55. The Greatest Maritime Disaster in United States History
Sultana was a Mississippi River side-wheel steamboat. It was built in 1863 by the John Litherbury Boatyard in Cincinnati. The steamboat was made of wood and was intended for use in the lower Mississippi cotton trade.
On April 27, 1865, the steamboat exploded on the Mississippi River. There were 2,427 passengers aboard the steamboat, of which an estimated 1,865 perished. The explosion was caused by three of the ship’s four boilers, which, due to a faulty system, all exploded simultaneously. To date, it is the worse maritime disaster ever recorded in the United States.
56. Soviet Soldiers Executing a Traitor
Soviet guerrilla soldiers were anti-fascist fighters in World War II. They were the Communist or Socialist troops of Slovakia, Poland, Italy, Hungary, Yugoslavia, and Greece. During the second world war, they opposed the occupation and led guerrilla warfare efforts against the Nazis and Axis powers. They were known for conducting cold-blooded executions.
This picture was taken in 1944. The exact location is unknown but it is suspected to be behind enemy lines somewhere in Germany. Soviet guerrilla soldiers are in the process of executing a traitor. The traitor’s crunched posture reflects fear, as he anticipates his death.