The Cap Arcona Case (1996): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1996, The Cap Arcona Case is a documentary film directed by Günter Klaucke, running about 92 minutes.

What it’s about. On May 3, 1945, with Hitler already dead and Hamburg and Berlin having surrendered, the Royal Air Force launched its last major air raid. The target was a collection of ships in the Bay of Kiel and Lübeck. The largest ships, the floating concentration camp transports Cap Arcone and Thielbeck, were targeted by the bombers and low-flying aircraft: this horrific mistake cost the lives of over 700 prisoners - the greatest maritime disaster of all time. The film returns to the sites of the events, to Neuengamme, where the prisoners were previously interned, to Lübeck, where they were embarked, to Neustadt, where they were crammed onto the Cap Arcona. The prehistory of the last great luxury liner is reconstructed, the launching, the voyage of the Queen of the South Atlantic, as the most important extra in the UFA production: The Sinking of the Titanic.

Who’s in it. The Cap Arcona Case stars Erwin Geschonneck as Self.

How it landed. With an audience score of 8.0/10, The Cap Arcona Case sits among the best-reviewed titles in the catalogue.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Cap Arcona Case page.

If you liked it. Fans of The Cap Arcona Case tend to enjoy One Direction: This Is Us, Burn the Stage: The Movie, BTS World Tour: Love Yourself - Japan Edition and Senna.