German Battleship Bismarck Photo Album

Battle of the Denmark Strait, Bismarck returns fire, 24 May 1941.

 

Bismarck at the Battle of the Denmark Strait.

 

Bismarck in Kiel. The battleship Bismarck made fast to Buoy A 12 in Kiel in late September 1940. This is one of the few color photos of the Bismarck.

 

The Bismarck under construction on slipway 9 at the Blohm & Voss Shipyard in Hamburg.

 

February 14, 1939: Launch of the Bismarck at Blohm & Voss Hamburg, Germany.

 

Launch of the Bismarck.

 

Launch of the Bismarck.

 

Launch of the Bismarck.

 

The German battleship Bismarck, at the ship's launching ceremony prior, Germany, February 14, 1939.

 

Launch of the Bismarck.

 

The Launching of the Bismarck at the Blohm & Voss Shipyard in Hamburg on 14 February 1939.

 

February 14, 1939: Launch of the Bismarck at Blohm & Voss Hamburg, Germany.

 

The launch of the Bismarck.

 

The Launching of the Bismarck. The battleship Bismarck enters her new element following the christening of the hull. Note the straight stem which was later replaced by the Atlantic bow. Tugs will now guide the massive hull to the equipment pier. 14 February 1939.

 

Launch of the German battleship Bismarck in Hamburg (Blohm & Voss shipyard), February 14, 1939.

 

Launch of the German battleship Bismarck in Hamburg (Blohm & Voss shipyard), February 14, 1939.

 

Bismarck fitting out at Blohm & Voss September 1939.

 

Bismarck fitting out at Blohm & Voss September 1939.

 

Bismarck fitting out at Blohm & Voss September 1939.

 

One of Bismarck's 5.9"/55 (150mm) gun turrets.

 

Bismarck fitting out at Blohm & Voss.

 

Bismarck's forward 15"/52 (380mm) turrets.

 

The Bismarck moored to the pier in Hamburg during the summer of 1940.

 

Bismarck at Blohm & Voss shipyard.

 

Bismarck fitting out in late Dec. 1939 or early Jan. 1940 at Blohm & Voss.

 

August 1940: Bismarck at Blohm & Voss.

 

Bismarck Leaving the Shipyard. The battleship Bismarck leaving the Blohm & Voss shipyard in Hamburg on 15 September 1940.

 

Bismarck leaving Hamburg on 15 September 1940.

 

The Bismarck in the Elbe River on 9 December 1940. Note the opened wings of the bridge.

 

The Bismarck in the Elbe River on 9 December 1940. The battleship is still missing the forward 7-meter rangefinder which was not installed on board until March 1941.

 

Bismarck in the roadstead of Kiel, September 1940.

 

Bismarck in the Baltic Sea on her way to Gotenhafen. September 1940.

 

Bismarck off Blankenese, with the tugboats Seefalke and Seebär at its stern, 1940. (Bundesarchiv Bild 193-04-1-26)

 

Bismarck, date and location unknown.

 

Bismarck, date and location unknown.

 

Commissioning of the Bismarck, Hamburg, August 24, 1940. (Bundesarchiv Bild 101II-MN-1361-16A)

 

Bismarck departing Hamburg for her sea trials in the Baltic.

 

Bismarck Underway. The battleship Bismarck en route to Brunsbüttel roads on 15 September 1940.

 

Bismarck in Kiel. The battleship Bismarck made fast to Buoy A 12 in Kiel in late September 1940. This photo offers a good view of the enormous 36-meter beam. The Bismarck was the widest battleship in the world. Only the Japanese battleships of the Yamato Class (then still under construction) would have a wider beam of 37 m.

 

Bismarck on sea trials in the Baltic Sea late 1940.

 

Adolf Hitler with Captain Lindemann behind him Admiral Gunther Lutjens and General Wilhelm Keitel aboard battleship Bismarck May 5, 1941 one hour before his last departure at the time of the Battle of the Atlantic.

 

Adolf Hitler inspecting the Bismarck at Gotenhafen (Gdynia) Poland, 5 May 1940.

 

Adolf Hitler inspecting the Bismarck at Gotenhafen (Gdynia) Poland, 5 May 1940.

 

Adolf Hitler inspecting the Bismarck at Gotenhafen (Gdynia) Poland, 5 May 1940.

 

Adolf Hitler inspecting Bismarck's crew on 5 May 1941. To his right is Captain Lindemann, and behind Admiral Lütjens and Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel can be indentified.

