Pre-Dreadnought Battleships: Deutschland Class

[Brian James]

Lead Ship, Pre-Dreadnought Battleship SMS Deutschland pictured in 1909.

[Brian James]

Deutschland Class Pre-Dreadnought Battleship Schleswig Holstein pictured as she enters Danzig on August 25th 1939...Schleswig-Holstein fired the first shots of World War II when she bombarded the Polish base at Danzig's Westerplatte in the early morning hours of September 1st 1939. She was used as a Training Vessel for the majority of the war, and was sunk by British bombers in Gotenhafen in December 1944. Schleswig-Holstein was subsequently salvaged and then beached for use by the Soviet Navy as a target. As of 1990, the ship's bell was on display in the Bundeswehr Military History Museum at Dresden.

[Brian James]

Commissioned two months ago, Lead Ship, Pre-Dreadnought Battleship SMS Deutschland pictured on exercises off Heligoland, North Sea on November 20th 1906.

[Brian James]

Deutschland Class Pre-Dreadnought Battleship SMS Hannover pictured anchored off Helsinki on June 28th 1926.

[Brian James]

Deutschland Class Pre-Dreadnought Battleship Schlesien pictured c1938.

[Brian James]

Deutschland Class Pre-Dreadnought Battleship Schleswig Holstein pictured in service with the Reichsmarine.

[Brian James]

Deutschland Class Pre-Dreadnought Battleship sisters, Schlesien and Schleswig Holstein pictured in 1934.

[Brian James]

Deutschland Class Pre-Dreadnought Battleship SMS Hannover pictured at Bergen c1922.