Login
Login

List of cruisers of Germany

{{Short description|none}}

{{Use shortened footnotes|date=October 2022}}

{{Featured list}}

File:SMS Kaiserin Augusta SMS Seeadler 1890s.jpg

Starting in the 1880s, the German {{lang|de|Kaiserliche Marine}} (Imperial Navy) began building a series of cruisers. The first designs—protected and unprotected—were ordered to replace aging sail and steam-powered frigates and corvettes that were of minimal combat value. After several iterations of each type, these cruisers were developed into armored and light cruisers, respectively, over the following decade. They were built to fill a variety of roles, including scouts for the main battle fleet and colonial cruisers for Germany's overseas empire. The armored cruisers in turn led to the first German battlecruiser, {{SMS|Von der Tann}}.

The protected and unprotected cruisers had been withdrawn from active service by the 1910s, though some continued in secondary roles. Most of the armored and light cruisers saw action in World War I, in all of the major theaters of the conflict. Their service ranged from commerce raiding patrols on the open ocean to the fleet engagements in the North Sea such as the Battle of Jutland. Many were sunk in the course of the war, and the majority of the remainder were either seized as war prizes by the victorious Allies, scuttled by their crews in Scapa Flow in 1919, or broken up for scrap. The Treaty of Versailles forced Germany to surrender most of its remaining vessels. Only six old pre-dreadnought battleships and six old light cruisers could be kept on active duty. These ships could be replaced when they reached twenty years of age, and the cruisers were limited to a displacement of {{convert|6000|MT}}.See: Treaty of Versailles Section II: Naval Clauses, Articles 181 and 190

In the 1920s, Germany began a modest program to rebuild its fleet, now renamed the {{lang|de|Reichsmarine}}. It began with the new light cruiser, {{ship|German cruiser|Emden||2}}, in 1921, followed by five more light cruisers and three new heavy cruisers, the {{sclass|Deutschland|cruiser|4}}. A further five heavy cruisers—the {{sclass|Admiral Hipper|cruiser|4}}—were ordered in the mid-1930s, though only the first three were completed. At the same time, the German navy was renamed the {{lang|de|Kriegsmarine}}. Plan Z, a more ambitious reconstruction program that called for twelve P-class cruisers, was approved in early 1939 but was cancelled before the end of the year following the outbreak of World War II. Of the six heavy cruisers and six light cruisers that were finished, only two survived the war. One, {{ship|German cruiser|Prinz Eugen||2}}, was sunk following nuclear weapons tests during Operation Crossroads in 1946; the other, {{ship|German cruiser|Nürnberg||2}}, saw service in the Soviet Navy until she was scrapped around 1960.{{efn|The German navies also operated numerous auxiliary cruisers during both world wars, including {{SMS|Seeadler|1915|6}} and {{ship|German auxiliary cruiser|Kormoran||2}}. As they were armed merchant ships and not purpose-built warships, they are not within the scope of this list.}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="float: right; margin: 0 0 0 1em;"

|+ Key

scope="row" | Armament

| The number and type of the primary armament

scope="row" | Armor

| The thickness of the deck or belt armor

scope="row" | Displacement

| Ship displacement at full combat load{{efn|Historian Erich Gröner states that full load was defined as "[equal to] type displacement plus full load fuel oil, diesel oil, coal, reserve boiler feed water, aircraft fuel, and special equipment." See: {{harvnb|Gröner|p=ix}}.}}

scope="row" | Propulsion

| Number of shafts, type of propulsion system, and top speed generated

scope="row" | Cost

| Cost of the ship's construction

scope="row" | Service

| The dates work began and finished on the ship and its ultimate fate

scope="row" | Laid down

| The date the keel began to be assembled

scope="row" | Commissioned

| The date the ship was commissioned

Protected cruisers

File:Bundesarchiv DVM 10 Bild-23-61-10, Schulschiff "SMS Hansa II".jpg

{{main|List of protected cruisers of Germany}}

Starting in the mid-1880s, the German Navy began to modernize its cruising force, which at that time relied on a mixed collection of sail and steam frigates and corvettes. General Leo von Caprivi, then the Chief of the {{lang|de|Kaiserliche Marine}} (Imperial Navy), ordered several new warships, including two {{sclass|Irene|cruiser|1}}s laid down in 1886, the first protected cruisers to be built in Germany.{{sfn|Sondhaus|p=166}} Design work on their successor, {{SMS|Kaiserin Augusta||2}}, began the following year, though she was not laid down until 1890. Five more ships of the {{sclass|Victoria Louise|cruiser|4}} followed in the mid-1890s. These ships, the last protected cruisers built in Germany, provided the basis for the armored cruisers that were built starting at the end of the decade.{{sfn|Gardiner|p=254}} All of these ships were intended to serve both as fleet scouts and overseas cruisers, since Germany's limited naval budget prevented development of ships optimized for each task.{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=142}}

Most of the German protected cruisers served on overseas stations throughout their careers, primarily in the East Asia Squadron in the 1890s and 1900s. {{SMS|Prinzess Wilhelm||2}} participated in the seizure of the Jiaozhou Bay Leased Territory in November 1897, which was used as the primary base for the East Asia Squadron.{{sfn|Gottschall|pp=157–162}} {{lang|de|Kaiserin Augusta}}, {{SMS|Hertha|1897|2}}, and {{SMS|Hansa|1898|2}} assisted in the suppression of the Boxer Uprising in China in 1900,{{sfn|Perry|p=29}} and {{SMS|Vineta|1897|2}} saw action during the Venezuelan crisis of 1902–03, where she bombarded several Venezuelan fortresses.{{sfn|Mitchell|p=86}} {{SMS|Irene||2}}, {{lang|de|Prinzess Wilhelm}}, and {{lang|de|Kaiserin Augusta}} were relegated to secondary duties in the 1910s, while the {{lang|de|Victoria Louise}} class was used to train naval cadets in the 1900s. All eight ships were broken up for scrap in the early 1920s.{{sfn|Gröner|pp=45–48, 95}}

{{clear}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align: center;"
valign="top"

! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Ship

! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Armament

! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Armor

! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Displacement

! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Propulsion

! scope="col" colspan="2" | Service

!

valign="top"

! scope="col" | Laid down

! scope="col" | Commissioned

! scope="col" | Fate

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Irene

2}}

| rowspan="2" | 4 × 15 cm K L/30 guns
10 × 15 cm K L/22{{sfn|Gröner|p=95}}

| rowspan="2" | {{convert|20|mm|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=95}}

| rowspan="2" | {{convert|5027|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=94}}

| rowspan="2" style="text-align: left;" | 2 shafts, 2 reciprocating engines, {{convert|18|kn|lk=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=95}}

| rowspan="2" | 1886{{sfn|Gardiner|p=253}}

| 25 May 1888{{sfn|Gröner|p=95}}

| style="text-align: left;" | Scrapped, 1922{{sfn|Gröner|p=95}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Prinzess Wilhelm

2}}

| 13 November 1889{{sfn|Gröner|p=95}}

| style="text-align: left;" | Scrapped, 1922{{sfn|Gröner|p=95}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Kaiserin Augusta

2}}

| 12 × 15 cm SK L/35 guns{{sfn|Gröner|p=46}}

| {{convert|50|mm|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=46}}

| {{convert|6318|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=46}}

| style="text-align: left;" | 3 shafts, 3 triple-expansion engines, {{convert|21|kn|lk=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=46}}

| 1890{{sfn|Gardiner|p=254}}

| 17 November 1892{{sfn|Gröner|p=46}}

| style="text-align: left;" | Scrapped, 1920{{sfn|Gröner|p=46}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Victoria Louise