 

Adolf Hitler inspecting the Bismarck. The ship's company in formation by divisions on 5 May 1941, the day Hitler visited the Bismarck. The Führer arrived in the yacht Hela, stayed aboard Bismarck for four hours and had lunch at the Officer's wardroom.

 

Adolf Hitler inspecting the Bismarck on 5 May 1941. Several men can be identified (from left to right): 1 Fregattenkapitän Karl Jesko von Puttkamer, 2 unknown, 3 Kapitän zur See Harald Netzbandt, 4 Admiral Günther Lütjens, 5 unknown, 6 Adolf Hitler, 7 Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel, 8 Kapitän zur See Ernst Lindemann, 9 unknown, 10 unknown, 11 unknown, 12 unknown.

 

Adolf Hitler preparing to leave the Bismarck at Gotenhafen (Gdynia) Poland, 5 May 1940.

 

Signals to Bismarck. A crewman from Prinz Eugen signals to Bismarck. This photo was taken some time in May 1941 prior to Rheinübung.

 

The Bismarck conducting sea trials in the Baltic as seen from the afterdeck of the cruiser Prinz Eugen in April 1941. Note the angled black and white stripes over Bismarck's hull as well as the battle flag hoisted on the mainmast.

 

Bismarck.

 

The Bismarck refueling the cruiser Prinz Eugen during a training exercise in the Baltic Sea. Unlike other navies that executed this maneuver side by side, the Kriegsmarine did so placing both ships in line. This photo was taken in the afternoon of 13 May 1941 north of Hela.

 

Bismarck, date and location not known.

 

Bismarck in Norwegian waters, circa 1940-41.

 

A view of the German battleship Bismarck firing on a merchant ship in the north Atlantic. Circa  1941. 

 

Bismarck anchored in the Grimstadfjord. This is the famous photograph taken by the British Spitfire (Suckling) at 1315 hours on 21 May 1941. The Bismarck can be seen to the right anchored in the Grimstadfjord near Bergen, Norway, with three merchant ships. Position 60º 19' 49" North, 05º 14' 48" East. The steamers would serve as torpedo shields in case of enemy attack. Unlike many other publications, this photo is shown here in its correct orientation, North up.

 

The Bismarck in Battle. The Bismarck opens fire against the Hood in the morning of 24 May 1941 as seen from the Prinz Eugen. This is one of the first salvos fired by the German battleship at about 0555-0556 hours. The Bismarck is about 2,500 m. behind the heavy cruiser.

 

The Bismarck in Battle. The battleship Bismarck during the battle of the Denmark Strait in the morning of 24 May 1941. The German battleship with her guns trained to port at about 230º engages the Prince of Wales.

 

Bismarck under fire from HMS Hood and HMS Prince of Wales, 24 May 1941.

 

The Bismarck in Battle. The battleship Bismarck has just fired a salvo during the battle of the Denmark Strait in the morning of 24 May 1941.

 

HMS Hood is sunk by the German battleship Bismarck in a painting by J. C. Schmitz-Westerholt. HMS Prince of Wales is in the foreground. (J.C. Schmitz-Westerholt via U.S. Naval Historical Center)

 

The Bismarck in Battle. This photo is the most well known of the battleship Bismarck and one of the most famous of World War II as well. It was taken from the Prinz Eugen sometime between 0607 and 0609 hours on 24 May 1941. By then the Hood had already been sunk and the Bismarck hit on her bows. The after turrets "Cäsar" and "Dora" are firing against the Prince of Wales in one of the last salvos of the battle. Don't get confused, it's not at night, the brightness of the flash of the guns led to the darkened underexposure of the photo.

 

The explosion of HMS Hood in the Battle of the Denmark Strait, 24 May 1941.

 

HMS Hood seen burning on the left while HMS Prince of Wales makes smoke to the right. Shell splashes can be seen falling near the Prince of Wales, 24 May 1941.

 

HMS Hood seen burning on the left while HMS Prince of Wales makes smoke to the right, 24 May 1941.

 

The Bismarck down by the bow on the morning of 24 May 1941 after the Battle of the Denmark Strait.

 

British pilot Dennis Briggs spotted the German battleship Bismarck west of Brest, France, and alerted the Royal Navy. (Imperial War Museum photo)

 

HMS Rodney firing on the Bismarck, which can be seen burning in the distance, 27 May 1941.

