View source for List of cruisers of Germany

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[[File:SMS Kaiserin Augusta SMS Seeadler 1890s.jpg|thumb|300px|{{SMS|Kaiserin Augusta||2}} and {{SMS|Seeadler||2}}, two of Germany's earliest cruisers, in New York in 1893|alt=Two warships with steam rising from their smokestacks at anchor off New York harbor]]
Starting in the 1880s, the German {{lang|de|[[Kaiserliche Marine]]}} (Imperial Navy) began building a series of [[cruiser]]s. The first designs—[[protected cruiser|protected]] and [[unprotected cruiser|unprotected]]—were ordered to replace aging sail and steam-powered [[frigate]]s and [[corvette]]s that were of minimal combat value. After several iterations of each type, these cruisers were developed into [[armored cruiser|armored]] and [[light cruiser]]s, respectively, over the following decade. They were built to fill a variety of roles, including scouts for the main battle fleet and colonial cruisers for [[German colonial empire|Germany's overseas empire]]. The armored cruisers in turn led to the first German [[battlecruiser]], {{SMS|Von der Tann}}.
The protected and unprotected cruisers had been withdrawn from active service by the 1910s, though some continued in secondary roles. Most of the armored and light cruisers saw action in [[World War I]], in all of the major theaters of the conflict. Their service ranged from commerce raiding patrols on the open ocean to the fleet engagements in the [[North Sea]] such as the [[Battle of Jutland]]. Many were sunk in the course of the war, and the majority of the remainder were either seized as [[war prize]]s by the victorious Allies, [[Scuttling of the German fleet in Scapa Flow|scuttled by their crews in Scapa Flow]] in 1919, or broken up for scrap. The [[Treaty of Versailles]] forced Germany to surrender most of its remaining vessels. Only six old [[pre-dreadnought]] [[battleship]]s and six old light cruisers could be kept on active duty. These ships could be replaced when they reached twenty years of age, and the cruisers were limited to a displacement of {{convert|6000|MT}}.<ref>See: [[s:Treaty of Versailles 1919|Treaty of Versailles]] Section II: Naval Clauses, Articles 181 and 190</ref>
In the 1920s, Germany began a modest program to rebuild its fleet, now renamed the {{lang|de|[[Reichsmarine]]}}. It began with the new light cruiser, {{ship|German cruiser|Emden||2}}, in 1921, followed by five more light cruisers and three new [[heavy cruiser]]s, the {{sclass|Deutschland|cruiser|4}}. A further five heavy cruisers—the {{sclass|Admiral Hipper|cruiser|4}}—were ordered in the mid-1930s, though only the first three were completed. At the same time, the German navy was renamed the {{lang|de|[[Kriegsmarine]]}}. [[Plan Z]], a more ambitious reconstruction program that called for twelve [[P-class cruiser]]s, was approved in early 1939 but was cancelled before the end of the year following the outbreak of [[World War II]]. Of the six heavy cruisers and six light cruisers that were finished, only two survived the war. One, {{ship|German cruiser|Prinz Eugen||2}}, was sunk following nuclear weapons tests during [[Operation Crossroads]] in 1946; the other, {{ship|German cruiser|Nürnberg||2}}, saw service in the [[Soviet Navy]] until she was scrapped around 1960.{{efn|The German navies also operated numerous [[auxiliary cruiser]]s during both world wars, including {{SMS|Seeadler|1878|6}} and {{ship|German auxiliary cruiser|Kormoran||2}}. As they were armed merchant ships and not purpose-built warships, they are not within the scope of this list.}}
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="float: right; margin: 0 0 0 1em;"
|+ Key
|-
! scope="row" | Armament
