Germany (ship, 1924)

Germany

Germany with the Hamburg coat of arms on the bow

Ship data flag  German Empire German Empire   Ship type Passenger ship Owner HAPAG Shipyard Blohm & Voss , Hamburg Launch April 28, 1923 Whereabouts Sunk on May 3, 1945

Ship dimensions and crew length 197 m ( Lüa ) width 24 m measurement 21,046 GRT

Machine system Top speed 19 kn (35 km / h)

Transport capacities Permitted number of passengers 180 I. Class 400 II. Class 935 III. class

The Deutschland , sometimes referred to as Deutschland IV to distinguish it from other ships with the name Deutschland IV , was a steamship built for regular service across the Atlantic by the German shipping company HAPAG , which was originally 183.73 meters long and 24.0 meters wide, and with 20,602 GRT was measured. The sinking by a British air raid in 1945 claimed many lives.

The Deutschland was created as one of four ships together with the Albert Ballin , she was launched on April 28, 1923 at Blohm & Voss in Hamburg and made her maiden voyage on March 27, 1924, first to Southampton and then to New York . In 1929 the engine system was renewed, increasing the speed from 16 to 19 knots. In 1933 the Deutschland was extended to 197 meters and re-measured with 21,046 GRT. On board were cabins for 180 passengers in first class, 400 in second class and 935 in third class. The twin screw steamer had two chimneys and four masts.

In 1940 she was initially used as a barge for the Kriegsmarine in Gotenhafen . In the transports of wounded and refugees across the Baltic Sea in 1945 , she brought about 70,000 refugees from East Prussia and West Prussia to the west.

In April 1945 she was converted into a hospital ship and the ship began to be painted white. However, the color was only sufficient for the chimneys, only one of which was given a Red Cross on one side . On May 3, 1945 it was sunk in the Lübeck Bay in front of Neustadt by the same British air raid that sank the Cap Arcona and the Thielbek . In the attacks by British planes on May 3, a total of 23 ships were sunk and 115 ships were damaged.

The wreck of the Deutschland was lifted and scrapped in 1948.

literature

• Roy Nesbit: Cap Arcona. Atrocity or accident? In: Airplane Monthly , issue June 1984

Web links

• Ship Details (Engl.)

Remarks

1. ↑ According to the Flag Ordinance of 1933, the swastika flag replaced the flag of the home port as a gösch .
2. ↑ Detlef Garbe: 'Cap Arcona' commemoration. In: Neuengamme Concentration Camp Memorial (Ed.): Help or Trade? Rescue efforts for victims of Nazi persecution. Bremen 2007, ISBN 978-3-86108-874-5 , p. 169