 

The battleship Rodney engaging the Bismarck on the morning of 27 May, as seen from the HMS King George V. (Imperial War Museum photo MH 15931)

 

The Bismarck under Fire. British shells fall near the Bismarck (right) on the morning of 27 May 1941. Photo taken from the heavy cruiser Dorsetshire.

 

A view of the German battleship Bismarck as it was sinking, torpedoed by a British ship off Brest. May 27, 1941.

 

German survivors from the battleship Bismarck, sunk by the Royal Navy, swim alongside a British ship as they wait to be pulled aboard.

 

Survivors of the Bismarck seen in a POW camp.

 

Painting by Ken Marschall depicting the unmanned probe Argo exploring the wreck of the Bismarck. 

 

The Bismarck on trials in the Baltic Sea in October 1940. At this time the battleship was still missing all three rangefinders as well as half of the anti-aircraft battery. (Bundesarchiv DVM 10 Bild-23-63-41)

 

The Bismarck as seen from the Prinz Eugen in the morning of 24 May 1941 after the Battle of the Denmark Strait.

 

British aircraft carrier Ark Royal with a flight of "Swordfish" overhead, circa 1939. (Naval History & Heritage Command photo NH 85716)

 

Bismarck survivors are hauled aboard the Dorsetshire. At the end only 86 men were picked up by the British heavy cruiser. (Imperial War Museum photo ZZZ 3130C)

 

Bismarck in Kiel. Bismarck crewmembers applying a coat of paint to the hull. The 32cm lower main belt which covered 70% of the ship's waterline length can be clearly seen here. Scheerhafen, Kiel 14-16 March 1941.

 

Bismarck conning tower. The forward armored command station as seen from the foremast searchlight platform. Its walls were 350 mm KC thick and the roof was 220 mm KC. The 7-meter rangefinder cupola had not yet been installed at the time this photo was taken. The left side of the conning tower has been painted in black as part of the new striped camouflage pattern. Two of the three director telescopes protruding from the roof can also be seen. Hamburg, February 1941.

 

A view of the forward turrets "Anton" and "Bruno" from the forecastle in the summer of 1940. Note the chain cables and capstans.

 

Bismarck in Dry Dock. A view of Bismarck in the floating dry dock No. V-VI in July 1940. At this time the three propellers were placed in position. Each propeller had three blades and a diameter of 4.70 meters. The port and middle propellers rotated counter clockwise and the starboard propeller clockwise. The two parallel rudders of 24.2 m² each were inclined from the vertical with 8º divergence towards the centerline.

 

Bismarck Rangefinder. This is the aft rotating dome with the 10.5-m base rangefinder and the rectangular FuMO 23 radar antenna over its command post. This station was under the command of the Fourth Artillery Officer, Kapitänleutnant Burkard von Müllenheim-Rechberg who was one of the few survivors from the ship.

 

Bismarck's anchor and chain.

 

Bismarck's foremast searchlight.

 

One of Bismarck's minesweeping paravanes.

 

Another of Bismarck's minesweeping paravanes.

 

Bismarck Under Construction. The battleship Bismarck fitting out at the Blohm & Voss Shipyard in Hamburg around May-June 1940. The ship is made fast to the equipment pier still awaiting completion and looks like a dusty steel giant, littered with tools, welding equipment, and cables.

 

Bismarck in Dry Dock. A view of Bismarck in the floating dry dock No. V-VI in July 1940.

 

Captain Ernst Lindemann inspecting the honor guard on 24 August 1940.

 

The Bismarck at high speed in the Baltic Sea. October 1940.

 

Embarking of supplies in Scheerhafen, Kiel. 14-16 March 1941.

 

The Bismarck alongside at Gotenhafen in May 1941, shortly before Operation Rheinübung.

 

Bismarck on her way to Norway. The Bismarck during her voyage to Norway as seen from a minesweeper of the 5th Flotilla on 20 May 1941.

 

The Battleship Bismarck in the Grimstadfjord, Norway, as seen from the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen in the morning of 21 May 1941.

 

The Prinz Eugen follows Bismarck in the fog with the help of a searchlight. 22 May 1941.

 

Prinz Eugen under Fire. Two 15-inch shells from the HMS Hood land close to the cruiser Prinz Eugen during the initial phase of battle of the Denmark Strait on the morning of 24 May 1941. 

 

The Bismarck as seen from the Prinz Eugen in the morning of 24 May after the battle of the Denmark Strait.