| The number and type of the primary armament
|-
! scope="row" | Armor
| The thickness of the deck or belt armor
|-
! scope="row" | Displacement
| [[Displacement (ship)|Ship displacement]] at full combat load{{efn|Historian [[Erich Gröner]] states that full load was defined as "[equal to] type displacement plus full load fuel oil, diesel oil, coal, reserve boiler feed water, aircraft fuel, and special equipment." See: {{harvnb|Gröner|p=ix}}.}}
|-
! scope="row" | Propulsion
| Number of [[Drive shaft#Marine drive shafts|shafts]], type of propulsion system, and top speed generated
|-
! scope="row" | Cost
| Cost of the ship's construction
|-
! scope="row" | Service
| The dates work began and finished on the ship and its ultimate fate
|-
! scope="row" | Laid down
| The date the [[keel]] began to be assembled
|-
! scope="row" | Commissioned
| The date the ship was [[ship commissioning|commissioned]]
|}
==Protected cruisers==
[[File:Bundesarchiv DVM 10 Bild-23-61-10, Schulschiff "SMS Hansa II".jpg|300px|thumb|{{SMS|Hansa|1898|2}}, of the {{sclass|Victoria Louise|cruiser|4}}|alt=A large warship with several guns and two tall masts at anchor]]
{{main|List of protected cruisers of Germany}}
Starting in the mid-1880s, the German Navy began to modernize its cruising force, which at that time relied on a mixed collection of sail and steam [[frigate]]s and [[corvette]]s. General [[Leo von Caprivi]], then the Chief of the {{lang|de|[[Kaiserliche Marine]]}} (Imperial Navy), ordered several new warships, including two {{sclass|Irene|cruiser|1}}s laid down in 1886, the first [[protected cruiser]]s to be built in Germany.{{sfn|Sondhaus|p=166}} Design work on their successor, {{SMS|Kaiserin Augusta||2}}, began the following year, though she was not laid down until 1890. Five more ships of the {{sclass|Victoria Louise|cruiser|4}} followed in the mid-1890s. These ships, the last protected cruisers built in Germany, provided the basis for the [[armored cruiser]]s that were built starting at the end of the decade.{{sfn|Gardiner|p=254}} All of these ships were intended to serve both as fleet scouts and overseas cruisers, since Germany's limited naval budget prevented development of ships optimized for each task.{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=142}}
Most of the German protected cruisers served on overseas stations throughout their careers, primarily in the [[East Asia Squadron]] in the 1890s and 1900s. {{SMS|Prinzess Wilhelm||2}} participated in the seizure of the [[Jiaozhou Bay Leased Territory]] in November 1897, which was used as the primary base for the East Asia Squadron.{{sfn|Gottschall|pp=157–162}} {{lang|de|Kaiserin Augusta}}, {{SMS|Hertha||2}}, and {{SMS|Hansa|1898|2}} assisted in the suppression of the [[Boxer Uprising]] in China in 1900,{{sfn|Perry|p=29}} and {{SMS|Vineta|1897|2}} saw action during the [[Venezuelan crisis of 1902–03]], where she bombarded several Venezuelan fortresses.{{sfn|Mitchell|p=86}} {{SMS|Irene||2}}, {{lang|de|Prinzess Wilhelm}}, and {{lang|de|Kaiserin Augusta}} were relegated to secondary duties in the 1910s, while the {{lang|de|Victoria Louise}} class was used to train naval cadets in the 1900s. All eight ships were broken up for scrap in the early 1920s.{{sfn|Gröner|pp=45–48, 95}}
{{clear}}
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align: center;"
|- valign="top"
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Ship
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Armament
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Armor
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Displacement
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Propulsion
! scope="col" colspan="2" | Service
!
