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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- SHIPS of the GERMAN NAVY --

Bismarck (Battleship, 1940-1941)

Bismarck, a 41,673-ton battleship, was built at Hamburg, Germany. First of a class of two heavy ships, with Tirpitz being the second, she was commissioned in August 1940 and spent the rest of that year running trials and continuing her outfitting. The first months of 1941 were largely devoted to training operations in the Baltic sea. Bismarck left the Baltic on 19 May 1941, en route to the Atlantic, accompanied by the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen. On the morning of 24 May, while west of Iceland, the German vessels encountered the British battlecruiser Hood and battleship Prince of Wales. In the ensuing Battle of the Denmark Strait, Hood blew up and sank. The seriously damaged Prince of Wales was forced to break off contact. Bismarck also received shell hits that degraded her seakeeping and contaminated some of her fuel.

Later on 24 May, Prinz Eugen was detached, while Bismarck began a voyage toward France, where she could be repaired. She was intermittantly attacked by carrier planes and surface ships, ultimately sustaining a torpedo hit in the stern that rendered her unable to steer effectively. British battleships and heavy cruisers intercepted the crippled ship on the morning of 27 May. After less than two hours of battle, shells and torpedoes had reduced Bismarck to a wreck. She capsized and sank, with the loss of all but 110 of her crew of some 2300 men.

Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler's reaction to Bismarck's loss produced a very cautious approach to future German surface ship operations against Britain's vital Atlantic sea lanes. In June 1989, just over forty-eight years after she sank, the German battleship's battered hulk was located and photographed where she lies upright on a mountainside, nearly 16,000 feet below the ocean surface.

This page features or provides links to all our views of the German battleship Bismarck.

For additional images of, or related to Bismarck, see:

  • Bismarck -- Construction; and
  • Bismarck's Atlantic Sortie, May 1941.

    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: NH 59671

    Bismarck
    (German Battleship, 1940-41)

    Photographed circa August 1940, when first completed. Rangefinders atop her tower and conning tower have not yet been installed.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 90KB; 740 x 485 pixels

     
    Photo #: 80-G-15722

    Bismarck
    (German Battleship, 1940-41)

    Halftone reproduction of a photograph taken circa August 1940, when the ship was first completed. Rangefinders atop her tower and conning tower have not yet been installed.
    The original was printed in a German publication.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 43KB; 740 x 285 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: NH 85749

    Bismarck
    (German Battleship, 1940-41)

    In harbor, circa August 1940, prior to installation of the rangefinders atop her tower and conning tower.
    This fine-pattern halftone was printed in a Spanish publication, circa 1941. It was provided by the U.S. Naval Attache, Madrid, whose stamp appears at left.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 99KB; 590 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 59672

    Bismarck
    (German Battleship, 1940-41)

    Photographed from astern, 1940-41, showing stern anchor in its recessed well, folding propeller guards, armor belt and other details of hull and superstructure.
    The original, a fine-pattern halftone, is sepia in color.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 129KB; 690 x 630 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 69734

    German battleship Bismarck


    Seen from the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen as the two ships practiced towing and refueling by trailing hose, circa April-May 1941.

    Copied from the report of officers of Prinz Eugen, with identification by her Gunnery Officer, Paul S. Schmalenbach, 1970.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 69KB; 740 x 445 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 69721

    German battleship Bismarck


    At sea en route to Norway, circa 19-20 May 1941, prior to her Atlantic sortie. Photographed from the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen.

    Copied from the report of officers of Prinz Eugen, with identification by her Gunnery Officer, Paul S. Schmalenbach, 1970.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 73KB; 740 x 430 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 69732

    German battleship Bismarck


    Photographed from the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen on 24 May 1941, following the Battle of the Denmark Strait and before the two German ships separated.
    Bismarck is somewhat down by the bow, the result of hits received in her engagement with HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Hood earlier in the day.
    This is the next to last photograph of Bismarck taken by the Germans.

    Copied from the report of officers of Prinz Eugen, with identification by her Gunnery Officer, Paul S. Schmalenbach, 1970.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 83KB; 740 x 470 pixels

     

    For additional images of, or related to Bismarck, see:

  • Bismarck -- Construction; and
  • Bismarck's Atlantic Sortie, May 1941.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    Page made 16 December 2000
    Link added 20 December 2000