Battleships | German Naval History

Naval expansion, 1890–1918

From pre-dreadnought to super-dreadnought

Built across ten successive classes, these battleships reflect Germany's emergence as a major naval power. Early ships were overtaken by the dreadnought revolution, while the later Kaiser, König and Bayern classes formed the modern core of the Imperial Navy during the First World War.

Brandenburg classKaiser Friedrich III classWittelsbach classBraunschweig classDeutschland classNassau classHelgoland classKaiser classKönig classBayern class

Brandenburg class

Kurfürst Friedrich Wilhelm

Kurfürst Friedrich Wilhelm was an early ocean-going pre-dreadnought of the Brandenburg class. She served through the transformation of Germany's battle fleet; she was sold to Turkey in 1910, sunk 08.08.1915 by British Submarine E11.Explore ship →

Brandenburg class

Brandenburg

Brandenburg was an early ocean-going pre-dreadnought of the Brandenburg class. She operated with the fleet in the North Sea and Baltic; she was scrapped 1920.Explore ship →

Brandenburg class

Weissenburg

Weissenburg was an early ocean-going pre-dreadnought of the Brandenburg class. Her career ranged from overseas deployment to service in home waters; she was sold to Turkey in 1910, scrapped 1938.Explore ship →

Brandenburg class

Wörth

Wörth was an early ocean-going pre-dreadnought of the Brandenburg class. She operated with the fleet in the North Sea and Baltic; she was scrapped 1919.Explore ship →

Kaiser Friedrich III class

Kaiser Friedrich III

Kaiser Friedrich III was a turn-of-the-century pre-dreadnought of the Kaiser Friedrich III class. She operated with the fleet in the North Sea and Baltic; she was scrapped in 1920.Explore ship →

Kaiser Friedrich III class

Kaiser Wilhelm II

Kaiser Wilhelm II was a turn-of-the-century pre-dreadnought of the Kaiser Friedrich III class. She served through the transformation of Germany's battle fleet; she was scrapped in 1922.Explore ship →

Kaiser Friedrich III class

Kaiser Wilhelm der Große

Kaiser Wilhelm der Große was a turn-of-the-century pre-dreadnought of the Kaiser Friedrich III class. She served through the transformation of Germany's battle fleet; she was scrapped in 1920.Explore ship →

Kaiser Friedrich III class

Kaiser Karl der Große

Kaiser Karl der Große was a turn-of-the-century pre-dreadnought of the Kaiser Friedrich III class. She operated with the fleet in the North Sea and Baltic; she was scrapped in 1920.Explore ship →

Kaiser Friedrich III class

Kaiser Barbarossa

Kaiser Barbarossa was a turn-of-the-century pre-dreadnought of the Kaiser Friedrich III class. She operated with the fleet in the North Sea and Baltic; she was scrapped in 1919-1920.Explore ship →

Wittelsbach class

Wettin

Wettin was a Naval Law pre-dreadnought of the Wittelsbach class. She operated with the fleet in the North Sea and Baltic; she was scrapped 1921 (Rönnebeck).Explore ship →

Wittelsbach class

Wittelsbach

Wittelsbach was a Naval Law pre-dreadnought of the Wittelsbach class. She operated with the fleet in the North Sea and Baltic; she was scrapped 1921 (Wilhelmshaven).Explore ship →

Wittelsbach class

Zähringen

Zähringen was a Naval Law pre-dreadnought of the Wittelsbach class. She operated with the fleet in the North Sea and Baltic; she was sunk after bomb hits 26.03.1945, scrapped 1949/50 (Gotenhafen /Gdynia).Explore ship →

Wittelsbach class

Schwaben

Schwaben was a Naval Law pre-dreadnought of the Wittelsbach class. She served through the transformation of Germany's battle fleet; she was scrapped 1921 (Kiel).Explore ship →

Wittelsbach class

Mecklenburg

Mecklenburg was a Naval Law pre-dreadnought of the Wittelsbach class. She served through the transformation of Germany's battle fleet; she was scrapped 1921 (Kiel).Explore ship →

Braunschweig class

Braunschweig

Braunschweig was a heavily armed pre-dreadnought of the Braunschweig class. She operated with the fleet in the North Sea and Baltic; she was scrapped 1932.Explore ship →

Braunschweig class

Elsass

Elsass was a heavily armed pre-dreadnought of the Braunschweig class. She operated with the fleet in the North Sea and Baltic; she was scrapped 1936.Explore ship →

Braunschweig class

Hessen

Hessen was a heavily armed pre-dreadnought of the Braunschweig class. She fought with the battle fleet at Jutland; she was scrapped 1950s (Russia).Explore ship →

Braunschweig class

Preussen

Preussen was a heavily armed pre-dreadnought of the Braunschweig class. She served through the transformation of Germany's battle fleet; she was scrapped 1931 (Wilhelmshaven).Explore ship →

Braunschweig class

Lothringen

Lothringen was a heavily armed pre-dreadnought of the Braunschweig class. She served through the transformation of Germany's battle fleet; she was scrapped 1931 (Hamburg).Explore ship →

Deutschland class

Deutschland

Deutschland was a final German pre-dreadnought of the Deutschland class. She fought with the battle fleet at Jutland; she was scrapped 1920-1922 (Wilhelmshaven).Explore ship →