|- valign="top"
! scope="col" | Laid down
! scope="col" | Commissioned
! scope="col" | Fate
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Irene||2}}
| rowspan="2" | 4 × [[15 cm K L/30]] guns<br />10 × [[15 cm K L/22]]{{sfn|Gröner|p=95}}
| rowspan="2" | {{convert|20|mm|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=95}}
| rowspan="2" | {{convert|5027|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=94}}
| rowspan="2" style="text-align: left;" | 2 shafts, 2 [[Marine steam engine|reciprocating engine]]s, {{convert|18|kn|lk=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=95}}
| rowspan="2" | 1886{{sfn|Gardiner|p=253}}
| 25 May 1888{{sfn|Gröner|p=95}}
| style="text-align: left;" | Scrapped, 1922{{sfn|Gröner|p=95}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Prinzess Wilhelm||2}}
| 13 November 1889{{sfn|Gröner|p=95}}
| style="text-align: left;" | Scrapped, 1922{{sfn|Gröner|p=95}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Kaiserin Augusta||2}}
| 12 × [[15 cm SK L/35]] guns{{sfn|Gröner|p=46}}
| {{convert|50|mm|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=46}}
| {{convert|6318|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=46}}
| style="text-align: left;" | 3 shafts, 3 [[triple-expansion engine]]s, {{convert|21|kn|lk=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=46}}
| 1890{{sfn|Gardiner|p=254}}
| 17 November 1892{{sfn|Gröner|p=46}}
| style="text-align: left;" | Scrapped, 1920{{sfn|Gröner|p=46}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Victoria Louise||2}}
| rowspan=5 | 2 × [[21 cm SK L/40]] guns<br />8 × [[15 cm SK L/40 naval gun|15 cm SK L/40]] guns{{sfn|Gröner|p=47}}
| rowspan="5" | {{convert|40|mm|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=47}}
| rowspan="3" | {{convert|6491|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=47}}
| rowspan="3" style="text-align: left;" | 3 shafts, triple-expansion engines, {{convert|19.5|kn|lk=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=47}}
| rowspan="3" | 1895{{sfn|Gardiner|p=254}}
| 20 February 1899{{sfn|Gröner|p=48}}
| style="text-align: left;" | Scrapped, 1923{{sfn|Gröner|p=48}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Hertha||2}}
| 23 July 1898{{sfn|Gröner|p=48}}
| style="text-align: left;" | Scrapped, 1920{{sfn|Gröner|p=48}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Freya||2}}
| 20 October 1898{{sfn|Gröner|p=48}}
| style="text-align: left;" | Scrapped, 1921{{sfn|Gröner|p=48}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Vineta|1897|2}}
| rowspan="2" | {{convert|6705|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=47}}
| rowspan="2" style="text-align: left;" | 3 shafts, triple-expansion engines, {{convert|18.5|kn|lk=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=47}}
| rowspan="2" | 1896{{sfn|Gardiner|p=254}}
| 13 September 1899{{sfn|Gröner|p=48}}
| style="text-align: left;" | Scrapped, 1920{{sfn|Gröner|p=48}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Hansa|1898|2}}
| 20 April 1899{{sfn|Gröner|p=48}}
| style="text-align: left;" | Scrapped, 1920{{sfn|Gröner|p=48}}
|}
==Unprotected cruisers==
[[File:S.M. kleiner kreuzer Gefion - restoration, borderless.jpg|300px|thumb|right|A 1902 lithograph of {{SMS|Gefion}}|alt=A white warship at anchor in calm seas, with smoke rising slowly from three smokestacks]]
{{main|List of unprotected cruisers of Germany}}
At the same time that Caprivi began ordering new protected cruisers, he also authorized the construction of smaller [[unprotected cruiser]]s for use in Germany's overseas colonies. The first of these, the {{sclass|Schwalbe|cruiser|4}}, were laid down in 1886 and 1887.{{sfn|Sondhaus|p=166}} A further six vessels of the {{sclass|Bussard|cruiser|4}}, which were improved versions that were larger and faster than their predecessors, followed over the next five years.{{sfn|Gröner|pp=93–97}} A final, much larger vessel, {{SMS|Gefion||2}}, was laid down in 1892; her design was based on contemporary protected cruisers like {{lang|de|Kaiserin Augusta}}. She represented another attempt to merge the colonial cruiser and fleet scout, which was unsuccessful.{{sfn|Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz Vol. 3|p=194}} As a result, the German naval designers began work on the {{sclass|Gazelle|cruiser|4}}, which provided the basis for all future German [[light cruiser]]s.{{sfn|Gröner|pp=98–100}}{{sfn|Herwig|p=28}}