 

HMS Victorious Swordfish. The flight deck of HMS Victorious on 24 May 1941. This photo shows the strike group being arranged on deck several hours before the launch against the Bismarck. All nine Swordfish of 825th Squadron are clearly visible as well as, in the extreme rear, two Fulmars from 800Z Flight. (Imperial War Museum photo A 4090)

 

The Sinking of the Bismarck. This photo, taken from the cruiser Dorsetshire between 1036-1038 hours on 27 May 1941, shows the Bismarck about to capsize sinking by the stern.

 

Ceremony aboard the Spanish heavy cruiser Canarias for the Bismarck's dead in the morning of 31 May 1941. The Canarias (Captain Benigno González-Aller) left the port of El Ferrol at 1140 on 27 May in an attempt to rescue survivors from the Bismarck. On 30 May, after a brief meeting with the German weather observation ship Sachsenwald, the Canarias found the corpses of Musikobergefreiter Walter Gaszczak and Marinesignalgast Heinrich Neuschwander which were pulled up aboard and given a naval burial service on the next day.

 

The Prinz Eugen follows Bismarck in the fog with the help of a searchlight. 22 May 1941.

 

Bismarck survivors as prisoners of war after their arrival in Britain in May 1941. Out of a crew of more than 2,200 only 115 survived.

 

Launch of the German battleship Bismarck in Hamburg (Blohm & Voss shipyard), February 14, 1939.

 

Bismarck Under Construction. The keel of the Bismarck is laid down on Slipway 9 at the Blohm & Voss Shipyard. 1 July 1936.

 

The Bismarck under construction on slipway 9 at the Blohm & Voss Shipyard in Hamburg. Note the side sloped armor being attached to the torpedo bulkhead. This photo was taken in October 1937.

 

Bismarck with her crew.

 

The Bismarck under construction on slipway 9 at the Blohm & Voss Shipyard in Hamburg. This photo was taken at the end of 1937.

 

The Bismarck under construction on slipway 9 at the Blohm & Voss Shipyard in Hamburg. The ship is completed up to the armored deck. Also note the barbettes for the 15cm secondary battery.

 

The Bismarck under construction on slipway 9 at the Blohm & Voss Shipyard in Hamburg. This photo was taken in mid-1938.

 

The Bismarck under construction on slipway 9 at the Blohm & Voss Shipyard in Hamburg. This photo was taken on 10 September 1938 only five months before the launching of the ship and it shows the hull completed up to the main deck.

 

The Launching of the Bismarck. The hull of the Bismarck the day of her launching at the Blohm & Voss Shipyard facilities in Hamburg on 14 February 1939. As it was customary on these occasions, the launching ceremony was attended by thousands of people, government officials, military personalities, and yard workers.

 

Bismarck Under Construction. The battleship Bismarck fitting out at the Blohm & Voss Shipyard in Hamburg during the summer of 1939. At the time this photo was taken the Atlantic bow was being constructed and the first plates of the armor belt attached to the sides.

 

The Bismarck in Battle. The battleship Bismarck has just fired a full salvo during the battle of the Denmark Strait in the morning of 24 May 1941.

 

Bismarck Commissioning. Two signal mates at the flagstaff on 24 August 1940. The sailor carrying the battle flag rolled up under his right arm is Obersignalmaat Franz J. Scharhag.

 

Bismarck in the Kiel Canal on 16 September 1940. The bridge in the background is the Rendsburger Hochbrücke which was built between 1911-1913 and has a height of 41 meters.

 

Bismarck in the Kiel Canal. The Bismarck at the Kiel-Holtenau sluice in the Kiel Canal on 17 September 1940. The tugboats on both sides assist the battleship within the 45-meter wide sluice.

 

Bismarck in the Baltic. The battleship Bismarck following a mine clearance vessel during her first voyage to the naval base of Gotenhafen in the Baltic Sea on 28 September 1940.

 

Bismarck launching, February 1939.

 

Bismarck in the Kiel Canal. In this photo the Bismarck is seen passing through the Kiel Canal on her way back to the Blohm & Voss shipyard on 7 December 1940.

 

Bismarck in Hamburg. A view towards Bismarck's forecastle from the foremast. For aerial recognition, swastikas were painted on the stern deck and foredeck, and dark grey was applied to the tops of the main and secondary batteries. The periscopes of the armored command post can be clearly seen in this photo, too. This photo was taken in Hamburg, sometime in February 1941. Temperatures during this season of the year were below zero degrees Celsius and the waters of the Elbe were partially frozen.

