Upon the creation of the German Empire in 1871, the various states incorporated into the empire brought their histories, cultures, armies, industries, and, crucially, their navies. The newly formed empire, under Prussian leadership, needed to protect its trade and lengthy coastline. Although Prussia had never been known as a seafaring nation, it rapidly developed its naval capabilities, producing powerful battleships, battlecruisers, and other smaller vessels by the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Like other naval powers, Germany experimented with unique and unusual ship designs, some of which were more practical than others. In today's video, we explore some of the odd ships of the various German navies.
The early Kaiserliche Marine of the 1870s and 1880s initially focused on coastal defense against larger navies, leading to the creation of monitors. However, after further deliberation, the Germans concluded that small gunboats with shallow draughts could better meet their needs. This resulted in the construction of the Wespe class armored gunboats. These vessels were designed to operate in the shallow waters of German estuaries and featured a flat bottom, allowing them to remain steady on the seabed during low tide, effectively becoming small fortifications. Despite their innovative design, the Wespe class had several issues, including poor maneuverability, sluggish speed, and limited range, making them unpopular among their crews and leading to their limited use.
Our next unique ship is SMS Hessen, which started as a pre-dreadnought battleship. Commissioned in 1905, Hessen became obsolete with the advent of HMS Dreadnought in 1906. Despite this, Hessen participated in World War I, including the Battle of Jutland. After the war, Hessen was retained by the Reichsmarine and rearmed. In the mid-1930s, she was converted into a radio-controlled target ship, stripped down to the bare hull and equipped with modern machinery and reinforced armor to withstand the 38cm guns of the Bismarck-class vessels. Hessen served in this role throughout World War II and was one of the few intact German warships after the war. She was ceded to the Soviet Union and continued to serve until 1960, almost 60 years after her keel was laid.
Following the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, the Reichsmarine was restricted in the types and numbers of ships it could maintain. However, the treaty's ambiguity allowed German planners to design the innovative Panzerschiffe or "pocket battleships." These hybrid warships had a cruiser's displacement but were armed with small battleship-caliber guns. The Deutschland-class ships, including Deutschland, Admiral Scheer, and Admiral Graf Spee, were the result. Armed with 28cm guns and featuring a modernized secondary armament, these ships were the first heavy units in the world to be equipped with diesel engines, granting them exceptional range and operational flexibility.
Join us as we dive into the fascinating history of these unique German naval vessels, exploring their designs, roles, and the challenges they faced. From the Wespe class gunboats to the versatile SMS Hessen and the innovative Deutschland-class pocket battleships, we'll uncover the stories behind some of the most interesting and unusual ships in German naval history.
Intro 0:00
Wespe Class 0:56
SMS Hessen 7:01
Panzerschiff 11:59
Conclusion 20:54
Sources/Other Reading:
https://www.amazon.com/Pocket-Battles...
https://www.amazon.com/Big-Guns-Atlan...
https://www.amazon.com/Northern-Theat...
https://www.amazon.com/Kaisers-Battle...
https://www.amazon.com/Ironclads-Drea...
https://www.amazon.de/Die-Panzerschif...
https://www.amazon.com/German-Battlec...
Video Information:
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