All nine cruisers served extensively in Germany's colonies, particularly in Africa and Asia. They participated in the suppression of numerous rebellions, including the [[Abushiri Revolt]] in [[German East Africa]] in 1889–1890,{{sfn|Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz Vol. 7|p=145}} the Boxer Uprising in China in 1900–1901,{{sfn|Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz Vol. 7|p=145}} and the [[Sokehs Rebellion]] in the [[Caroline Islands]] in 1911.{{sfn|Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz Vol. 2|p=191}} Most of the ships had been recalled to Germany and decommissioned by the early 1910s, having been replaced by the newer light cruisers. {{SMS|Bussard||2}} and {{SMS|Falke||2}} were scrapped in 1912, but the rest continued on in secondary roles. Of the remaining seven ships, only {{SMS|Cormoran|1892|2}} and {{SMS|Geier||2}} remained abroad at the start of [[World War I]] in August 1914. {{lang|de|Cormoran}} was stationed in [[Qingdao]], but her engines were worn out, so she was scuttled to prevent her capture.{{sfn|Gröner|pp=93–99}} {{lang|de|Geier}} briefly operated against British shipping in the Pacific before running low on coal. She put into [[Hawaii]], where she was interned by the [[US Navy]]. After the United States declared war on Germany in April 1917, she was seized and commissioned into American service as USS ''Schurz'', though she was accidentally sunk in a collision in June 1918.<ref>{{cite web|title=Schurz|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/s7/schurz.htm|publisher=[[Naval History & Heritage Command]]|access-date=5 May 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040314190904/http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/s7/schurz.htm|archive-date=14 March 2004}}</ref> {{SMS|Seeadler||2}}, employed as a [[naval mine|mine]] storage [[hulk (ship)|hulk]] in [[Wilhelmshaven]] during the war, was destroyed by an accidental explosion in 1917. {{SMS|Condor||2}}, {{SMS|Schwalbe|1887|2}}, and {{SMS|Sperber|1888|2}} were all broken up for scrap in the early 1920s, while {{lang|de|Gefion}} was briefly used as a freighter, before she too was scrapped, in 1923.{{sfn|Gröner|pp=94–99}}
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align: center;"
|- valign="top"
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Ship
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Armament
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Armor
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Displacement
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Propulsion
! scope="col" colspan="3" | Service
|- valign="top"
! scope="col" | Laid down
! scope="col" | Commissioned
! scope="col" | Fate
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Schwalbe|1887|2}}
| rowspan="2" | 8 × [[10.5 cm K L/35]] guns{{sfn|Gröner|pp=93–94}}
| rowspan="2" |&nbsp;—
| rowspan="2" | {{convert|1359|t|LT|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|pp=93–94}}
| rowspan="2" | 2 × 2-cylinder [[Double expansion engine|double-expansion]] [[steam engine]]s, {{convert|13.5|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|pp=93–94}}
| April 1886{{sfn|Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz Vol. 7|p=145}}
| 8 May 1888{{sfn|Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz Vol. 7|p=145}}
| Scrapped, 1922{{sfn|Gröner|p=94}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Sperber|1888|2}}
| September 1887{{sfn|Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz Vol. 7|p=178}}
| 2 April 1889{{sfn|Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz Vol. 7|p=178}}
| Scrapped, 1922{{sfn|Gröner|p=94}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Bussard||2}}
| 8 × 10.5&nbsp;cm K L/35 guns{{sfn|Gröner|p=97}}
| rowspan="6" |&nbsp;—
| rowspan="6" | {{convert|1868|t|LT|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=97}}
| rowspan="6" | 2 × 2-cylinder double-expansion steam engines, {{convert|15.5|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=97}}
