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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
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Photo # NH 98268:  German light cruiser Königsberg moored in a German harbor, circa 1936

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

Königsberg (Light Cruiser, 1929-1940)

Königsberg, first of a class of three 6000-ton light cruisers, was built at Wilhelmshaven, Germany. She was commissioned in mid-April 1929 and was primarily engaged in training duties during the following decade. She spent the first several months of World War II being refitted to upgrade her combat systems and partially correct structural weaknesses that limited the usefulness of ships of her class.

Thus, Königsberg's first real combat operation was the invasion of Norway in April 1940. Her mission in this risky undertaking was the occupation of the west coast port city of Bergen. In company with her sister, Köln, and several other warships, Königsberg was loaded with German Army troops and secretly left Germany for the long and potentially dangerous run up to the target area. The strike force approached Bergen during the early morning of 9 April, offloaded some of their troops to smaller craft and engaged the defending Norwegian shore batteries. Königsberg received serious damage in this engagement, which restricted her speed and prevented her from leaving the area with her companions. She was also the target of a British air raid on the 9th, but was not hit. On the following day, 10 April 1940, the cruiser was tied up to a Bergen quay when several British "Skua" dive bombers delivered a deadly attack, making five hits and one close near miss that set her afire, holed her hull and killed many crewmen. It soon became clear that she could not be saved. After her crew abandoned ship, Königsberg capsized to port and sank. Her hull was refloated in July 1942 and later turned upright. However, the hulk sank again in 1944 and, following the end of World War II, was broken up.

This page features, and provides links to, all the views we have related to the German light cruiser Königsberg (1929-1940).

For other images concerning this ship, see:

  • Königsberg (German Light Cruiser, 1929-1940) -- On Board and Close Up views.


    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 80980

    Königsberg
    (German Light Cruiser, 1929-1940)

    Firing salutes in 1934. She is flying the British Royal Navy's White Ensign at her forepeak.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 155KB; 740 x 545 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 80999

    Königsberg
    (German Light Cruiser, 1929-1940)

    Halftone reproduction of a photograph showing her firing salutes in 1934, while flying the British Royal Navy's White Ensign at her forepeak.
    The German light cruiser Leipzig is in the center background, and a British "C" class light cruiser is in the upper right.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 164KB; 740 x 550 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 81758

    Königsberg
    (German Light Cruiser, 1929-1940)

    Halftone reproduction of a photograph taken while the ship was transiting the Kiel Canal, about 1935.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 133KB; 740 x 530 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 80968

    Königsberg
    (German Light Cruiser, 1929-1940)

    Visiting Gdynia, Poland, circa 1935.
    Note her forward 15cm triple gun turret, rangefinders, jack and heraldic shield.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 101KB; 485 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 80970

    Königsberg
    (German Light Cruiser, 1929-1940)

    Visiting Gdynia, Poland, circa 1935.
    Note the offset arrangement of her after 15cm triple gun turrets.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 111KB; 740 x 480 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 80967

    Königsberg
    (German Light Cruiser, 1929-1940)

    Visiting Gdynia, Poland, circa 1935.
    Note the National Socialist eagle decoration on her stern and the German Navy ensign flying from her flagstaff.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 77KB; 740 x 500 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 80969

    Königsberg
    (German Light Cruiser, 1929-1940)

    Visiting Gdynia, Poland, circa 1935.
    Note the National Socialist eagle decoration on her stern and the German Navy ensign flying from her flagstaff.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 80KB; 740 x 440 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 80966

    Königsberg
    (German Light Cruiser, 1929-1940)

    Off Gdynia, Poland, circa November 1935.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 67KB; 740 x 495 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 81759

    Königsberg
    (German Light Cruiser, 1929-1940)

    Moored in a German harbor, circa 1936.
    Note the ship's crest on her bow, and what appear to be old torpedo boats tied up in the right distance.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 99KB; 740 x 530 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 83008

    Königsberg
    (German Light Cruiser, 1929-1940)

    In European Waters, circa 1936.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 96KB; 740 x 505 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 80979

    Königsberg
    (German Light Cruiser, 1929-1940)

    Vertical aerial photograph, probably taken while the ship was under attack by British aircraft at Bergen, Norway, on 9 April 1940.
    Note the prominent swastika identification markings on her deck, fore and aft.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 42KB; 740 x 265 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 61839

    "Conquest of Bergen by German Light Cruisers"


    Artwork by Adolf Bock, 1941, published in a book on the German Navy published by Erich Klinghammer, Berlin, during World War II.
    It depicts the light cruisers Köln and Königsberg landing troops at Bergen, Norway, on 9 April 1940.

    Courtesy of Mr. Jacoby.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 142KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     

    For other images concerning this ship, see:

  • Königsberg (German Light Cruiser, 1929-1940) -- On Board and Close Up views.


    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 28 February 2003