a Yearly History Review
The steamship in the background of both photos was a German liner, the 'Gneisenau'. In harbor at the outbreak of war, it was impounded by the Belgian goverment and hastily converted into a hospital ship for wounded Belgian soldiers. During the final retreat of the Belgian army and government, it was scuttled and sunk to the river bottom. Other German steamships were seized and sunk in the harbor as well, this supposedly upon Winston Churchill's urging during his visit to Antwerp in the first days of October 1914. The destruction of German private property was used as an excuse by the occupation authorities for the levying of a large fine on the city. Later during the war, the 'Gneisenau' was salvaged and raised.
by modern standards this is minimal damge indeed
