Schleswig-Holstein

After World War I Germany was only allowed to keep six old pre Dreadnought battleships (plus two on reserve). These were the ships of the Braunschweig and Deutschlandclass. Build between 1904 and 1905, the Braunschweig class was already obsolete during World War I and were decommissioned in 1917, but the lack of available ships forced those veterans of the Battle of Jutland into service again.

They were not able to fight any modern warship of their time and could only be used as coast defense or training ships. In this role, they made intensive voyages to Africa, Middle- and South America between 1926 and 1939. Most of those ships didn't see action in World War II anymore, since they were replaced by modern units, only the Schleswig Holstein and Schlesien did.

The Braunschweig was broken down in 1931, the Elsass in 1936, the Hessen was replaced by the Admiral Scheer and used as a target ship, the Lothringen was only used as a naval reserve, the Preussen was broken down in 1931 while some parts were used for torpedo and mine tests.

Schleswig-Holstein served at the Battle of Jutland and later became one of the Reichsmarine's principal training ships. Her bombardment of Westerplatte on 1 September 1939 marked the opening of hostilities between Germany and Poland. In April 1940 she carried troops to Nyborg during Operation Weserübung, after which she was used mainly as an accommodation and training ship before conversion to an anti-aircraft ship in 1944. Bombed at Gotenhafen on 18 December 1944, she settled on the harbor bottom and was scuttled in March 1945. Soviet forces later raised the wreck and eventually used it as a Soviet target ship off Osmussaar.