| 1888{{sfn|Gröner|p=97}}
| 7 October 1890{{sfn|Gröner|p=97}}
| Scrapped, 1913{{sfn|Gröner|p=97}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Falke||2}}
| rowspan="5" | 8 × [[10.5 cm SK L/35]] guns{{sfn|Gröner|p=97}}
| 1890{{sfn|Gröner|p=98}}
| 14 September 1891{{sfn|Gröner|p=98}}
| Scrapped, 1913{{sfn|Gröner|p=98}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Seeadler||2}}
| 1890{{sfn|Gröner|p=98}}
| 17 August 1892{{sfn|Gröner|p=98}}
| Destroyed, 1917{{sfn|Gröner|p=98}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Condor||2}}
| 1891{{sfn|Gröner|p=98}}
| 9 December 1892{{sfn|Gröner|p=98}}
| Scrapped, 1921{{sfn|Gröner|p=98}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Cormoran|1892|2}}
| 1890{{sfn|Gröner|p=98}}
| 25 July 1893{{sfn|Gröner|p=98}}
| Scuttled, 28 September 1914{{sfn|Gröner|p=98}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Geier||2}}
| 1893{{sfn|Gröner|p=98}}
| 24 October 1895{{sfn|Gröner|p=98}}
| Captured, 6 April 1917, sunk 21 June 1918{{sfn|Gröner|p=98}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Gefion||2}}
| 10 × 10.5&nbsp;cm SK L/35 guns{{sfn|Gröner|p=98}}
| 25&nbsp;mm{{sfn|Gröner|p=98}}
| {{convert|4275|t|LT|abbr=on|sp=us}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=98}}
| 2 × 3-cylinder triple expansion engines, {{convert|20.5|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=98}}
| 1892{{sfn|Gröner|p=99}}
| 5 June 1895{{sfn|Gröner|p=99}}
| Converted to freighter, 1920, scrapped 1923{{sfn|Gröner|p=99}}
|}
==Armored cruisers==
[[File:S.M. Grosser Kreuzer Fürst Bismarck - restoration, borderless.jpg|thumb|A lithograph of {{lang|de|Fürst Bismarck}}, Germany's first armored cruiser|alt=A large warship with white hull and dark gray superstructure, thick black smoke belching from its two tall smokestacks]]
{{main|List of armored cruisers of Germany}}
The first armored cruiser, {{SMS|Fürst Bismarck|1897|2}}, was ordered shortly after the {{lang|de|Victoria Louise}} class of protected cruisers. {{lang|de|Fürst Bismarck}} was an improved version of the earlier type, with heavier armament, more extensive armor protection, and a significantly greater size.{{sfn|Gröner|pp=47–49}} A further seven units, divided between four different designs, followed over the next ten years; each design provided incremental improvements over earlier vessels.{{sfn|Gröner|pp=49–52}} A ninth armored cruiser, {{SMS|Blücher||2}}, was a much larger vessel representing an intermediate step between armored cruisers and [[battlecruiser]]s. Indeed, her design had been influenced by the misinformation Britain had released about its {{sclass|Invincible|battlecruiser|1}}s, which were then under construction. Once the characteristics of the new ships were revealed, Germany began building battlecruisers in response.{{sfn|Staff|pp=3–4}}
Germany's armored cruisers served in a variety of roles, including overseas as [[flagship]]s of the East Asia Squadron,{{sfn|Gardiner|p=249}}{{sfn|Halpern|p=66}} and in the fleet reconnaissance forces. All of them, save {{lang|de|Fürst Bismarck}}, saw action during World War I in a variety of theaters. {{lang|de|Blücher}} served with the battlecruisers in the [[I Scouting Group]] and was sunk at the [[Battle of Dogger Bank (1915)|Battle of Dogger Bank]] in 1915,{{sfn|Tarrant|pp=36–42}} and the two {{sclass|Scharnhorst|cruiser|1}}s formed the core of [[Maximilian von Spee]]'s squadron that defeated the British at the [[Battle of Coronel]] in November 1914 before being annihilated at the [[Battle of the Falkland Islands]].{{sfn|Herwig|pp=157–158}} {{SMS|Yorck||2}} was accidentally sunk by a German mine in November 1914 outside Wilhelmshaven,{{sfn|Tarrant|p=30}} and the two {{sclass|Prinz Adalbert|cruiser|1}}s were sunk in the [[Baltic Sea]].{{sfn|Gröner|pp=50–51}} Only {{SMS|Prinz Heinrich||2}} and {{SMS|Roon||2}} survived the war; both were scrapped in the early 1920s.{{sfn|Gröner|pp=50, 52}}
{{clear}}
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align: center; width: 100%;"
|- valign="top"
! scope="col" width="13%" rowspan="2" | Ship
! scope="col" width="14%" rowspan="2" | Armament
! scope="col" width="10%" rowspan="2" | Armor