 

Bismarck Funnel.

The Bismarck moored to the pier in Scheerhafen, Kiel on 14-16 March 1941. Note the recently installed 7-meter forward rangefinder is still without its FuMO 23 “mattress” antenna.

 

The Bismarck moored to the pier in Scheerhafen, Kiel on 14-16 March 1941. Bismarck's Administrative Officer, Korvettenkapitän (V) Rudolf Hartkopf (second from the right), and his assistant Oberleutnant (V) Günther Tischendorf (far right) supervise the loading of supplies.

 

Bismarck in Kiel. Bismarck crewmembers applying a coat of paint to the hull. Note the false white wave. This was intended to confuse enemy observers and make them believe that the ship was steaming at high speed. Scheerhafen, Kiel 14-16 March 1941.

 

A view of the forward turrets "Anton" and "Bruno" from the forecastle in the spring of 1941.

 

The Bismarck moored to the pier in Gotenhafen in May 1941 shortly before Operation Rheinübung.

Admiral Lütjens Inspecting the crew of the Prinz Eugen in the morning of 18 May 1941. Following behind are Captain Helmuth Brinkmann and the First Officer Otto Stoos.

 

The Bismarck approaching the rocky coast of Norway in the morning of 21 May 1941 as seen from Prinz Eugen.

 

Prinz Eugen in Kalvanes Bay. The heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen with merchant ships in Kalvanes Bay, near Bergen, on 21 May 1941. Position 60º 25' 16" North, 05º 01' 20" East.

 

The Bismarck off the Norwegian coast as seen from the Prinz Eugen on the evening of 21 May 1941. The black and white stripes on the hull were painted over while in the Grimstadfjord earlier that day. The false white waves in the bow remained.

 

HMS Hood into Battle. This is the last photo taken of HMS Hood before the engagement with Bismarck and Prinz Eugen in the morning of 24 May. The barrels of the forward quadruple turret of Prince of Wales can be seen.

 

The Bismarck as seen from the Prinz Eugen in the morning of 24 May before the battle of the Denmark Strait.

 

Captain Helmuth Brinkmann, on the bridge of the cruiser Prinz Eugen, observes the approach of the British battlegroup a few minutes before the battle of the Denmark Strait on the morning of 24 May 1941.

 

Swordfish torpedo planes flying over the King George V on the morning of 27 May 1941. The Ark Royal had launched twelve Swordfish in order to attack Bismarck but due to the heavy fire from the British warships stayed away.

 

Bismarck survivors. Hundreds of German sailors trying to reach the cruiser Dorsetshire after the sinking of the Bismarck. 

 

The Sinking of Destroyer Mashona. Following the sinking of the Bismarck, German aircraft operating from bases in the occupied France were sent to look for Admiral Tovey's force that had run low on fuel and was on its way back home. On 28 May, the destroyers Tartar and Mashona were attacked by German bombers. Mashona was hit by a bomb on her port side and sank with the loss of 46 men. The Tartar rescued about 170 men, including Mashona's commander William H. Selby.

 

The battleship King George V in the Atlantic during the chase of the Bismarck, May 1941.

 

Bismarck's turrets "Anton" and "Bruno."

 

Bismarck's "Cäsar" turret.

 

Bismarck stern view.

 

Bismarck.

 

Bismarck 380mm guns.

 

Base of Bismarck main turret.

 

Bismarck's "Anton" and "Bruno" turrets.

 

Bismarck.

 

Bismarck.

 

Bismarck turrets "Anton" and "Bruno."

 

Bismarck secondary battery.

 

Bismarck superstructure.

 

Bismarck's "Anton" turret.

 

Bismarck.

 

Bismarck main battery.

 

Bismarck's "Bruno" turret.

 

Bismarck.

 

Bismarck.

 

Bismarck and destroyers.

 

Bismarck main battery.

 

‘Sink The Bismarck!’ Poster. From left: Kenneth More, Dana Wynter, 1960.

 

'The last battle of the Bismarck' (before sinking in the Atlantic on May 27, 1941). Painting by Olaf Rahardt, March 2000.

 

Bismarck.

 

The crew of the after director tower of HMS Sheffield, one of the shadowers of the Bismarck, pointing to the splinter holes caused by a near miss from the Bismarck. (Imperial War Museum photo A 4092)