Germany

[I_cant_Swim_]

Post-war Germany had very little interest in building monuments and restoration projects for WW2 naval vessels. Whereas some critical projects were rightfully prioritized, mainly relating to documentation of the horrors of the holocaust lest the world forget, naval vessels were mostly scrapped. Generally, only fragments such as the odd torpedo, propeller screws, and other artifacts remain. Here, we provide a listing of some sites with navy artifacts from around WW2 that are worth visiting.

 

Peenemünde museum	Maritim Museum | Peenemünde Main Harbour | 17449 Peenemünde Tel. 038371-89054 | Fax 038371-26581 https://u-461.de/u461-peenemuende-en
Located on the Baltic Sea, on the island of Usedom (see map), Peenemünde museum calls itself the largest submarine museum in the world.
The museum is home to the submarine U-461, (NATO reporting name JULIETT). 16 of this Diesel-powered class of submarine were built for the Red Banner Fleet of the Soviet Navy beginning in the 1950s (remember, East Germany was occupied and only reunited with West Germany in 1990), the one on show was completed in the early 1960s. U-461 was used for patrols in the North Atlantic, and carried nuclear-capable cruise missiles.
	The submarine is moored at the pier of the former naval base of the 1st Flotilla, and can be viewed at the following times: 16. Sept – 15. Okt 10.00-16:30           | 01. June – 30. June 10.00-17.00 16. Oct – 31. May 10:30-15.00            | 01. July – 15. Sept 09:30-18:15 Tickets: approx. 7€ for adults, 16€ for a family (2 adults, 2 children).
You can also support the museum by purchasing items from the U-Boot Shop on the premises.

 

More to see in Peenemünde:	Historical Technical Museum Historisch-Technisches Museum |Peenemünde GmbH | Im Kraftwerk, 17449 Peenemünde Tel: +49 (0) 38371 5050 https://museum-peenemuende.de
Nearby, just across the harbor from the U-461 in fact, is the Historical Technical Museum, which details the history of the V2 rockets, built on site.     Admission costs approx. 9€ for adults, 2€ for children.Guided tours are also available.
	Opening hours: Apr - Sep: 10 am to 6 pm Oct - Mar:   10 am to 4 pm Nov - Mar: Closed Mondays

 

German Marine Museum   Wilhelmshaven	Deutsches Marinemuseum Südstrand 125 | 26382 Wilhelmshaven Tel. 04421 – 400840 https://www.marinemuseum.de/
The Marine Museum can be found in the north German town of Wilhelmshaven, on the Jade Bight, which opens into the North Sea (see map).
The High Seas Fleet of the Imperial German Navy – the Kaiserliche Marine – was based here, with the second major naval base being in Kiel, on the Baltic Sea. During the second world war, the Kriegsmarine remained the main naval base. Beside being a harbor and naval shipyard (the pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee and heavy cruiser Admiral Scheer were launched from here), Wilhelmshaven was also the site of the first torpedo division of the KM. At the end of the war, over 200 naval vessels were seized in port by allied forces. Guided tours (free) are available upon reservation.	[Video] (in production)
Today, the museum holds Germany’s biggest museum warship, the Lütjens-class guided missile destroyer Mölders (D186). The ship design (Charles F Adams class destroyer) was based on an extended hull design (134m) of the Forrest Sherman class destroyer, and was built in 1966-67 by Bath Iron Works, Maine, USA. With the aid of digital media, a visit on board also offers a glimpse into the everyday lives of former servicemen on board.   Another vessel of interest is the submarine U10 (S189, 1967). The coastal minehunter M1077 Weilheim (1958, Lindau-class) is also moored here, as is the Schnellboot (fast patrol ship) S71 Gepard (1982).
	Opening hours: 1. Apr – 31. Oct: 10.00-18.00 1. Nov – 31. Mar: 10.00-17.00

 

More to see near Wilhelmshaven:	German Maritime Museum
Not far (about an hour’s drive) from Wilhelmshaven is the port city of Bremerhaven. The German Maritime Museum can be found here, with several ships listed, including the fully intact, diesel-electric Type XXI submarine, Wilhelm Bauer, of the Kriegsmarine.   Tickets cost about 6€ (3€ for kids)	[Video] (in production) https://www.dsm.museum/en
[Video]	Opening hours: Mar – Oct: 10.00-16.00 Oct – Mar: 10.00-16.00 Oct – Mar: Closed Mondays

 

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