Edward Petruskevich

At an early age in 1991, I was introduced to the RMS Titanic and the ocean liner obsession began. It started out just as any other collection, with the purchase of books. This gave way to reproduction items, then original items from various shipping lines - my first piece being a saucer recovered from the Empress of Ireland. In 2007, while doing some research, I discovered a website that touted menus (for sale) from history's most devastating shipwreck - the Wilhelm Gustloff. Until that point, I had never heard of the ship, but by the time I finished reading the accompanying information on her history & tragic ending, I was instantly captivated and purchased my first Gustloff item - a menu and agenda from March 29th, 1939.

Two years later, I decided to establish a museum dedicated to a ship that most have never heard of. Throughout its pages, you will learn about the deadliest maritime disaster in history; not just through her story, but by the physical effects she left behind. So many books on the Wilhelm Gustloff focus solely on her sinking, but I wanted to tell her whole life story from construction to her effect on the present. This site is not about politics, ideological views, or hatred of any sort - but rather it is an ever-growing memorial to 9,343 men, women, and children.

The latter pages of the museum are dedicated to the Wilhelm Gustloff's sister ship, the Robert Ley. While not as famous as the Gustloff, her later years were also met with tragedy when Hamburg was bombed in 1945. This site is currently the only place in the internet where an exhibit on the Robert Ley can be found.

My goal is to turn the Wilhelm Gustloff Museum into the world's largest online collection of artifacts from these two liners. Some of the images in our archives have already been published in books and additional accomplishments can be viewed under the Links & Credits page. With the exception of the few items with credits, every item you will see is owned by the museum. The long-term plan is to open a museum exhibit for the Wilhelm Gustloff's 100th anniversary in 2045.

I am always looking to expand the collection to keep the story of these ships alive. If you would like to make an item donation from either of these ships, please contact me through the address or email provided on the museum website. With your efforts, the museum can help keep collections intact and artifacts displayed to keep her story alive instead of being lost to the world.