2}}

| rowspan=5 | 2 × 21 cm SK L/40 guns
8 × 15 cm SK L/40 guns{{sfn|Gröner|p=47}}

| rowspan="5" | {{convert|40|mm|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=47}}

| rowspan="3" | {{convert|6491|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=47}}

| rowspan="3" style="text-align: left;" | 3 shafts, triple-expansion engines, {{convert|19.5|kn|lk=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=47}}

| rowspan="3" | 1895{{sfn|Gardiner|p=254}}

| 20 February 1899{{sfn|Gröner|p=48}}

| style="text-align: left;" | Scrapped, 1923{{sfn|Gröner|p=48}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Hertha|1897|2}}

| 23 July 1898{{sfn|Gröner|p=48}}

| style="text-align: left;" | Scrapped, 1920{{sfn|Gröner|p=48}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Freya|1897|2}}

| 20 October 1898{{sfn|Gröner|p=48}}

| style="text-align: left;" | Scrapped, 1921{{sfn|Gröner|p=48}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Vineta|1897|2}}

| rowspan="2" | {{convert|6705|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=47}}

| rowspan="2" style="text-align: left;" | 3 shafts, triple-expansion engines, {{convert|18.5|kn|lk=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=47}}

| rowspan="2" | 1896{{sfn|Gardiner|p=254}}

| 13 September 1899{{sfn|Gröner|p=48}}

| style="text-align: left;" | Scrapped, 1920{{sfn|Gröner|p=48}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Hansa|1898|2}}

| 20 April 1899{{sfn|Gröner|p=48}}

| style="text-align: left;" | Scrapped, 1920{{sfn|Gröner|p=48}}

Unprotected cruisers

File:S.M. kleiner kreuzer Gefion - restoration, borderless.jpg

{{main|List of unprotected cruisers of Germany}}

At the same time that Caprivi began ordering new protected cruisers, he also authorized the construction of smaller unprotected cruisers for use in Germany's overseas colonies. The first of these, the {{sclass|Schwalbe|cruiser|4}}, were laid down in 1886 and 1887.{{sfn|Sondhaus|p=166}} A further six vessels of the {{sclass|Bussard|cruiser|4}}, which were improved versions that were larger and faster than their predecessors, followed over the next five years.{{sfn|Gröner|pp=93–97}} A final, much larger vessel, {{SMS|Gefion||2}}, was laid down in 1892; her design was based on contemporary protected cruisers like {{lang|de|Kaiserin Augusta}}. She represented another attempt to merge the colonial cruiser and fleet scout, which was unsuccessful.{{sfn|Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz Vol. 3|p=194}} As a result, the German naval designers began work on the {{sclass|Gazelle|cruiser|4}}, which provided the basis for all future German light cruisers.{{sfn|Gröner|pp=98–100}}{{sfn|Herwig|p=28}}

All nine cruisers served extensively in Germany's colonies, particularly in Africa and Asia. They participated in the suppression of numerous rebellions, including the Abushiri Revolt in German East Africa in 1889–1890,{{sfn|Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz Vol. 7|p=145}} the Boxer Uprising in China in 1900–1901,{{sfn|Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz Vol. 7|p=145}} and the Sokehs Rebellion in the Caroline Islands in 1911.{{sfn|Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz Vol. 2|p=191}} Most of the ships had been recalled to Germany and decommissioned by the early 1910s, having been replaced by the newer light cruisers. {{SMS|Bussard||2}} and {{SMS|Falke|1891|2}} were scrapped in 1912, but the rest continued on in secondary roles. Of the remaining seven ships, only {{SMS|Cormoran|1892|2}} and {{SMS|Geier||2}} remained abroad at the start of World War I in August 1914. {{lang|de|Cormoran}} was stationed in Qingdao, but her engines were worn out, so she was scuttled to prevent her capture.{{sfn|Gröner|pp=93–99}} {{lang|de|Geier}} briefly operated against British shipping in the Pacific before running low on coal. She put into Hawaii, where she was interned by the US Navy. After the United States declared war on Germany in April 1917, she was seized and commissioned into American service as USS Schurz, though she was accidentally sunk in a collision in June 1918.{{cite web|title=Schurz|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/s7/schurz.htm|publisher=Naval History & Heritage Command|access-date=5 May 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040314190904/http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/s7/schurz.htm|archive-date=14 March 2004}} {{SMS|Seeadler|1892|2}}, employed as a mine storage hulk in Wilhelmshaven during the war, was destroyed by an accidental explosion in 1917. {{SMS|Condor||2}}, {{SMS|Schwalbe|1887|2}}, and {{SMS|Sperber|1888|2}} were all broken up for scrap in the early 1920s, while {{lang|de|Gefion}} was briefly used as a freighter, before she too was scrapped, in 1923.{{sfn|Gröner|pp=94–99}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align: center;"
valign="top"

! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Ship

! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Armament

! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Armor

! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Displacement

! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Propulsion

! scope="col" colspan="3" | Service

valign="top"

! scope="col" | Laid down

! scope="col" | Commissioned

! scope="col" | Fate

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Schwalbe|1887|2}}

| rowspan="2" | 8 × 10.5 cm K L/35 guns{{sfn|Gröner|pp=93–94}}

| rowspan="2" | —

| rowspan="2" | {{convert|1359|t|LT|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|pp=93–94}}

| rowspan="2" | 2 × 2-cylinder double-expansion steam engines, {{convert|13.5|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|pp=93–94}}

| April 1886{{sfn|Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz Vol. 7|p=145}}

| 8 May 1888{{sfn|Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz Vol. 7|p=145}}

| Scrapped, 1922{{sfn|Gröner|p=94}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Sperber|1888|2}}

| September 1887{{sfn|Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz Vol. 7|p=178}}

| 2 April 1889{{sfn|Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz Vol. 7|p=178}}

| Scrapped, 1922{{sfn|Gröner|p=94}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Bussard

2}}

| 8 × 10.5 cm K L/35 guns{{sfn|Gröner|p=97}}

| rowspan="6" | —

| rowspan="6" | {{convert|1868|t|LT|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=97}}

| rowspan="6" | 2 × 2-cylinder double-expansion steam engines, {{convert|15.5|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=97}}

| 1888{{sfn|Gröner|p=97}}

| 7 October 1890{{sfn|Gröner|p=97}}

| Scrapped, 1913{{sfn|Gröner|p=97}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Falke|1891|2}}

| rowspan="5" | 8 × 10.5 cm SK L/35 guns{{sfn|Gröner|p=97}}

| 1890{{sfn|Gröner|p=98}}

| 14 September 1891{{sfn|Gröner|p=98}}

| Scrapped, 1913{{sfn|Gröner|p=98}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Seeadler|1892|2}}

| 1890{{sfn|Gröner|p=98}}

| 17 August 1892{{sfn|Gröner|p=98}}

| Destroyed, 1917{{sfn|Gröner|p=98}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Condor

2}}

| 1891{{sfn|Gröner|p=98}}

| 9 December 1892{{sfn|Gröner|p=98}}

| Scrapped, 1921{{sfn|Gröner|p=98}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Cormoran|1892|2}}

| 1890{{sfn|Gröner|p=98}}

| 25 July 1893{{sfn|Gröner|p=98}}

| Scuttled, 28 September 1914{{sfn|Gröner|p=98}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Geier

2}}

| 1893{{sfn|Gröner|p=98}}

| 24 October 1895{{sfn|Gröner|p=98}}

| Captured, 6 April 1917, sunk 21 June 1918{{sfn|Gröner|p=98}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Gefion

