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{{short description|German cargo ship}}

{|{{Infobox ship begin}} <!-- warships except submarines -->
{|{{Infobox ship begin}} <!-- warships except submarines -->
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|Ship decommissioned=
|Ship decommissioned=
|Ship in service=May 1944{{sfn|Gröner|1993|p=119}}
|Ship in service=May 1944{{sfn|Gröner|1993|p=119}}
|Ship fate=sunk 10 May 1944 off Cape [[Chersonesus (Crimea)|Khersones]] by Soviet aircraft{{sfn|Gröner|1993|p=119}}
|Ship fate=Sunk 10 May 1944{{sfn|Gröner|1993|p=119}}
|Ship status=
|Ship notes=
|Ship notes=
}}
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{{More footnotes|date=March 2011}}
{{More footnotes needed|date=March 2011}}
'''''Totila''''' was a German cargo ship, which sank on 10 May 1944 near [[Chersonesus (Crimea)|Khersones]], during the [[Crimean Offensive|Axis evacuation of the Crimea]], killing up to 5,000 German and Romanian soldiers.
'''''Totila''''' was a [[Nazi Germany|German]] [[cargo ship]] which was sunk during [[World War II]] on 10 May 1944 near [[Chersonesus (Crimea)|Khersones]] during the [[Crimean Offensive|Axis evacuation of the Crimea]], killing up to 5,000 German and Romanian soldiers.


The ''Totila'' was the former Hungarian cargo ship ''Magyar Vitez'', built in 1942 and confiscated by the Germans in 1944.
''Totila'' was built in 1942 as the [[Hungary|Hungarian]] cargo ship '''''Magyar Vitez'''''. The Germans confiscated her in 1944.


In 1944, the [[17th Army (Wehrmacht)|17th Army]] was cut off by the Red Army in the [[Crimean Peninsula]]. At first, Hitler didn't allow the 235,000 German and Romanian troops to be evacuated over sea but on 11 April the evacuation began.
In 1944, the [[German Army (Wehrmacht)|German Army]]′s [[17th Army (Wehrmacht)|17th Army]] was cut off by the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] [[Red Army]] in the [[Crimean Peninsula]]. At first, [[Adolf Hitler]] did not allow the 17th Army's 235,000 German and Romanian troops to be evacuated by sea, but on 11 April 1944 the evacuation began.


Together with the ''Teja'', the ''Totila'' reached Khersones on 10 May and both ships were immediately loaded with German and Romanian soldiers and then headed back to [[Constanța]]. They survived a first attack by a formation of 20 Soviet aircraft, but at 09:30, ''Totila'' was hit by three bombs during a second attack by 21 Soviet planes. The ship, with 3,000 Germans and 2,000 Romanians on board, sank very fast. ''Teja'' and the escort ships couldn't stop to help the survivors. At 14:45, a new formation of 11 [[Douglas A-20 Havoc|A-20]]s appeared and hit the ''Teja'', which sank with some 4,000 men on board. The three escort ships saved some 400 men and continued the trip to Constanța.
Together with the ship ''Teja'', ''Totila'' reached Khersones on 10 May 1944 and both ships were immediately loaded with German and Romanian soldiers. They then headed for [[Constanța]], [[Romania]]. They survived a first attack by a formation of 20 Soviet aircraft, but at 09:30, ''Totila'' was hit by three [[Aerial bomb|bombs]] during a second attack by 21 Soviet planes. The ship, with 3,000 Germans and 2,000 Romanians on board, sank very quickly. ''Teja'' and the escort ships could not stop to help the survivors. At 14:45, a new formation of 11 Soviet [[Douglas A-20 Havoc|A-20]]s appeared and hit ''Teja'', which sank with some 4,000 men on board. The three escort ships saved some 400 men and continued the trip to Constanța.