! scope="col" width="10%" rowspan="2" | Displacement
! scope="col" width="25%" rowspan="2" | Propulsion
! scope="col" width="28%" colspan="3" | Service
|- valign="top"
! scope="col" width="5%" | Laid down
! scope="col" width="5%" | Commissioned
! scope="col" width="20%" | Fate
|- valign="top"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Fürst Bismarck|1897|2}}
| 4 × [[24 cm SK L/40|{{convert|24|cm|in|abbr=on}} SK L/40]] <br /> 10 × [[15 cm SK L/40 gun|{{convert|15|cm|in|abbr=on}} SK L/40]] guns{{sfn|Gröner|p=49}}
| {{convert|200|mm|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=49}}
| {{convert|11461|MT|LT|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=48}}
| style="text-align: left;" | 3 [[Screw propeller|screws]], triple expansion engines, {{convert|18.7|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|pp=48–49}}
| 1896{{sfn|Gardiner|p=254}}
| 1 April 1900{{sfn|Gardiner|p=254}}
| style="text-align: left;" | Broken up for scrap in 1919–1920{{sfn|Gröner|p=49}}
|- valign="top"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Prinz Heinrich||2}}
| 2 × [[24 cm SK L/40|{{convert|24|cm|in|abbr=on}} SK L/40]] <br /> 10 × {{convert|15|cm|in|abbr=on}} SK L/40 guns{{sfn|Gröner|p=49}}
| {{convert|100|mm|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=49}}
| {{convert|9806|MT|LT|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=49}}
| style="text-align: left;" | 3 screws, triple expansion engines, {{convert|19.9|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=49}}
| 1898{{sfn|Gardiner|p=255}}
| 11 March 1902{{sfn|Gardiner|p=255}}
| style="text-align: left;" | Broken up for scrap in 1920{{sfn|Gröner|p=50}}
|- valign="top"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Prinz Adalbert|1901|2}}
| rowspan="2" | 4 × [[21 cm SK L/40|{{convert|21|cm|in|abbr=on}} SK L/40]] <br /> 10 × {{convert|15|cm|in|abbr=on}} SK L/40 guns{{sfn|Gröner|p=50}}
| rowspan="2" |  {{convert|100|mm|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=50}}
| rowspan="2" | {{convert|9875|MT|LT|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=50}}
| style="text-align: left;" | 3 screws, triple expansion engines, {{convert|20.4|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=50}}
| 1900{{sfn|Gardiner|p=255}}
| 12 January 1904{{sfn|Gardiner|p=255}}
| style="text-align: left;" | Sunk on 23 October 1915 by {{HMS|E8}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=51}}
|- valign="top"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Friedrich Carl||2}}
| style="text-align: left;" | 3 screws, triple expansion engines, {{convert|20.5|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=50}}
| 1901{{sfn|Gardiner|p=255}}
| 12 December 1903{{sfn|Gardiner|p=255}}
| style="text-align: left;" | Sunk on 17 November 1914 by Russian mines{{sfn|Gröner|p=50}}
|- valign="top"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Roon||2}}
| rowspan="2" | 4 × [[21 cm SK L/40]] <br /> 10 × {{convert|15|cm|in|abbr=on}} SK L/40 guns{{sfn|Gröner|p=51}}
| rowspan="2" | {{convert|100|mm|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=51}}
| rowspan="2" | {{convert|10266|MT|LT|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=51}}
| style="text-align: left;" | 3 screws, triple expansion engines, {{convert|21.1|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=51}}
| 1902{{sfn|Gardiner|p=255}}
| 5 April 1906{{sfn|Gardiner|p=255}}
| style="text-align: left;" | Broken up for scrap in 1921{{sfn|Gröner|p=52}}
|- valign="top"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Yorck||2}}
| style="text-align: left;" | 3 screws, triple expansion engines, {{convert|21.4|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=51}}
| 1903{{sfn|Gardiner|p=255}}
| 21 November 1905{{sfn|Gardiner|p=255}}
| style="text-align: left;" | Sunk on 4 November 1914 by German mines{{sfn|Gröner|p=52}}
|- valign="top"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Scharnhorst||2}}
| rowspan="2" | 8 × [[21 cm SK L/40]] <br> 6 × {{convert|15|cm|in|abbr=on}} SK L/40 guns{{sfn|Gröner|p=52}}
| rowspan="2" | {{convert|150|mm|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=52}}
| rowspan="2" | {{convert|12985|MT|LT|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=52}}