2}}

| 10 × 10.5 cm SK L/35 guns{{sfn|Gröner|p=98}}

| 25 mm{{sfn|Gröner|p=98}}

| {{convert|4275|t|LT|abbr=on|sp=us}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=98}}

| 2 × 3-cylinder triple expansion engines, {{convert|20.5|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=98}}

| 1892{{sfn|Gröner|p=99}}

| 5 June 1895{{sfn|Gröner|p=99}}

| Converted to freighter, 1920, scrapped 1923{{sfn|Gröner|p=99}}

Armored cruisers

File:S.M. Grosser Kreuzer Fürst Bismarck - restoration, borderless.jpg

{{main|List of armored cruisers of Germany}}

The first armored cruiser, {{SMS|Fürst Bismarck|1897|2}}, was ordered shortly after the {{lang|de|Victoria Louise}} class of protected cruisers. {{lang|de|Fürst Bismarck}} was an improved version of the earlier type, with heavier armament, more extensive armor protection, and a significantly greater size.{{sfn|Gröner|pp=47–49}} A further seven units, divided between four different designs, followed over the next ten years; each design provided incremental improvements over earlier vessels.{{sfn|Gröner|pp=49–52}} A ninth armored cruiser, {{SMS|Blücher||2}}, was a much larger vessel representing an intermediate step between armored cruisers and battlecruisers. Indeed, her design had been influenced by the misinformation Britain had released about its {{sclass|Invincible|battlecruiser|1}}s, which were then under construction. Once the characteristics of the new ships were revealed, Germany began building battlecruisers in response.{{sfn|Staff|pp=3–4}}

Germany's armored cruisers served in a variety of roles, including overseas as flagships of the East Asia Squadron,{{sfn|Gardiner|p=249}}{{sfn|Halpern|p=66}} and in the fleet reconnaissance forces. All of them, save {{lang|de|Fürst Bismarck}}, saw action during World War I in a variety of theaters. {{lang|de|Blücher}} served with the battlecruisers in the I Scouting Group and was sunk at the Battle of Dogger Bank in 1915,{{sfn|Tarrant|pp=36–42}} and the two {{sclass|Scharnhorst|cruiser|1}}s formed the core of Maximilian von Spee's squadron that defeated the British at the Battle of Coronel in November 1914 before being annihilated at the Battle of the Falkland Islands.{{sfn|Herwig|pp=157–158}} {{SMS|Yorck||2}} was accidentally sunk by a German mine in November 1914 outside Wilhelmshaven,{{sfn|Tarrant|p=30}} and the two {{sclass|Prinz Adalbert|cruiser|1}}s were sunk in the Baltic Sea.{{sfn|Gröner|pp=50–51}} Only {{SMS|Prinz Heinrich||2}} and {{SMS|Roon||2}} survived the war; both were scrapped in the early 1920s.{{sfn|Gröner|pp=50, 52}}

{{clear}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align: center; width: 100%;"
valign="top"

! scope="col" width="13%" rowspan="2" | Ship

! scope="col" width="14%" rowspan="2" | Armament

! scope="col" width="10%" rowspan="2" | Armor

! scope="col" width="10%" rowspan="2" | Displacement

! scope="col" width="25%" rowspan="2" | Propulsion

! scope="col" width="28%" colspan="3" | Service

valign="top"

! scope="col" width="5%" | Laid down

! scope="col" width="5%" | Commissioned

! scope="col" width="20%" | Fate

valign="top"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Fürst Bismarck|1897|2}}

| 4 × 24 cm SK L/40
10 × 15 cm SK L/40 gun guns{{sfn|Gröner|p=49}}

| {{convert|200|mm|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=49}}

| {{convert|11461|MT|LT|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=48}}

| style="text-align: left;" | 3 screws, triple expansion engines, {{convert|18.7|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|pp=48–49}}

| 1896{{sfn|Gardiner|p=254}}

| 1 April 1900{{sfn|Gardiner|p=254}}

| style="text-align: left;" | Broken up for scrap in 1919–1920{{sfn|Gröner|p=49}}

valign="top"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Prinz Heinrich

2}}

| 2 × 24 cm SK L/40
10 × {{convert|15|cm|in|abbr=on}} SK L/40 guns{{sfn|Gröner|p=49}}

| {{convert|100|mm|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=49}}

| {{convert|9806|MT|LT|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=49}}

| style="text-align: left;" | 3 screws, triple expansion engines, {{convert|19.9|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=49}}

| 1898{{sfn|Gardiner|p=255}}

| 11 March 1902{{sfn|Gardiner|p=255}}

| style="text-align: left;" | Broken up for scrap in 1920{{sfn|Gröner|p=50}}

valign="top"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Prinz Adalbert|1901|2}}

| rowspan="2" | 4 × 21 cm SK L/40
10 × {{convert|15|cm|in|abbr=on}} SK L/40 guns{{sfn|Gröner|p=50}}

| rowspan="2" | {{convert|100|mm|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=50}}

| rowspan="2" | {{convert|9875|MT|LT|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=50}}

| style="text-align: left;" | 3 screws, triple expansion engines, {{convert|20.4|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=50}}

| 1900{{sfn|Gardiner|p=255}}

| 12 January 1904{{sfn|Gardiner|p=255}}

| style="text-align: left;" | Sunk on 23 October 1915 by {{HMS|E8}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=51}}

valign="top"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Friedrich Carl|1902|2}}

| style="text-align: left;" | 3 screws, triple expansion engines, {{convert|20.5|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=50}}

| 1901{{sfn|Gardiner|p=255}}

| 12 December 1903{{sfn|Gardiner|p=255}}

| style="text-align: left;" | Sunk on 17 November 1914 by Russian mines{{sfn|Gröner|p=50}}

valign="top"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Roon

2}}

| rowspan="2" | 4 × 21 cm SK L/40
10 × {{convert|15|cm|in|abbr=on}} SK L/40 guns{{sfn|Gröner|p=51}}

| rowspan="2" | {{convert|100|mm|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=51}}

| rowspan="2" | {{convert|10266|MT|LT|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=51}}

| style="text-align: left;" | 3 screws, triple expansion engines, {{convert|21.1|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=51}}

| 1902{{sfn|Gardiner|p=255}}

| 5 April 1906{{sfn|Gardiner|p=255}}

| style="text-align: left;" | Broken up for scrap in 1921{{sfn|Gröner|p=52}}

valign="top"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Yorck

2}}

| style="text-align: left;" | 3 screws, triple expansion engines, {{convert|21.4|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=51}}

| 1903{{sfn|Gardiner|p=255}}

| 21 November 1905{{sfn|Gardiner|p=255}}

| style="text-align: left;" | Sunk on 4 November 1914 by German mines{{sfn|Gröner|p=52}}

valign="top"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Scharnhorst

2}}

| rowspan="2" | 8 × 21 cm SK L/40
6 × {{convert|15|cm|in|abbr=on}} SK L/40 guns{{sfn|Gröner|p=52}}

| rowspan="2" | {{convert|150|mm|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=52}}

| rowspan="2" | {{convert|12985|MT|LT|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=52}}

| style="text-align: left;" | 3 screws, triple expansion engines, {{convert|23.5|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=52}}

| 1905{{sfn|Gardiner|p=256}}

| 24 October 1907{{sfn|Gardiner|p=256}}

| style="text-align: left;" | Sunk on 8 December 1914 at the Battle of the Falkland Islands{{sfn|Gröner|p=52}}

valign="top"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Gneisenau

2}}

| style="text-align: left;" | 3 screws, triple expansion engines, {{convert|23.6|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=52}}

| 1904{{sfn|Gardiner|p=256}}

| 6 March 1908{{sfn|Gardiner|p=256}}

| style="text-align: left;" | Sunk on 8 December 1914 at the Battle of the Falkland Islands{{sfn|Gröner|p=52}}

valign="top"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Blücher

2}}

| 12 × 21 cm SK L/45
8 × 15 cm SK L/45 guns{{sfn|Gröner|p=53}}

| {{convert|180|mm|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=53}}

| {{convert|17500|MT|LT|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=53}}

| style="text-align: left;" | 3 screws, triple expansion engines, {{convert|25.4|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=53}}

| 21 February 1907{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=150}}

| 1 October 1909{{sfn|Gröner|p=53}}

| style="text-align: left;" | Sunk on 24 January 1915 at the Battle of Dogger Bank{{sfn|Gröner|p=53}}

