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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 --

Scharnhorst (Battleship, 1939-1943) --
In Icy Seas and Ports, 1939-40

The winter of 1939-40 was particularly cold in northern Germany, with much ice forming in harbors and especially in the western Baltic Sea. When Scharnhorst was sent to Kiel in January, ice conditions were so severe that the ship was unable to complete a scheduled Baltic training and gunnery practice session. The views of these conditions, seen on this page and those linked from it, were taken from a photographic album kept by a member of Scharnhorst's crew.

This page features or provides links to views we have of the German battleship Scharnhorst in the ice, during the winter of 1939-40.

For more images of icy conditions on and around Scharnhorst in the winter of 1939-40, see:

  • Scharnhorst -- In Icy Seas and Ports, 1939-40 (Part II).

    For further pictorial coverage of Scharnhorst, see:

  • Scharnhorst (Battleship, 1939-1943).


    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 101560

    Scharnhorst
    (German Battleship, 1939)

    In the ice in Kiel harbor, Germany, during the winter of 1939-40, probably in late January 1940 when the ship was working up after refit.

    Copied from the contemporary German photo album "Meine Kriegserinnerungen auf Schlachtschiff Scharnhorst", page 6.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 85KB; 740 x 520 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 102529

    Scharnhorst
    (German Battleship, 1939)

    View from the forward superstructure, looking toward the bow, as the ship throws spray while underway during the winter of 1939-40.
    Note ice accumulated on her triple 283mm (11") gun turrets.

    Copied from the contemporary German photo album "Meine Kriegserinnerungen auf Schlachtschiff Scharnhorst", page 16.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 69KB; 740 x 535 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 102526

    Scharnhorst
    (German Battleship, 1939)

    View of the ship's forward 283mm (11") triple gun turrets, showing ice accumuluated overnight during operations in the winter of 1939-40.
    Probably taken in the Baltic Sea in January 1940.

    Copied from the contemporary German photo album "Meine Kriegserinnerungen auf Schlachtschiff Scharnhorst", page 8.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 78KB; 740 x 525 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 101561

    Scharnhorst
    (German Battleship, 1939)

    View of the ship's icy foredeck, 11-inch gun turrets and superstructure, taken during the winter of 1939-40, probably in the Baltic Sea in January 1940.

    Copied from the contemporary German photo album "Meine Kriegserinnerungen auf Schlachtschiff Scharnhorst", page 6.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 98KB; 515 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 101563

    Scharnhorst
    (German Battleship, 1939)

    Closeup view of the starboard main bow anchor, ice-covered during the winter of 1939-40, probably in January 1940 in the Baltic Sea. Ice also coats the ship's foredeck, lifelines and 11-inch gun turrets.

    Copied from the contemporary German photo album "Meine Kriegserinnerungen auf Schlachtschiff Scharnhorst", page 7.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 83KB; 740 x 535 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 101569

    Scharnhorst
    (German Battleship, 1939)

    Ice on the the ship's foredeck, during the winter of 1939-40, probably in the Baltic Sea in January 1940. The view looks aft, toward the forward 11-inch gun turrets and superstructure.

    Copied from the contemporary German photo album "Meine Kriegserinnerungen auf Schlachtschiff Scharnhorst", page 9.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 83KB; 530 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 101570

    Scharnhorst
    (German Battleship, 1939)

    Ice on the the ship's main deck, during the winter of 1939-40, probably in the Baltic Sea in January 1940. The view looks forward up the port side from amidships, with the rear of the port forward 15cm gun turret in the right foreground.

    Copied from the contemporary German photo album "Meine Kriegserinnerungen auf Schlachtschiff Scharnhorst", page 9.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 78KB; 740 x 525 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 102543

    Wilhelmshaven, Germany


    View looking northeast from within the Hipperhafen, with the Seydlitz pier at right, the Gazelle pier at left and the Kaiser Wilhelm bridge in the distance, circa winter 1939-40.
    Photographed from the battleship Scharnhorst. Her sister ship, Gneisenau, is ahead with a large floating crane alongside.

    Copied from the contemporary German photo album "Meine Kriegserinnerungen auf Schlachtschiff Scharnhorst", page 21.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 71KB; 740 x 525 pixels

     

    For more images of icy conditions on and around Scharnhorst in the winter of 1939-40, see:

  • Scharnhorst -- In Icy Seas and Ports, 1939-40 (Part II).

    In addition to views presented on this and the subsequent page, there are a several photographs of icy conditions taken from Scharnhorst or by members of her crew that do not show her structure to any significant degree. These include:

  • Photo # NH 102540: Battleship Schlesien in the ice near Kiel;
  • Photo # NH 101568: Target ship Hessen in the western Baltic ice;
  • Photo # NH 102541: Two Wolf class torpedo boats in the western Baltic ice;
  • Photo # NH 102538: Type II submarine in the ice;
  • Photo # NH 102542: Type II submarine following another ship through the ice;
  • Photo # NH 101562: Two Scharnhorst crewmen on the ice in Kiel harbor;
  • Photo # NH 102547: German destroyers in icy Wilhelmshaven harbor; and
  • Photo # NH 102548: German destroyers in icy Wilhelmshaven harbor;.

    For further pictorial coverage of Scharnhorst, see:

  • Scharnhorst (Battleship, 1939-1943).


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


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    Page made 14 March 2001