Surviving German Battleships of World War II: Their Fate Post-War
Surviving German Battleships of World War II: Their Fate Post-War
During World War II, several German battleships and naval vessels managed to survive the conflict in relatively good condition. This fascinating part of history delves into the post-war destinies of these vessels, their current state, and the context of their survival.
Prinz Eugen: A Perpetual Survivor
One of the most remarkable journeys of a German battleship is that of the Heavy Cruiser Prinz Eugen. Seized intact by the British at the end of the war, it was handed to the United States Navy (USN) as war reparation. With its German crew under US officers, the cruiser made a historic voyage, crossing the Panama Canal and heading to Bikini Atoll for an atomic bomb test. Despite its exposure to these tests, it remained intact, and today, it lies at Krayulien Atoll.
Nuremberg: A Soviet Battle to the End
The Light Cruiser Nuremberg also survived the war in pristine condition. Like the Prinz Eugen, it was seized by the British but given to the Soviet Union as war reparation. The Soviets refurbished the ship and used it as an active fleet unit with the Baltic Fleet until the mid-1950s. Eventually, it was retired and sold for scrap in 1960.
A number of German destroyers were seized during and after the war as war reparations.
The Z4 was seized but scrapped without being allocated. Given to France, the Z5, Z6, and Z31 served in the French Navy until the mid-1950s before being scrapped. The Z10 and Z38, also given to the UK, served briefly before being scrapped by 1950. The Z14, Z15, Z20, and Z33, given to the Soviet Union, served until the mid-1950s before being scrapped.Fleet Tender Hela: A Soviet Legacy
The Fleet Tender Hela was given as war reparation to the Soviet Union. It served with the Soviet Navy as the official government yacht, a floating conference center, and a diplomatic reception center. In the 1990s, Hela was damaged beyond repair by an engine room fire. Languishing as a hulk until 2019, it was eventually scrapped.
Modern Usage: Training Ships
Although most of these warships were either scrapped or lost, a few still serve a purpose today as training ships.
Gorch Fock, originally given to the USSR, was bought back by Ukraine and used as a museum ship. Ukraine sold her back to Germany, where she was renamed and continues to serve as a museum ship. Horst Wessel, given to the US as war reparation, is now the training ship Eagle of the U.S. Coast Guard. Albert Schelager, originally given to Brazil, was sold to Portugal and is now the naval training ship Sangres.While many of these historic ships faced their ultimate end through scrapping or destruction, their stories continue to intrigue and educate, offering valuable insights into post-war naval history and international relations of that era.