Light cruisers

File:S.M. kleiner kreuzer Gazelle - restoration.jpg

{{main|List of light cruisers of Germany}}

Starting in the late 1890s, the {{lang|de|Kaiserliche Marine}} began developing modern light cruisers, based on experience with the unprotected cruisers and a series of avisos it had built over the preceding decade.{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=143}} The ten-ship {{lang|de|Gazelle}} class set the basic pattern, which was gradually improved over successive classes.{{sfn|Herwig|p=28}} The {{sclass|Pillau|cruiser|4}} introduced more powerful, {{convert|15|cm|adj=on|sp=us}} main guns, and the {{sclass|Magdeburg|cruiser|4}} added a waterline main belt to improve armor protection.{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|pp=159–161}} Between 1897 and the end of World War I, the German Navy completed forty-seven light cruisers; all of these ships saw service during the war in a variety of theaters and roles. Some, such as {{SMS|Emden|1908|2}} and {{SMS|Königsberg|1905|2}}, served as commerce raiders,{{sfn|Forstmeier|pp=10–14}}{{sfn|Halpern|p=77}} while others, such as the two {{sclass|Wiesbaden|cruiser|1}}s, served with the High Seas Fleet and saw action at the Battle of Jutland in 1916.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=62}} Several fleet cruiser design studies were prepared in 1916, but no work was begun before the war ended in November 1918.{{sfn|Gröner|pp=116–117}}

Following the war, the Treaty of Versailles forced Germany to cede all of its most modern light cruisers; only eight {{lang|de|Gazelle}} and {{sclass|Bremen|cruiser|1}}s were permitted under the terms of the treaty.See: Treaty of Versailles Section II: Naval Clauses, Article 181 These ships could be replaced after twenty years from the time they were launched, and the first new vessel, {{ship|German cruiser|Emden||2}}, was laid down in 1921. Five more ships of the {{sclass|Königsberg|cruiser|5||1927}} and {{sclass|Leipzig|cruiser|4}}es were built between 1926 and 1935.{{sfn|Sieche|pp=229–231}} These six cruisers all saw combat during World War II; two, {{ship|German cruiser|Königsberg||2}} and {{ship|German cruiser|Karlsruhe||2}}, were sunk during the invasion of Norway in April 1940.{{sfn|Williamson Light Cruisers|pp=17, 21}} {{lang|de|Emden}} and {{ship|German cruiser|Köln||2}} were destroyed by Allied bombers in the closing months of the war, and {{ship|German cruiser|Leipzig||2}} was discarded after being badly damaged in a collision with the heavy cruiser {{ship|German cruiser|Prinz Eugen||2}}. This left {{ship|German cruiser|Nürnberg||2}} as the only vessel of the type to survive the war. She was seized by the Soviet Union as a war prize and continued in Soviet service until she was scrapped in 1960.{{sfn|Sieche|pp=229–231}}

{{clear}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align: center;"
valign="top"

! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Ship

! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Armament

! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Armor

! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Displacement

! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Propulsion

! scope="col" colspan="3" | Service

valign="top"

! scope="col" | Laid down

! scope="col" | Commissioned

! scope="col" | Fate

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Gazelle

2}}

| rowspan="10" | 10 × 10.5 cm SK L/40 guns{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}

| rowspan="10" | {{convert|25|mm|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}

| rowspan="2" | {{convert|2963|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}

| 2 shafts, 2 reciprocating engines, {{convert|19.5|kn|lk=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}

| 1897{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}

| 15 June 1901{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}

| Scrapped, 1920{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Niobe

2}}

| rowspan="9" | 2 shafts, 2 reciprocating engines, {{convert|21.5|kn|lk=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}

| rowspan="2" | 1898{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}

| 25 June 1900{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}

| Destroyed, 19 December 1943{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Nymphe

2}}

| rowspan="2" | {{convert|3017|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}

| 20 September 1900{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}

| Scrapped, 1932{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Thetis

2}}

| rowspan="3" | 1899{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}

| 14 September 1901{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}

| Scrapped, 1930{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Ariadne

2}}

| {{convert|3006|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}

| 18 May 1901{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}

| Sunk, Battle of Heligoland Bight, 28 August 1914{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Amazone

2}}

| {{convert|3082|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}

| 18 May 1901{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}

| Scrapped, 1954{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Medusa

2}}

| {{convert|2972|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}

| 1900{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}

| 26 July 1901{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}

| Scrapped, 1948–1950{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Frauenlob

2}}

| {{convert|3158|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}

| rowspan="3" | 1901{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}

| 17 February 1903{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}

| Sunk, Battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Arcona|1902|2}}

| {{convert|3180|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}

| 12 May 1903{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}

| Scrapped, 1948{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Undine

2}}

| {{convert|3112|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}

| 5 January 1904{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}

| Sunk, 7 November 1915{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Bremen

2}}

| rowspan="7" | 10 × 10.5 cm SK L/40 guns{{sfn|Gröner|p=103}}

| rowspan="7" | {{convert|80|mm|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=102}}

| {{convert|3797|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=102}}

| rowspan="3" | 2 shafts, 2 reciprocating engines, {{convert|22|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|pp=102–103}}

| rowspan="3" | 1902{{sfn|Gröner|p=103}}

| 19 May 1904{{sfn|Gröner|p=103}}

| Sunk, 17 February 1915{{sfn|Gröner|p=103}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Hamburg

2}}

| {{convert|3651|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=102}}

| 8 March 1904{{sfn|Gröner|p=103}}

| Scrapped, 1956{{sfn|Gröner|p=103}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Berlin

2}}

| {{convert|3792|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=102}}

| 4 April 1905{{sfn|Gröner|p=103}}

| Scuttled, 1947{{sfn|Gröner|p=103}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Lübeck

2}}

| {{convert|3661|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=102}}

| 4 shafts, 2 steam turbines, {{convert|22.5|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|pp=102–103}}

| rowspan="2" | 1903{{sfn|Gröner|p=103}}

| 26 April 1906{{sfn|Gröner|p=103}}

| Scrapped, 1922–1923{{sfn|Gröner|p=103}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|München

2}}

| {{convert|3780|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=102}}

| rowspan="3" | 2 shafts, 2 reciprocating engines, 22 kn{{sfn|Gröner|pp=102–103}}

| 10 January 1905{{sfn|Gröner|p=103}}

| Scrapped, 1920{{sfn|Gröner|p=103}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Leipzig|1905|2}}

| {{convert|3756|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=102}}

| rowspan="2" | 1904{{sfn|Gröner|p=103}}

| 20 April 1906{{sfn|Gröner|p=103}}

| Sunk, Battle of the Falkland Islands, 8 December 1914{{sfn|Gröner|p=103}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Danzig|1905|2}}

| {{convert|3783|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=102}}

| 1 December 1907{{sfn|Gröner|p=103}}

| Scrapped, 1922–1923{{sfn|Gröner|p=103}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Königsberg|1905|2}}

| rowspan="4" | 10 × 10.5 cm SK L/40 guns{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}

| rowspan="4" | 80 mm{{sfn|Gröner|p=104}}

| {{convert|3814|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=104}}

| rowspan="3" | 2 shafts, 2 reciprocating engines, {{convert|23|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=104}}

| 1905{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}

| 6 April 1907{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}

| Scuttled, Battle of Rufiji Delta, 11 July 1915{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Nürnberg|1906|2}}

| {{convert|3902|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=104}}

| 1906{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}

| 10 April 1908{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}

| Sunk, Battle of the Falkland Islands, 8 December 1914{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Stuttgart

