Kriegsmarine KM Ribbons and the Ships

[Gordon Williamson]

Here's a look at some of the named ship ribbons (no shore establishments ) for the Kriegsmarine's warships. Starting with the older vessels ( and ignoring Bismark/Tirptz which never had ribbons).

The venerable old Schleswig-Holstein. Might not look much, but she fired the opening shots of World War Two with the attack on the Polish fortress of Westerplatte.

Her classification used the old term "Ship of the Line", or Linienschiff.

[Gordon Williamson]

Her sister, the Schlesien, had a fairly quiet life during the war, but was brought back into service in 1945 for shore bombardment and rescue of refugees/wounded from the Baltic regions.

[Gordon Williamson]

Next, the "Pocket Battleships", more correctly termed "Armoured Ships" or Panzerschiffe. They were subsequently reclassified as Heavy Cruisers (Schwere Kreuzer)

First the Deutschland, instantly recognisable by her unique superstructure. Later renamed "Lutzow" for fear of the propaganda value to the allies if a ship bearing the name of the nation was sunk.

[Gordon Williamson]

The most famous of the sisters, Admiral Graf Spee

[Gordon Williamson]

The third of the Panzerschiffe, Admiral Scheer. As built she was a virtual clone of Graf Spee, but later had her pagoda style bridge tower removed and her forward superstructure redesigned.

[Gordon Williamson]

The Battleships or "Schlachtschiffe". Strictly speaking by UK/US standards these would be classed as Battlecruisers, lacking the heavy hitting power of the 15" or larger guns carried by most true Battleships.

Scharnhorst, as built, with straight stem, no funnel cap and aircraft catapult on aft turret.

[Gordon Williamson]

Another, more dramatic, view of Scharnhorst, inspiration for the High Seas Fleet War Badge.

[Gordon Williamson]

And one of her after her refit with the "Atlantic" clipper bow and removal of the aircraft catapult from the aft turret. Still with no funnel cap.

As built Scharnhorst and Gneisenau were virtual clones. Easy way to tell them apart in later photos is that Scharnhorst's mainmast was moved from abaft the funnel to the after superstructure, whilst Gneisenau's remained on the funnel.

[Gordon Williamson]

Gneisenau as built. For some reason Gneisenau ribbons are much harder to find than Scharnhorst

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Super shot of Gneisenau at speed

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And after refit, with clipper bow, funnel cap etc, but note mast still attached to funnel.

[Gordon Williamson]

The Heavy Cruisers. First Admiral Hipper, as built, with straight stem, open bridge and no funnel cap.

[Chris Boonzaier]

Some nice photos... and some scarce tallies...

Are all of them in your collection?

[Laurence Strong]

Nice to be able to put a picture to the talley. Thanks Gordon

[Scott]

Outstanding photos Gordon! I've been trying to find a nice postcard photo of the Kreuzer Karlsruhe...

[Chris Boonzaier]

Have you tried German Ebay?

[Gordon Williamson]

Some nice photos... and some scarce tallies...

Are all of them in your collection?

The photos came from a Kriegsmarine sailors album but were the type available commercially at the time. I've seen several of the same type in different albums. They are all around 10 inches long and about 4 inches wide a standard format for these.

I had the ribbons for virtually all the named ships, but they've all gone apart from a small handful. Now I only go for the U-Boat ones.

I stopped this half way through as I had to try and hunt down the photos of my Blucher and Prinz Eugen ribbons which I still haven't found.

I'll just put the ships photos in for now and add the ribbons for these two later, then I can get on and add the light cruisers.

[Gordon Williamson]

Prinz Eugen

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Blücher

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The Light Cruisers. The oldest of these was Emden.

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The "K" Class

Karlsruhe

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Königsberg

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Köln

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Leipzig

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Nurnberg