Editing MV Wilhelm Gustloff (section)

== Construction and naming ==
''Wilhelm Gustloff'' was constructed by the [[Blohm & Voss]] shipyards. Measuring {{convert|208.5|m|ftin|abbr=on}} long by {{convert|23.59|m|ftin|abbr=on}} wide, with a capacity of {{GRT|25,484|disp=long}}, she was launched on 5 May 1937.

The ship was originally intended to be named ''Adolf Hitler'' but instead was named after [[Wilhelm Gustloff]], leader of the [[Nazi Party]]'s Swiss branch, who had been assassinated by a Jewish medical student in 1936. [[Adolf Hitler|Hitler]] himself decided on the name change after sitting next to Gustloff's widow during his memorial service.<ref name=facts>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222211750/http://www.wilhelmgustloff.com/facts_didyouknow.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=22 February 2014|title=Did You Know?|url=http://www.wilhelmgustloff.com/facts_didyouknow.htm|website=wilhelmgustloff.com|access-date=15 February 2014}}</ref> After completing sea trials in the [[North Sea]] from 15 to 16 March 1938, she was handed over to her Nazi owners.<ref name="Wilhelm Gustloff Museum">{{cite web |title= Voyages on board the Wilhelm Gustloff & Robert Ley |publisher= Wilhelm Gustloff Museum |url= http://www.wilhelmgustloffmuseum.com/voyages.html |access-date= 14 March 2019}}</ref>