2}}

| {{convert|4002|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=104}}

| 1905{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}

| 1 February 1908{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}

| Scrapped, 1920{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Stettin

2}}

| {{convert|3822|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=104}}

| 2 shafts, 2 steam turbines, {{convert|24|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=104}}

| 1906{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}

| 29 October 1907{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}

| Scrapped, 1921–1923{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Dresden|1907|2}}

| rowspan="2" | 10 × 10.5 cm SK L/40 guns{{sfn|Gröner|p=105}}

| rowspan="2" | 80 mm{{sfn|Gröner|p=105}}

| rowspan="2" | {{convert|4268|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=105}}

| rowspan="1" | 2 shafts, 2 steam turbines, {{convert|24|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=105}}

| 1906{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}

| 14 November 1908{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}

| Scuttled, Battle of Mas a Tierra, 14 March 1915{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Emden|1908|2}}

| 2 shafts, 2 reciprocating engines, {{convert|23.5|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=105}}

| 1906{{sfn|Forstmeier|p=2}}

| 20 July 1909{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}

| Grounded, Battle of Cocos, 9 November 1914{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Kolberg

2}}

| rowspan="4" | 12 × 10.5 cm SK L/45 guns{{sfn|Gröner|p=106}}

| rowspan="4" | {{convert|40|mm|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=106}}

| {{convert|5418|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=106}}

| rowspan="1" | 4 shafts, 4 steam turbines, {{convert|25.5|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=106}}

| 1908{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=159}}

| 21 June 1910{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=159}}

| Scrapped, 1929{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=201}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Mainz

2}}

| {{convert|4889|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=106}}

| rowspan="1" | 2 shafts, 2 steam turbines, {{convert|26|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=106}}

| 1907{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=159}}

| 1 October 1909{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=159}}

| Sunk, Battle of Heligoland Bight, 28 August 1914{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=159}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Cöln|1909|2}}

| {{convert|4864|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=106}}

| rowspan="2" | 4 shafts, 4 steam turbines, {{convert|25.5|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=106}}

| 1908{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=159}}

| 16 June 1911{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=159}}

| Sunk, Battle of Heligoland Bight, 28 August 1914{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=159}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Augsburg

2}}

| {{convert|4882|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=106}}

| 1908{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=159}}

| 1 October 1910{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=159}}

| Scrapped, 1922{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=159}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Magdeburg

2}}

| rowspan="4" | 12 × 10.5 cm SK L/45 guns{{sfn|Gröner|p=107}}

| rowspan="4" | {{convert|60|mm|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=107}}

| rowspan="4" | {{convert|4570|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=107}}

| rowspan="4" | 4 shafts, 4 steam turbines, {{convert|27.5|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|pp=107–108}}

| 1910{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}

| 20 August 1912{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}

| Grounded, 26 August 1914{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Breslau

2}}

| 1910{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}

| 10 May 1912{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}

| Sunk, Battle of Imbros, 20 January 1918{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Strassburg

2}}

| 1910{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}

| 9 October 1912{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}

| Sunk, 23 September 1944{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=264}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Stralsund

2}}

| 1910{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}

| 10 December 1912{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}

| Scrapped, 1935{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=201}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Karlsruhe

2}}

| rowspan="2" | 12 × 10.5 cm SK L/45 guns{{sfn|Gröner|p=109}}

| rowspan="2" | 60 mm{{sfn|Gröner|p=109}}

| rowspan="2" | {{convert|6191|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=109}}

| rowspan="2" | 2 shafts, 2 steam turbines, {{convert|28|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=109}}

| 21 September 1911{{sfn|Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz Vol. 5|pp=83–85}}

| 15 January 1914{{sfn|Gröner|p=109}}

| Sunk, 4 November 1914{{sfn|Gröner|p=109}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Rostock

2}}

| 1911{{sfn|Gröner|p=109}}

| 5 February 1914{{sfn|Gröner|p=109}}

| Sunk, Battle of Jutland, 1 June 1916{{sfn|Gröner|p=109}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Graudenz

2}}

| rowspan="2" | 12 × 10.5 cm SK L/45 guns{{sfn|Gröner|pp=109–110}}

| rowspan="2" | 60 mm{{sfn|Gröner|p=109}}

| rowspan="2" | {{convert|6382|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|pp=109–110}}

| rowspan="2" | 2 shafts, 2 steam turbines, {{convert|27.5|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|pp=109–110}}

| 1912{{sfn|Gröner|pp=109–110}}

| 10 August 1914{{sfn|Gröner|pp=109–110}}

| Scrapped, 1937{{sfn|Gröner|pp=109–110}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Regensburg

2}}

| 1912{{sfn|Gröner|pp=109–110}}

| 3 January 1915{{sfn|Gröner|pp=109–110}}

| Scuttled, 1944{{sfn|Gröner|pp=109–110}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Pillau

2}}

| rowspan="2" | 8 × 15 cm SK L/45 guns{{sfn|Gröner|pp=110–111}}

| rowspan="2" | 80 mm{{sfn|Gröner|pp=110–111}}

| rowspan="2" | {{convert|5252|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|pp=110–111}}

| rowspan="2" | 2 shafts, 2 steam turbines, 27.5 kn{{sfn|Gröner|pp=110–111}}

| rowspan="2" | 1913{{sfn|Gröner|p=111}}

| 14 December 1914{{sfn|Gröner|p=111}}

| Ceded to Italy, 20 July 1920{{sfn|Gröner|p=111}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Elbing

2}}

| 4 September 1915{{sfn|Gröner|p=111}}

| Scuttled, 1 June 1916{{sfn|Gröner|p=111}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Wiesbaden

2}}

| rowspan="2" | 8 × 15 cm SK L/45 guns{{sfn|Gröner|p=111}}

| rowspan="2" | 60 mm{{sfn|Gröner|p=111}}

| rowspan="2" | {{convert|6601|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=111}}

| rowspan="2" | 2 shafts, 2 steam turbines, 27.5 kn{{sfn|Gröner|p=111}}

| rowspan="2" | 1913{{sfn|Gröner|p=111}}

| 23 August 1915{{sfn|Gröner|p=112}}

| Sunk, 1 June 1916{{sfn|Gröner|p=112}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Frankfurt

2}}

| 20 August 1915{{sfn|Gröner|p=112}}

| Sunk as a target, 18 July 1921{{sfn|Gröner|p=112}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Königsberg|1915|2}}

| rowspan="4" | 8 × 15 cm SK L/45 guns{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=162}}

| rowspan="4" | 60 mm{{sfn|Gröner|p=113}}

| rowspan="4" | {{convert|7125|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=113}}

| rowspan="4" | 2 shafts, 2 steam turbines, {{convert|28|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=113}}

| 1914{{sfn|Gröner|p=113}}

| 12 August 1916{{sfn|Gröner|p=113}}

| Scrapped, 1936{{sfn|Gröner|p=113}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Karlsruhe|1916|2}}

| 1915{{sfn|Gröner|p=113}}

| 15 November 1916{{sfn|Gröner|p=113}}

| Scuttled, 21 June 1919{{sfn|Gröner|p=113}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Emden|1916|2}}

| 1914{{sfn|Gröner|p=113}}

| 16 December 1916{{sfn|Gröner|p=113}}

| Scrapped, 1926{{sfn|Gröner|p=113}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Nürnberg|1916|2}}

| 1915{{sfn|Gröner|p=113}}

| 15 February 1917{{sfn|Gröner|p=113}}

| Sunk as a target ship, 1922{{sfn|Gröner|p=113}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Brummer

2}}

| rowspan="2" | 4 × 15 cm SK L/45 guns{{sfn|Novik|pp=185–188}}

| rowspan="2" | {{convert|15|mm|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=112}}

| rowspan="2" | {{convert|5856|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=112}}

| rowspan="2" | 2 shafts, 2 steam turbines, {{convert|28|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=112}}

| rowspan="2" | 1915{{sfn|Gröner|p=113}}

| 2 April 1916{{sfn|Gröner|p=113}}

| Scuttled, 21 June 1919{{sfn|Gröner|p=113}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Bremse

