Archive notice: This article was originally published on March 3, 2008. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
Part 1 of the lavishly produced historical television film “Die Gustloff” was watched by 8.45 million television viewers on ZDF on Sunday, March 2, 2008. With a market share of 23.5 percent, Joseph Vilsmaier’s anti-war film was by far the most-watched programme of the evening – it was also in strong demand among 14- to 49-year-olds, with a market share of 16.9 percent. The first part of the “Gustloff” documentary from ZDF’s Contemporary History editorial department, shown on ZDF from 10.05 p.m., also attracted considerable viewer interest: 5.31 million learned about the great maritime disaster of January 30, 1945, when a Russian submarine torpedoed the refugee ship “Wilhelm Gustloff” and a dramatic struggle for survival began for more than 10 000 people. With a market share of 19.2 percent, the 45-minute documentary also led in viewers’ favour in the time slot from 10.00 p.m.
Today, Monday, March 3, 2008, ZDF will show the second part of the television film from 8.15 p.m., featuring renowned actors such as Kai Wiesinger, Valerie Niehaus, Heiner Lauterbach, Dana Vávrová, Detlev Buck, Ulrike Kriener, Michael Mendl, Karl Markovics, Alexander Held and Francis Fulton-Smith. Immediately afterwards, from 9.45 p.m., the documentary presents the historical facts surrounding the sinking of the refugee ship.
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