Abstract
Built in 1927, the German ocean liner SS Cap Arcona was the greatest ship since the RMS Titanic and one of the most celebrated luxury liners in the world. When the Nazis seized control in Germany, she was stripped down for use as a floating barracks and troop transport. Later, during the war, Hitler's minister, Joseph Goebbels, cast her as the "star" in his epic propaganda film about the sinking of the legendary Titanic.
Following the film's enormous failure, the German navy used the Cap Arcona to transport German soldiers and civilians across the Baltic, away from the Red Army's advance. In the Third Reich's final days, the ill-fated ship was packed with thousands of concentration camp prisoners. Without adequate water, food, or sanitary facilities, the prisoners suffered as they waited for the end of the war. Just days before Germany surrendered, the Cap Arcona was mistakenly bombed by the British Royal Air Force, and nearly all of the prisoners were killed in the last major tragedy of the Holocaust and one of history's worst maritime disasters.
Although the British government sealed many documents pertaining to the ship's sinking, Robert P. Watson has unearthed forgotten records, conducted many interviews, and used over 100 sources, including diaries and oral histories, to expose this story. As a result, The Nazi Titanic is a riveting and astonishing account of an enigmatic ship that played a devastating role in World War II and the Holocaust.
| Original language | American English |
|---|---|
| Place of Publication | Boston, MA |
| Publisher | Da Capo Press |
| Number of pages | 303 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 978-0306824906 |
| ISBN (Print) | 978-0306825439 |
| State | Published - Apr 26 2016 |
Bibliographical note
Editions▫ Documentary film option, Skippy Productions, Los Angeles
▫ Motion picture option, Bee Holder Productions, Beverly Hills
▫ Electronic book [Kindle, Google, B&N Nook, Apple iBook, Kobo]
▫ Audio book with Tantor Media (Australia, Canada, & UK)
▫ International translation with Giunti, Inc. (Italy): Il Titanic Dei Nazisti
▫ Paperback, 2017; 2nd printing, 2016; 3rd printing, 2017
Book Awards
▫ Winner: National Jewish Book Council
▫ Nomination: Bentley Book Prize (World History Association)
▫ Nomination: Saul Viener Book Prize
▫ Nomination: New York Military Affairs Symposium Book Award
Book Festivals, Shows, & Signings
▫ Virginia Holocaust Museum, Richmond (2022)
▫ Stirling Road Library Book Fair, Ft. Lauderdale (2021)
▫ Midtown Reader Bookstore, Tallahassee, Florida (2020)
▫ Center for the Advancement of Jewish Education, Florida (2020)
▫ Pentagon, Secretary of Defense Speaker Series (2019)
▫ Delray Roundtable Book Club, Florida (2019)
▫ Brandeis Book & Author Festival, Virginia (2019)
▫ Philadelphia Jewish Genealogical Society (2018)
▫ Boca Lago Country Club, Florida (2018)
▫ Next Generations, Florida (2018)
▫ Open a Book, Open Your Mind, Philadelphia (2017)
▫ Book Festival, Posnack JCC, Florida (2017)
▫ Jewish Book and Arts Festival, Florida (2017)
▫ WFLO FM, Virginia (2017)
▫ Ottawa Jewish Federation, Canada (2017)
▫ Mandel Jewish Community Center, Florida (2017)
▫ Park Road Books, North Carolina (2017)
▫ B’nai Torah, Florida (2017)
▫ Chisuk Emuna Congregation, Pennsylvania (2017)
▫ Hershey Public Library, Pennsylvania (2017)
▫ Congregation B’nai Israel, Florida (2017)
▫ Limmud International, Phoenix (2017)
▫ Grand Edventures, Florida (2017)
▫ Jewish Book and Art Festival, St. Louis (2016)
▫ Jewish Book Festival, JCCs of Greater Toronto (2016)
▫ Book Festival, Mizel Arts and Culture Center, Denver (2016)
▫ Detroit Jewish Book Festival (2016)
▫ Jewish Book and Arts Festival, Houston (2016)
▫ Hadassah Book & Author Gala, Florida (2016)
▫ National Jewish Book Council, New York City (2016)
▫ National Jewish Book Month’s “30 Days, 30 Authors Celebration”
▫ C-SPAN’s “Book TV” (2016)
▫ WXEL’s (PBS) “Between the Covers” (2016)
▫ WLRN’s (NPR) “Topical Currents” (2016)
▫ WPTV 5 (NBC) “Issues,” Florida (2016)
▫ Temple B’nai Torah, Florida (2016)
▫ Society of the Four Arts, Florida (2016)
▫ Lynn University Library (2016)
▫ Mandel Public Library, Florida (2016)
▫ One More Page Bookstore, Arlington (2016)
▫ Grand Edventures, Washington, DC (2016)
▫ Hadassah Book & Author Gala, Florida (2016)
▫ Toronto Jewish Community Center, Canada (2016)
▫ Harvard University Bookstore (2016)
▫ National Archives, Kansas City (2016)
▫ Broward County Library, Florida (2016)
▫ Books & Books Bookstore, Florida (2016)
▫ Case Western Reserve University (2016)
▫ Florida Atlantic University (2016)
▫ Nova Southeastern University (2016)
▫ Temple Israel, Florida (2016)
▫ Broward County Library, Florida (2016)
▫ Delray Beach Library, Florida (2016)
▫ Hagen Ranch Library, Florida (2016)
▫ Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County, Florida (2016)
▫ Boynton Beach Library, Florida (2016)
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The Nazi Titanic: The Shocking, Little-Known Story of the Final Days of the Holocaust
Watson, R. P., Nov 18 2024Research output: Non-textual form › Lecture
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Forgotten Frontlines [Television Series]
Watson, R. P., 2022Research output: Non-textual form › Television Series
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The Nazi Titanic: A Shocking, Unknown Story from the Final Days of the Holocaust
Watson, R. P., Aug 2022.Research output: Contribution to conference › Conference session
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The Nazi Titanic: The Incredible Untold Story of a Doomed Ship in World War II with author, Dr. Robert Watson
Watson, R. P., Jan 31 2022Research output: Non-textual form › Lecture
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The World War 2 Maritime Disaster that History Forgot
Watson, R. P., Apr 14 2016, History News Network.Research output: Contribution to specialist publication › Article
Open Access
Press/Media
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Robert Watson Discusses "The Nazi Titanic" at a Virtual Book Club Event
8/3/20
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Public Engagement Activities
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