2}}

| 1 July 1916{{sfn|Gröner|p=113}}

| Scuttled, 21 June 1919{{sfn|Gröner|p=113}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Cöln|1916|2}}

| rowspan="10" | 8 × 15 cm SK L/45 guns{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=163}}

| rowspan="10" | {{convert|40|mm|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=114}}

| rowspan="10" | {{convert|7486|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=114}}

| rowspan="10" | 2 shafts, 2 steam turbines, {{convert|27.5|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=114}}

| 1915{{sfn|Gröner|pp=114–115}}

| 17 January 1918{{sfn|Gröner|pp=114–115}}

| Scuttled, 21 June 1919{{sfn|Gröner|pp=114–115}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{SMS|Dresden|1917|2}}

| 1916{{sfn|Gröner|pp=114–115}}

| 28 March 1918{{sfn|Gröner|pp=114–115}}

| Scuttled, 21 June 1919{{sfn|Gröner|pp=114–115}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{lang|de|Wiesbaden}}

| 1915{{sfn|Gröner|pp=114–115}}

| —

| Scrapped, 1920{{sfn|Gröner|pp=114–115}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{lang|de|Magdeburg}}

| 1916{{sfn|Gröner|pp=114–115}}

| —

| Scrapped, 1922{{sfn|Gröner|pp=114–115}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{lang|de|Leipzig}}

| 1915{{sfn|Gröner|pp=114–115}}

| —

| Scrapped, 1921{{sfn|Gröner|pp=114–115}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{lang|de|Rostock}}

| 1915{{sfn|Gröner|pp=114–115}}

| —

| Scrapped, 1921{{sfn|Gröner|pp=114–115}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{lang|de|Frauenlob}}

| 1915{{sfn|Gröner|pp=114–115}}

| —

| Scrapped, 1921{{sfn|Gröner|pp=114–115}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{lang|de|Ersatz Cöln}}

| 1916{{sfn|Gröner|pp=114–115}}

| —

| Scrapped, 1921{{sfn|Gröner|pp=114–115}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{lang|de|Ersatz Emden}}

| 1916{{sfn|Gröner|pp=114–115}}

| —

| Scrapped, 1921{{sfn|Gröner|pp=114–115}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{lang|de|Ersatz Karlsruhe}}

| 1916{{sfn|Gröner|pp=114–115}}

| —

| Scrapped, 1920{{sfn|Gröner|pp=114–115}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | FK 1

| rowspan="3" | 5 × 15 cm SK L/45 guns{{sfn|Gröner|p=116}}

| rowspan="5" | —

| {{convert|3800|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=116}}

| 2 shafts, 2 steam turbines, {{convert|32|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=116}}

| —

| —

| rowspan="5" | Design study only{{sfn|Gröner|pp=116–117}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | FK 1a

| {{convert|4850|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=116}}

| 2 shafts, 2 steam turbines, {{convert|33|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=116}}

| —

| —

valign="center"

! scope="row" | FK 2

| {{convert|5350|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=117}}

| 2 shafts, 2 steam turbines, 32 kn{{sfn|Gröner|p=117}}

| —

| —

valign="center"

! scope="row" | FK 3

| 7 × 15 cm SK L/45 guns{{sfn|Gröner|p=117}}

| {{convert|6900|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=117}}

| rowspan="2" | 2 shafts, 2 steam turbines, 32 kn{{sfn|Gröner|p=117}}

| —

| —

valign="center"

! scope="row" | FK 4

| 8 × 15 cm SK L/45 guns{{sfn|Gröner|p=117}}

| {{convert|8650|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=117}}

| —

| —

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{lang|de|Emden}}

| 8 × 15 cm SK L/45 guns{{sfn|Gröner|p=118}}

| 40 mm{{sfn|Gröner|p=118}}

| {{convert|6990|LT|MT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=118}}

| 2 shafts, 2 steam turbines, {{convert|29.5|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=118}}

| 8 December 1921{{sfn|Sieche|p=229}}

| 15 October 1925{{sfn|Sieche|p=229}}

| Destroyed, 3 May 1945{{sfn|Williamson Light Cruisers|p=13}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{lang|de|Königsberg}}

| rowspan="3" | 9 × 15 cm SK C/25 guns{{sfn|Sieche|p=230}}

| rowspan="3" | 40 mm{{sfn|Gröner|p=119}}

| rowspan="3" | {{convert|7700|LT|MT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=119}}

| rowspan="3" | 3 shafts, 4 steam turbines, 2 diesel engines, 32 kn{{sfn|Gröner|pp=119–120}}

| 12 April 1926{{sfn|Sieche|p=230}}

| 17 April 1929{{sfn|Sieche|p=230}}

| Sunk, 10 April 1940{{sfn|Sieche|p=230}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{lang|de|Karlsruhe}}

| 27 July 1926{{sfn|Sieche|p=230}}

| 6 November 1929{{sfn|Sieche|p=230}}

| Sunk, 9 April 1940{{sfn|Sieche|p=230}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{lang|de|Köln}}

| 7 August 1926{{sfn|Sieche|p=230}}

| 15 January 1930{{sfn|Sieche|p=230}}

| Sunk, 3 March 1945{{sfn|Sieche|p=230}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{lang|de|Leipzig}}

| rowspan="2" | 9 × 15 cm SK C/25 guns{{sfn|Sieche|p=230}}

| rowspan="2" | {{convert|30|mm|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=119}}

| {{convert|8100|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=119}}

| rowspan="2" | 3 shafts, 2 steam turbines, 4 diesel engines, 32 kn{{sfn|Gröner|pp=119–120}}

| 28 April 1928{{sfn|Sieche|p=231}}

| 8 October 1931{{sfn|Sieche|p=231}}

| Scuttled, July 1946{{sfn|Sieche|p=231}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | {{lang|de|Nürnberg}}

| {{convert|9040|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=119}}

| 1934{{sfn|Sieche|p=231}}

| 2 November 1935{{sfn|Sieche|p=231}}

| Scrapped, c. 1960{{sfn|Sieche|p=231}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | M

| rowspan="6" | 8 × 15 cm SK C/28 guns{{sfn|Sieche|p=232}}

| rowspan="6" | 25 mm{{sfn|Gröner|p=124}}

| rowspan="4" | {{convert|8500|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=124}}

| rowspan="6" | 3 shafts, 2 steam turbines, 4 diesel engines, {{convert|35.5|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|pp=124–125}}

| rowspan="2" | 1938{{sfn|Sieche|p=232}}

| rowspan="6" | —

| rowspan="2" | Scrapped, 1939{{sfn|Gröner|p=125}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | N

valign="center"

! scope="row" | O

| rowspan="4" | —

| rowspan="4" | —

valign="center"

! scope="row" | P

valign="center"

! scope="row" | Q

| rowspan="2" | {{convert|9300|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=124}}

valign="center"

! scope="row" | R

Heavy cruisers

File:Bundesarchiv DVM 10 Bild-23-63-09, Kreuzer "Blücher".jpg|alt=A large gray warship cruising through calm seas; several men are standing on the deck]]

{{main|List of heavy cruisers of Germany}}

In addition to restricting the number of light cruisers Germany could possess, the Treaty of Versailles also limited the capital ship strength of the new {{lang|de|Reichsmarine}} to six old pre-dreadnought battleships and placed restrictions on the size of replacement ships, with the intent of prohibiting ships more powerful than coastal defense ships from being built.{{sfn|Sieche|p=227}} The {{lang|de|Reichsmarine}} responded by designing the {{sclass|Deutschland|cruiser|4}}; these heavy cruisers armed with {{convert|28|cm|abbr=on}} guns were intended to break the naval clauses of Versailles by significantly outgunning the new treaty cruisers being built by Britain and France under the terms of the Washington Naval Treaty, which were limited to {{convert|20.3|cm|abbr=on}} guns. If Britain and France agreed to abrogate the naval clauses of the Versailles treaty, Germany would abandon the new cruisers. France rejected the proposal, and so the three {{lang|de|Deutschland}}s were built,{{sfn|Bidlingmaier|p=2}} and a further two of the D-class were planned, though these were cancelled in favor of a larger derivative, the {{sclass|Scharnhorst|battleship|4}} of fast battleships. When Germany signed the Anglo-German Naval Agreement in 1935, the {{lang|de|Reichsmarine}} was permitted to build five new heavy cruisers—the {{sclass|Admiral Hipper|cruiser|4}}. Plan Z, approved in early 1939, projected a dozen P-class cruisers based on the {{lang|de|Deutschland}} design.{{sfn|Gröner|pp=63–67}}