Deutschland class

Hannover

Hannover was a final German pre-dreadnought of the Deutschland class. She fought with the battle fleet at Jutland; she was scrapped 1944-1946 (Bremerhaven).Explore ship →

Deutschland class

Pommern

Pommern was a final German pre-dreadnought of the Deutschland class. She served through the transformation of Germany's battle fleet; she was sunk after torpedo hit during the Battle of Jutland on 01.06.1916.Explore ship →

Deutschland class

Schleswig Holstein

Schleswig Holstein was a final German pre-dreadnought of the Deutschland class. She served through the transformation of Germany's battle fleet; she was scuttled 25.06.1947.Explore ship →

Deutschland class

Schlesien

Schlesien was a final German pre-dreadnought of the Deutschland class. She served through the transformation of Germany's battle fleet; she was blown up 04.05.1945 (Swinemünde).Explore ship →

Nassau class

Nassau

Nassau was a first-generation German dreadnought of the Nassau class. She fought with the battle fleet at Jutland; she was scrapped in June 1920.Explore ship →

Nassau class

Westfalen

Westfalen was a first-generation German dreadnought of the Nassau class. She fought with the battle fleet at Jutland; she was scrapped in 1924.Explore ship →

Nassau class

Rheinland

Rheinland was a first-generation German dreadnought of the Nassau class. She fought with the battle fleet at Jutland; she was scrapped in 1920-21.Explore ship →

Nassau class

Posen

Posen was a first-generation German dreadnought of the Nassau class. She fought with the battle fleet at Jutland; she was scrapped in 1922.Explore ship →

Helgoland class

Helgoland

Helgoland was a 12-inch-gunned dreadnought of the Helgoland class. She fought with the battle fleet at Jutland; she was scrapped in 1924.Explore ship →

Helgoland class

Ostfriesland

Ostfriesland was a 12-inch-gunned dreadnought of the Helgoland class. She fought with the battle fleet at Jutland; she was sunk as a target ship on 21.07.1921.Explore ship →

Helgoland class

Thüringen

Thüringen was a 12-inch-gunned dreadnought of the Helgoland class. She fought with the battle fleet at Jutland; she was scrapped in 1923-33.Explore ship →

Helgoland class

Oldenburg

Oldenburg was a 12-inch-gunned dreadnought of the Helgoland class. She fought with the battle fleet at Jutland; she was scrapped in 1921.Explore ship →

Kaiser class

Kaiser

Kaiser was a turbine-powered dreadnought of the Kaiser class. She fought with the battle fleet at Jutland; she was scuttled in Scapa Flow on 21.06.1919.Explore ship →

Kaiser class

Friedrich der Große

Friedrich der Große was a turbine-powered dreadnought of the Kaiser class. She fought with the battle fleet at Jutland; she was scuttled in Scapa Flow on 21.06.1919, wreck raised 1936-1937, scrapped.Explore ship →

Kaiser class

Kaiserin

Kaiserin was a turbine-powered dreadnought of the Kaiser class. She served through the transformation of Germany's battle fleet; she was scuttled in Scapa Flow on 21.06.1919, wreck raised 14.05.1936, broken down.Explore ship →

Kaiser class

König Albert

König Albert was a turbine-powered dreadnought of the Kaiser class. She fought with the battle fleet at Jutland; she was scuttled in Scapa Flow on 21.06.1919, wreck raised 31.07.1935, broken down until 1936.Explore ship →

Kaiser class

Prinzregent Luitpold

Prinzregent Luitpold was a turbine-powered dreadnought of the Kaiser class. She fought with the battle fleet at Jutland; she was scuttled in Scapa Flow on 21.06.1919.Explore ship →

König class

König

König was a centerline-gunned dreadnought of the König class. She fought with the battle fleet at Jutland; she was scuttled in Scapa Flow on 21.06.1919, wreck sold 1962.Explore ship →

König class

Großer Kurfürst

Großer Kurfürst was a centerline-gunned dreadnought of the König class. She fought with the battle fleet at Jutland; she was scuttled in Scapa Flow on 21.06.1919, wreck raised 1936 and broken down.Explore ship →

König class

Markgraf

Markgraf was a centerline-gunned dreadnought of the König class. She fought with the battle fleet at Jutland; she was scuttled in Scapa Flow on 21.06.1919, wreck sold 1962.Explore ship →

König class

Kronprinz Wilhelm

Kronprinz Wilhelm was a centerline-gunned dreadnought of the König class. She fought with the battle fleet at Jutland; she was scuttled in Scapa Flow on 21.06.1919, wreck sold 1962.Explore ship →

Bayern class

Bayern

Bayern was a 15-inch-gunned super-dreadnought of the Bayern class. She operated with the fleet in the North Sea and Baltic; she was scuttled in Scapa Flow on 21.06.1919, wreck raised 1934, broken down 1935.Explore ship →

Bayern class

Baden

Baden was a 15-inch-gunned super-dreadnought of the Bayern class. She operated with the fleet in the North Sea and Baltic; she was sunk as a target ship on 16.08.1921.Explore ship →

Bayern class

Sachsen

Sachsen was a 15-inch-gunned super-dreadnought of the Bayern class. Wartime pressure left her incomplete before she could enter service; construction stopped 9 months before completion, scrapped 1921.Explore ship →

Bayern class

Württemberg

Württemberg was a 15-inch-gunned super-dreadnought of the Bayern class. Wartime pressure left her incomplete before she could enter service; she was scrapped 1921.Explore ship →