690. Launched on July 31st, 1923, and relesed to service in North German Lloyd on January 4th, 1924. On January 15th, 1924 she has left Bremenhafen on her first cruise to New York. In 1930 moved to service on far east cruises. In 1938 sold to Deutsche Arbeitsfront (DAF), Hamburg but she is still under command of North German Lloyd. In 1939 she and other vessels like Robert Lay, WIlhelm Gustloff, Sierra Cordoba and Der Deutsche were sailing from Spain to Germany with Kondor Legion on board. In 1939 overtaken by Kriegsmarine as a Lazarettschiffe "C". Between 1939 and 1943 in service as a hospital ship in Norway. On october 1943 she was attack by alies during american air attack on Gdynia. During air attack she was hit with bomb and soon seted on fire with injured men on board. Only a few survived. Burning vessel was towed out from harbour with bodies on board. That attack is not considerd as a war crime because in those time Stuttgart has been covered with camouflage, although in that time she was unarmed and on board and on sides as well the Red Cross signes were visible.