Owing to the outbreak of World War II, only three of the {{lang|de|Admiral Hipper}}s were completed and the P-class ships were cancelled.{{sfn|Gröner|pp=63–67}} {{ship|German cruiser|Admiral Graf Spee||2}} was scuttled following the Battle of the River Plate in December 1939, and {{ship|German cruiser|Blücher||2}} was sunk during the invasion of Norway. {{ship|German cruiser|Admiral Scheer||2}} and {{Ship|German cruiser|Admiral Hipper||2}} were destroyed by Allied bombers in the last month of the war. In 1942 the {{lang|de|Kriegsmarine}} decided to convert the {{lang|de|Admiral Hipper}}-class cruiser {{ship|German cruiser|Seydlitz||2}} into an aircraft carrier, though the project was not completed.{{sfn|Gröner|pp=62, 67}} {{ship|German cruiser|Deutschland||2}}, renamed {{lang|de|Lützow}}, and {{lang|de|Prinz Eugen}} both survived the war; the former was sunk in Soviet weapons tests in 1947 and the latter sank after enduring two nuclear detonations in Operation Crossroads in 1946.{{sfn|Prager|pp=317–320}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=67}} The two unfinished {{lang|de|Admiral Hipper}}s, {{lang|de|Seydlitz}} and {{ship|German cruiser|Lützow|1939|2}}, were scrapped in the Soviet Union in the late 1950s; the former was a war prize but the latter had been sold to the Soviets before the German invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941.{{sfn|Gröner|p=67}}

{{clear}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align: center;"
valign="top"

! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Ship

! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Armament

! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Armor

! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Displacement

! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Propulsion

! scope="col" colspan="3" | Service

valign="top"

! width="5%" scope="col" | Laid down

! width="5%" scope="col" | Commissioned

! width="20%" scope="col" | Fate

scope="row" | {{ship|German cruiser|Deutschland||2}}/{{ship|German cruiser|Lützow|1940|2}}

| rowspan="3" | 6 × 28 cm SK C/28 guns{{sfn|Gröner|p=60}}

| rowspan="3" | {{convert|80|mm|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=60}}

| {{convert|14290|LT|MT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=60}}

| rowspan="3" | 2 shafts, 8 diesel engines, {{convert|28|kn|lk=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=60}}

| 5 February 1929{{sfn|Sieche|p=227}}

| 19 May 1931{{sfn|Gröner|p=61}}

| style="text-align: left;" | Sunk in Soviet weapons test, July 1947{{sfn|Prager|pp=317–320}}

scope="row" | {{ship|German cruiser|Admiral Scheer||2}}

| {{convert|15180|LT|MT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=60}}

| 25 June 1931{{sfn|Sieche|p=227}}

| 1 April 1933{{sfn|Gröner|p=62}}

| style="text-align: left;" | Sunk on 9 April 1945, broken up for scrap{{sfn|Gröner|p=62}}

scope="row" | {{ship|German cruiser|Admiral Graf Spee||2}}

| {{convert|16020|LT|MT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=60}}

| 1 October 1932{{sfn|Sieche|p=227}}

| 30 June 1934{{sfn|Gröner|p=62}}

| style="text-align: left;" | Scuttled on 17 December 1939{{sfn|Gröner|p=62}}

scope="row" | D

| rowspan="2" | 6 × 28 cm guns{{sfn|Gröner|p=63}}

| rowspan="2" | {{convert|220|mm|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=63}}

| rowspan="2" | {{convert|20000|LT|MT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=63}}{{efn|This figure is as designed; the combat displacement is unknown.{{sfn|Gröner|p=63}}}}

| rowspan="2" | Turbine propulsion,{{efn|The details of the ships' propulsion system are unknown.{{sfn|Gröner|p=63}}}} {{convert|29|kn|lk=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=63}}

| 14 February 1934{{sfn|Gröner|p=63}}

| rowspan="2" | —

| style="text-align: left;" | Work halted on 5 July 1934, broken up{{sfn|Gröner|p=63}}

scope="row" | E

| —

| style="text-align: left;" | Work not begun{{sfn|Gröner|p=63}}

scope="row" | P1–P12

| 6 × 28 cm guns{{sfn|Gröner|p=64}}

| {{convert|120|mm|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=63}}

| {{convert|25689|LT|MT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=64}}

| 12 diesel engines, {{convert|33|kn|lk=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=63}}

| —

| —

| style="text-align: left;" | Canceled on 27 July 1939{{sfn|Gröner|p=64}}

scope="row" | {{ship|German cruiser|Admiral Hipper||2}}

| rowspan="5" | 8 × 20.3 cm SK C/34 guns{{sfn|Gröner|p=66}}

| rowspan="5" | {{convert|80|mm|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=65}}

| {{convert|18200|LT|MT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=60}}

| rowspan="5" | 3 shafts, 3 turbine engines, {{convert|32|kn|lk=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=60}}

| 6 July 1935{{sfn|Williamson Heavy Cruisers|p=12}}

| 29 April 1939{{sfn|Gröner|p=67}}

| style="text-align: left;" | Scuttled 3 May 1945, broken up in 1948{{sfn|Gröner|p=67}}

scope="row" | {{ship|German cruiser|Blücher||2}}

| {{convert|18200|LT|MT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=60}}

| 15 August 1936{{sfn|Williamson Heavy Cruisers|p=22}}

| 20 September 1939{{sfn|Gröner|p=67}}

| style="text-align: left;" | Sunk on 9 April 1940{{sfn|Gröner|p=67}}

scope="row" | {{ship|German cruiser|Prinz Eugen||2}}

| {{convert|18750|LT|MT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=60}}

| 23 April 1936{{sfn|Williamson Heavy Cruisers|p=37}}

| 1 August 1940{{sfn|Gröner|p=67}}

| style="text-align: left;" | Sunk after US atomic tests, 22 December 1946{{sfn|Gröner|p=62}}

scope="row" | {{ship|German cruiser|Seydlitz||2}}

| {{convert|19800|LT|MT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=60}}

| 29 December 1936{{sfn|Williamson Heavy Cruisers|pp=42–43}}

| —

| style="text-align: left;" | Ceded to the Soviet Union, broken up after 1958{{sfn|Gröner|p=67}}

scope="row" | {{ship|German cruiser|Lützow|1939|2}}

| {{convert|19800|LT|MT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=60}}

| 2 August 1937{{sfn|Williamson Heavy Cruisers|pp=42–43}}

| —

| style="text-align: left;" | Sold to the Soviet Union, broken up in 1958–1959 or 1960{{sfn|Gröner|p=67}}

See also

{{portal|Germany}}

Notes

Footnotes

{{notelist}}

Citations

{{reflist|20em}}

References

  • {{cite book

| last = Bidlingmaier

| first = Gerhard

| year = 1971

| chapter = KM Admiral Graf Spee

| pages = 73–96

| title = Warship Profile 4

| publisher = Profile Publications

| location = Windsor

| oclc = 20229321

| ref = {{sfnRef|Bidlingmaier}}

}}

  • {{cite book

| last1 = Campbell

| first1 = N. J. M.

