Death in Port: The Last Stand of the Kriegsmarine

As World War II neared its end in Europe, the German military faced dire straits, especially the Kriegsmarine’s surface fleet. With most of their larger ships already sunk, the remaining vessels found themselves in varying states of operational readiness. This video delves into the final days and fates of three notable ships: the battleship Gneisenau, the heavy cruiser Lutzow, and the light cruiser Koln.

Gneisenau: From Operation Cerberus to Scuttling

Gneisenau’s story picks up in early 1942 during Operation Cerberus, also known as the Channel Dash. Alongside Scharnhorst and Prinz Eugen, Gneisenau successfully evaded British forces but sustained damage from mines. Despite reaching Kiel for repairs, she was later severely damaged in an RAF bombing raid while in drydock. Plans to rebuild her with 15-inch guns were shelved due to Hitler’s order to halt all major naval repairs after the Battle of the Barents Sea. Disarmed and used for spare parts, Gneisenau was ultimately scuttled in March 1945 at the harbor entrance of Gotenhafen (now Gdynia) as Soviet forces advanced. Her remains were salvaged and scrapped by 1951.

Lützow: From Norway to Final Scuttling

Initially known as Deutschland, Lutzow spent early 1943 in northern Norway, facing mechanical issues that kept her out of action. After participating in fleet exercises and shore bombardments in the Baltic, she supported German forces retreating from Soviet advances. Despite sustaining damage from a British bombing raid in April 1945, she continued her bombardment duties until running out of ammunition. In early May 1945, Lutzow was scuttled to prevent capture. Her exact fate post-war is uncertain, with reports suggesting she was either used in Soviet weapons tests or scrapped.

Köln: From Decommissioning to Final Engagements

The light cruiser Koln, structurally weak like her sister ships of the Konigsberg class, saw limited action. Decommissioned in early 1943, she was reactivated in 1944 to support retreating Wehrmacht forces. Koln faced numerous technical issues, including outdated wiring that led to frequent electrical malfunctions. Despite these problems, she participated in mine-laying operations and shore bombardments against Soviet forces. Her final engagements occurred as the war neared its end, and she was eventually scuttled in 1945 to prevent capture by advancing Allied forces.

Intro 0:00
Gneisenau 0:42
Lützow 8:43
Köln 12:38

Sources/Other Reading:

Visiting Austrått fort: https://www.orland.no/en/austratt-fort/

https://www.amazon.com/Pocket-Battles...

https://www.amazon.com/Big-Guns-Atlan...

https://hmsjervisbay.com/Story.Illust...

https://www.amazon.com/Northern-Theat...

https://hmsjervisbay.com/Story.HX84.php

https://www.amazon.com/German-Light-C...

https://www.amazon.com/Heavy-Cruisers...

https://www.amazon.com/Scharnhorst-Gn...

Video Information:
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