The claim that most soldiers saved themselves by swimming back ashore is very unlikely. The exact number of casualties will never be known, but the sinking of these two ships is one of the greatest maritime disasters of all time. In total, some 8,000 men might have lost their lives in this incident.{{Citation needed|date=February 2012}}
The claim{{by whom|date=May 2016}} that most soldiers saved themselves by swimming to shore is very unlikely.{{citation needed|date=May 2016}} The exact number of casualties will never be known, but the sinking of these two ships is one of the greatest maritime disasters of all time. In total, some 8,000 men might have lost their lives in this incident.{{Citation needed|date=February 2012}}


The shipwreck of the Totila was found in May 2003 by the divers near [[Sevastopol]].
[[Underwater diving|Divers]] found the wreck of ''Totila'' in May 2003 near [[Sevastopol]].{{Citation needed|date=February 2012}}


== References ==
== References ==
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* [http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?149775 Wrecksite Magyar Vitez MV - Totila MV]
* [http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?149775 Wrecksite Magyar Vitez MV - Totila MV]
* [http://www.spiegel.de/video/totila-schiffswrack-im-schwarzen-meer-entdeckt-video-1275024.html Schwarzmeerküste: Taucher entdecken deutsches Weltkriegswrack]
* [http://www.spiegel.de/video/totila-schiffswrack-im-schwarzen-meer-entdeckt-video-1275024.html Schwarzmeerküste: Taucher entdecken deutsches Weltkriegswrack]

{{coord missing|Black Sea}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Totila}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Totila}}
[[Category:World War II merchant ships of Hungary]]
[[Category:World War II merchant ships of Germany]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in May 1944]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in May 1944]]
[[Category:Maritime disasters]]
[[Category:Maritime disasters]]
[[Category:1942 ships]]
[[Category:1942 ships]]
[[Category:Ships sunk by Soviet aircraft]]
[[Category:Ships sunk by Soviet aircraft]]
[[Category:World War II shipwrecks in the Black Sea]]
[[Category:Ships built in Hungary]]
[[Category:Troop ships of Germany]]
[[Category:World War II auxiliary ships of Germany]]



{{mil-ship-stub}}
{{mil-ship-stub}}

Latest revision as of 08:44, 11 June 2022

History
Nazi Germany
NameTotila[2]
NamesakeTotila[2]
AcquiredSpring 1944[1]
In serviceMay 1944[1]
FateSunk 10 May 1944[1]
General characteristics
Displacement3600 tons[1]
Propulsion4 Ganz-Jendrasik 8cyl. 4stroke diesel engines, 4 generators, 2 electric motors[1]
Armament3 × 3.7 cm (1.46 in) and 6 × 2 cm (0.79 in) AA guns[1]

Totila was a German cargo ship which was sunk during World War II on 10 May 1944 near Khersones during the Axis evacuation of the Crimea, killing up to 5,000 German and Romanian soldiers.

Totila was built in 1942 as the Hungarian cargo ship Magyar Vitez. The Germans confiscated her in 1944.

In 1944, the German Army′s 17th Army was cut off by the Soviet Red Army in the Crimean Peninsula. At first, Adolf Hitler did not allow the 17th Army's 235,000 German and Romanian troops to be evacuated by sea, but on 11 April 1944 the evacuation began.

Together with the ship Teja, Totila reached Khersones on 10 May 1944 and both ships were immediately loaded with German and Romanian soldiers. They then headed for Constanța, Romania. They survived a first attack by a formation of 20 Soviet aircraft, but at 09:30, Totila was hit by three bombs during a second attack by 21 Soviet planes. The ship, with 3,000 Germans and 2,000 Romanians on board, sank very quickly. Teja and the escort ships could not stop to help the survivors. At 14:45, a new formation of 11 Soviet A-20s appeared and hit Teja, which sank with some 4,000 men on board. The three escort ships saved some 400 men and continued the trip to Constanța.

The claim[by whom?] that most soldiers saved themselves by swimming to shore is very unlikely.[citation needed] The exact number of casualties will never be known, but the sinking of these two ships is one of the greatest maritime disasters of all time. In total, some 8,000 men might have lost their lives in this incident.[citation needed]

Divers found the wreck of Totila in May 2003 near Sevastopol.[citation needed]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f Gröner 1993, p. 119.
  2. ^ a b Gröner 1993.
Bibliography
  • Gröner, Erich (1993). Flußfahrzeuge, Ujäger, Vorpostenboote, Hilfsminensucher, Küstenschutzverbände (Teil1). Vol. VIII/1. Bonn: Bernard&Graefe. ISBN 3763748075. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
[edit]


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