| last2 = Sieche

| first2 = Erwin

| chapter = Germany

| pages = 134–189

| editor1-last = Gardiner

| editor1-first = Robert

| editor2-last = Gray

| editor2-first = Randal

| year = 1986

| title = Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921

| publisher = Conway Maritime Press

| location = London

| isbn = 978-0-85177-245-5

| name-list-style=amp

| ref ={{sfnRef|Campbell & Sieche}}

| url=https://archive.org/details/allworldsfightin00rgre

}}

  • {{cite book

|last=Forstmeier

|first=Friedrich

|editor-last=Preston

|editor-first=Antony

|year=1972

|chapter=SMS Emden, Small Protected Cruiser 1906–1914

|pages=1–24

|title=Warship Profile 25

|publisher=Profile Publications

|location=Windsor

|oclc=33083971

|ref={{sfnRef|Forstmeier}}

}}

  • {{cite book

| editor-last = Gardiner

| editor-first = Robert

| year = 1979

| title = Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905

| publisher = Conway Maritime Press

| location = Greenwich

| isbn = 978-0-8317-0302-8

| ref = {{sfnRef|Gardiner}}

| url-access = registration

| url = https://archive.org/details/conwaysallworlds0000unse_l2e2

}}

  • {{cite book

| last = Gottschall

| first = Terrell D.

| year = 2003

| title = By Order of the Kaiser: Otto von Diedrichs and the Rise of the Imperial German Navy 1865–1902

| publisher = Naval Institute Press

| location = Annapolis

| isbn = 978-1-55750-309-1

| ref = {{sfnRef|Gottschall}}

}}

  • {{cite book

| last = Gröner

| first = Erich

|author-link=Erich Gröner

| year = 1990

| title = German Warships: 1815–1945

| volume = I: Major Surface Vessels

| publisher = Naval Institute Press

| location = Annapolis

| isbn = 978-0-87021-790-6

| ref = {{sfnRef|Gröner}}

}}

  • {{cite book

| last = Halpern

| first = Paul G.

| year = 1995

| title = A Naval History of World War I

| publisher = Naval Institute Press

| location = Annapolis

| isbn = 978-1-55750-352-7

| ref = {{sfnRef|Halpern}}

}}

  • {{cite book

|last=Herwig

|first=Holger

|title="Luxury" Fleet: The Imperial German Navy 1888–1918

|year=1980

|location=Amherst

|publisher=Humanity Books

|isbn=1-57392-286-2

|ref={{sfnRef|Herwig}}

}}

  • {{cite book

|last1=Hildebrand

|first1=Hans H.

|last2=Röhr

|first2=Albert

|last3=Steinmetz

|first3=Hans-Otto

| title = Die Deutschen Kriegsschiffe: Biographien – ein Spiegel der Marinegeschichte von 1815 bis zur Gegenwart

| trans-title=The German Warships: Biographies − A Reflection of Naval History from 1815 to the Present

| volume = 2

|year=1993

|location=Ratingen

|publisher=Mundus Verlag

|isbn = 978-3-8364-9743-5

|name-list-style=amp

|ref={{sfnRef|Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz Vol. 2}}

}}

  • {{cite book

|last1=Hildebrand

|first1=Hans H.

|last2=Röhr

|first2=Albert

|last3=Steinmetz

|first3=Hans-Otto

| title = Die Deutschen Kriegsschiffe: Biographien – ein Spiegel der Marinegeschichte von 1815 bis zur Gegenwart

| trans-title=The German Warships: Biographies − A Reflection of Naval History from 1815 to the Present

| volume = 3

|year=1993

|location=Ratingen

|publisher=Mundus Verlag

|isbn = 3-7822-0211-2

|name-list-style=amp

|ref={{sfnRef|Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz Vol. 3}}

}}

  • {{Cite book

|last1=Hildebrand

|first1=Hans H.

|last2=Röhr

|first2=Albert

|last3=Steinmetz

|first3=Hans-Otto

| title = Die Deutschen Kriegsschiffe: Biographien – ein Spiegel der Marinegeschichte von 1815 bis zur Gegenwart

| trans-title=The German Warships: Biographies − A Reflection of Naval History from 1815 to the Present

| volume = 5

|year=1993

|location=Ratingen

|publisher=Mundus Verlag

|asin=B003VHSRKE |asin-tld=de

|name-list-style=amp

|ref={{sfnRef|Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz Vol. 5}}

}}

  • {{cite book

|last1 = Hildebrand

| first1 = Hans H.

| last2 = Röhr

| first2 = Albert

| last3 = Steinmetz

| first3 = Hans-Otto

| year = 1993

| title = Die Deutschen Kriegsschiffe: Biographien – ein Spiegel der Marinegeschichte von 1815 bis zur Gegenwart

| trans-title=The German Warships: Biographies − A Reflection of Naval History from 1815 to the Present

| volume = 7

| publisher = Mundus Verlag

| location = Ratingen

|asin=B003VHSRKE |asin-tld=de

|name-list-style=amp

| ref = {{sfnRef|Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz Vol. 7}}

}}

  • {{cite book

| last = Mitchell

| first = Nancy

| title = The Danger of Dreams: German and American Imperialism in Latin America

| year = 1999

| publisher = University of North Carolina Press

| location = Chapel Hill

| isbn = 978-0-8078-4775-6

| ref = {{sfnRef|Mitchell}}

| url-access = registration

| url = https://archive.org/details/dangerofdreamsge0000mitc

}}

  • {{Cite journal

|last=Novik

|first=Anton

|year=1969

|title=The Story of the Cruisers Brummer and Bremse

|journal=Warship International

|volume=3

|pages=185–189

|publisher=International Naval Research Organization

|location=Toledo

|oclc=1647131

|ref={{sfnRef|Novik}}

}}

  • {{cite book

| last = Perry

| first = Michael

| year = 2001

| title = Peking 1900: The Boxer Rebellion

| publisher = Osprey Publishing

| location = Oxford

| isbn = 978-1-84176-181-7

| ref = {{sfnRef|Perry}}

}}

  • {{cite book

| last = Prager

| first = Hans Georg

| year = 2002

| language = de

| title = Panzerschiff Deutschland, Schwerer Kreuzer Lützow: ein Schiffs-Schicksal vor den Hintergründen seiner Zeit

| publisher = Koehler

| location = Hamburg

| isbn = 978-3-7822-0798-0

| ref = {{sfnRef|Prager}}

}}

  • {{cite book

| last = Sieche

| first = Erwin

| chapter = Germany

| pages = 218–254

| editor-last1 = Gardiner

| editor-first1 = Robert

| editor-last2 = Chesneau

| editor-first2 = Roger

| year = 1992

| title = Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946

| publisher = Conway Maritime Press

| location = London

| isbn = 978-0-85177-146-5

| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=bJBMBvyQ83EC

| ref = {{sfnRef|Sieche}}

}}

  • {{cite book

| last = Sondhaus

| first = Lawrence

| title = Preparing for Weltpolitik: German Sea Power Before the Tirpitz Era

| year = 1997

| publisher = Naval Institute Press

| location = Annapolis

| isbn = 978-1-55750-745-7

| ref = {{sfnRef|Sondhaus}}

}}

  • {{cite book

| last = Staff

| first = Gary

| year = 2006

| title = German Battlecruisers: 1914–1918

| publisher = Osprey Books

| location = Oxford

| isbn = 978-1-84603-009-3

| ref = {{sfnRef|Staff}}

}}

  • {{cite book

| last = Tarrant

| first = V. E.

| year = 2001

| orig-year = 1995

| title = Jutland: The German Perspective

| publisher = Cassell Military Paperbacks

| location = London

| isbn = 978-0-304-35848-9

| ref = {{sfnRef|Tarrant}}

}}

  • {{cite book

| last = Williamson

| first = Gordon

| author-link = Gordon Williamson (writer)

| year = 2003

| title = German Heavy Cruisers 1939–1945

| publisher = Osprey Publishing

| location = Oxford

| isbn = 978-1-84176-502-0

| ref = {{sfnRef|Williamson Heavy Cruisers}}

}}

  • {{Cite book

|last=Williamson

|first=Gordon

|title=German Light Cruisers 1939–1945

|year=2003

|publisher=Osprey Publishing

|isbn=1-84176-503-1

|location=Oxford

|ref={{sfnRef|Williamson Light Cruisers}}

}}

{{German cruisers}}

{{Cruisers}}

Germany

Cruiser

Cruisers