There is reason to believe many more people died when the Moero went down - Estonian refugee sources put the number as high as 2000+. Very many Estonian doctors and nurses and wounded soldiers of more than one nationality (both German occupation troops and Estonians mobilized into service as well as others) perished in the Moero tragedy.

You will appreciate the fact that Tallinn was burning and that Soviet tanks entered the city on 22 September, when the Moero weighed anchor. The refugees being taken aboard in large numbers were close to being in a panic and the passenger lists that were being maintained - if truly maintained at all - may not have reflected the actual situation.

I am researching this and would appreciate any and all hints and followups about where I can get more information.

Several other large ships with Estonian civilians either went down in 1944 , such as Nordstern (500+ dead) and I believe Wartheland. This was prior to the ones that were sunk while evacuating German civilians in 1945 from Polish ports (Wilhelm Gustloff, etc.).

There were also German ships that sustained refugee losses of life in the fall of 1944 such as the RO 22 (estimated 100 dead) , but made it to port in Gdynia.

In addition many drowned when stormy seas overturned crowded smaller vessels en route to Sweden from Estonia back in Sept.-Oct. 1944.

The story is barely known to all but a few.

Thanks ever so kindly to any and all who respond.