| 15.10.1925: |
Commissioned, followed by training and trials. |
| -May 1926: |
Battle training in North and Baltic Sea. |
| May 1926: |
Final construction works. |
| October 1926: |
Refits, aft funnel is modified. |
| 11.11.1926-14.03.1928: |
First international voyage: Around Africa to Japan, visiting the Cocos-Islands where the small cruiser Emden was sunk in World War I. From there, the Emden
sails to Indonesia, the USA, Chile, Brazil and returns to Wilhelmshaven. |
| April - June 1928: |
Repairs and refits. |
| -December 1928: |
Fleet operations and support of the torpedo school. |
| 05.12.1928-13.12.1929: |
Second international voyage: Mediterranean, Suez Channel, East Africa, Seychelles, Indonesia, New Zealand, Samoa, Hawaii, USA, Central America, Spain. |
| -January 1930: |
Repairs and refits. |
| 13.01.1930-13.05.1931: |
Third international voyage: Westindies, visiting several islands and harbors, and the USA. |
| -December 1930: |
Repairs, followed by training. |
| 01.12.1930-08.12.1931: |
Fourth international voyage: Mediterranean, Suda- Beight, Port Said, Suez Channel, Indian Ocean, India, Philippines, China, Japan, Cocos-Islands, Indonesia, South Africa, West Africa, Spain. |
| -February 1933: |
Fleet operations. |
| 20.02.1933-16.03.1933: |
Fifth international voyage: Sailed to Spain. |
| 31.03.1933-29.09.1934: |
Decommissioned because of major refits in Wilhelmshaven. |
| -November 1934: |
Training and trials. |
| 10.11.1934-14.06.1935: |
Sixth international voyage: Cape Town, East Africa, Seychelles, Ceylon, Indian Ocean, Suez-Channel, Spain Portugal. |
| 23.10.1935-11.06.1936: |
Seventh international voyage: Central America, Panama Channel, Hawaii, Mexico, Central America, Panama Channel, USA, Canada. |
| 10.10.1936-22.04.1937: |
Eighth international voyage: Mediterranean, Dardanelles, Varna, Istanbul, Port Said, Suez-Channel, Indian Ocean, Singapore, Thailand, Japan, China, India, Suez-Channel. In April 1937, the Emden
takes part in control operations off the Spanish coast. |
| 11.10.1937-23.04.1938: |
Ninth international voyage: After control operations in spanish waters, the Emden continues her voyage to Suez Channel, Ceylon, Indonesia, China, Mediterranean, Yugoslavia, Greece, Spain. |
| 26.07.1938-21.09.1938: |
Tenth international voyage: Azores, Bermuda. |
| 10.10.1938-16.12.1938: |
Eleventh international Voyage: Mediterranean, Varna, Istanbul, Greece, Spain. |
| 29.03.-15.04.1939: |
Used as a fishery protection ship near iceland. |
| August 1939: |
Supported by government yacht Grille
and several torpedo boats, the Emden laid a mine field in the North Sea. |
| 04.09.1939: |
During a a British air raid on Wilhelmshaven, the Emden
shoot down an Blendheim bomber which crashed into the bow of the ship, causing several deaths. First navy casualties in World War II. |
| Oct 1939 - Mar 1940: |
Used as a training ship. |
| 06.04.1940: |
Operation "Weserübung":
Transports troops from Swinemünde. |
| 07.04.1940: |
Part of Squadron 5 assembled in Kiel. |
| 08.04.1940: |
On their way to Oslo, Squadron 5 looses the CA Blücher
. Troops on board of the Emden
disembark to attack Forts at the Dröbak Narrows. |
| 10.04.1940: |
Arrives in Oslo. The radio station on board of the Emden
is the main communication center in Oslo. |
| Summer 1940: |
Emden
transfers to Gothenburg for training purposes. |
| 22.08.1941: |
The torpedo boats Greif
and Kondor
escort the light cruiser Emden
from Frederikshavn to Norden. |
| September 1941: |
Together with CL Köln
, Emden
bombards Russian shore batteries at Cape Ristna on Ösel. |
| 27.09.1941: |
Together with the CL Leipzig
, the Emden
sinks the Soviet MTB 83
in the Lyu Beight off Sworbe. |
| November 1941: |
Attached to the training section of the fleet. |
| June - November 1942: |
Laid up in the Wilhelmshaven shipyard for major refits. |
| End of 1944: |
Mine laying in the Skagerak. |
| Winter 1944/45: |
While on refit in Schichau Shipyard in Königsberg
, the Russians attack the city. |
| 23.01.1945: |
Emden
is towed to Pillau by ice breakers. There one of the CLs engines is brought into action. |
| 06.02.1945: |
The Emden
arrived in Kiel after a six day journey from Pillau. |
| February - April 1945: |
Refitting in Kiel. |
| April 1945: |
The Emden
is heavily damaged during an air raid on Kiel. The ship has to be beached in the Heikendorf Beight. |
| 26.04.1945: |
Withdrawn from service. |
| 03.05.1945: |
Destroyed by explosions. The wreck is broken down and scrapped. |