| style="text-align: left;" | 3 screws, triple expansion engines, {{convert|23.5|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=52}}
| 1905{{sfn|Gardiner|p=256}}
| 24 October 1907{{sfn|Gardiner|p=256}}
| style="text-align: left;" | Sunk on 8 December 1914 at the [[Battle of the Falkland Islands]]{{sfn|Gröner|p=52}}
|- valign="top"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Gneisenau||2}}
| style="text-align: left;" | 3 screws, triple expansion engines, {{convert|23.6|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=52}}
| 1904{{sfn|Gardiner|p=256}}
| 6 March 1908{{sfn|Gardiner|p=256}}
| style="text-align: left;" | Sunk on 8 December 1914 at the [[Battle of the Falkland Islands]]{{sfn|Gröner|p=52}}
|- valign="top"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Blücher||2}}
| 12 × [[21 cm SK L/45]] <br> 8 × [[15 cm SK L/45|{{convert|15|cm|in|abbr=on}} SK L/45]] guns{{sfn|Gröner|p=53}}
| {{convert|180|mm|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=53}}
| {{convert|17500|MT|LT|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=53}}
| style="text-align: left;" | 3 screws, triple expansion engines, {{convert|25.4|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=53}}
| 21 February 1907{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=150}}
| 1 October 1909{{sfn|Gröner|p=53}}
| style="text-align: left;" | Sunk on 24 January 1915 at the [[Battle of Dogger Bank (1915)|Battle of Dogger Bank]]{{sfn|Gröner|p=53}}
|}
==Light cruisers==
[[File:S.M. kleiner kreuzer Gazelle - restoration.jpg|thumb|A lithograph of {{SMS|Gazelle}}, the first modern light cruiser built by Germany|alt=A small gray warship with its bright red keel showing at the waterline]]
{{main|List of light cruisers of Germany}}
Starting in the late 1890s, the {{lang|de|Kaiserliche Marine}} began developing modern light cruisers, based on experience with the unprotected cruisers and [[List of avisos of Germany|a series of avisos]] it had built over the preceding decade.{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=143}} The ten-ship {{lang|de|Gazelle}} class set the basic pattern, which was gradually improved over successive classes.{{sfn|Herwig|p=28}} The {{sclass|Pillau|cruiser|4}} introduced more powerful, {{convert|15|cm|adj=on|sp=us}} main guns, and the {{sclass|Magdeburg|cruiser|4}} added a waterline [[belt armor|main belt]] to improve armor protection.{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|pp=159–161}} Between 1897 and the end of World War I, the German Navy completed forty-seven light cruisers; all of these ships saw service during the war in a variety of theaters and roles. Some, such as {{SMS|Emden|1908|2}} and {{SMS|Königsberg|1905|2}}, served as commerce raiders,{{sfn|Forstmeier|pp=10–14}}{{sfn|Halpern|p=77}} while others, such as the two {{sclass|Wiesbaden|cruiser|1}}s, served with the [[High Seas Fleet]] and saw action at the [[Battle of Jutland]] in 1916.{{sfn|Tarrant|p=62}} Several [[German FK cruiser designs|fleet cruiser design studies]] were prepared in 1916, but no work was begun before the war ended in November 1918.{{sfn|Gröner|pp=116–117}}
Following the war, the [[Treaty of Versailles]] forced Germany to cede all of its most modern light cruisers; only eight {{lang|de|Gazelle}} and {{sclass|Bremen|cruiser|1}}s were permitted under the terms of the treaty.<ref>See: [[s:Treaty of Versailles 1919|Treaty of Versailles]] Section II: Naval Clauses, Article 181</ref> These ships could be replaced after twenty years from the time they were launched, and the first new vessel, {{ship|German cruiser|Emden||2}}, was laid down in 1921. Five more ships of the {{sclass|Königsberg|cruiser|5||1927}} and {{sclass|Leipzig|cruiser|4}}es were built between 1926 and 1935.{{sfn|Sieche|pp=229–231}} These six cruisers all saw combat during [[World War II]]; two, {{ship|German cruiser|Königsberg||2}} and {{ship|German cruiser|Karlsruhe||2}}, were sunk during the [[Operation Weserübung|invasion of Norway]] in April 1940.{{sfn|Williamson ''Light Cruisers''|pp=17, 21}} {{lang|de|Emden}} and {{ship|German cruiser|Köln||2}} were destroyed by Allied [[bomber]]s in the closing months of the war, and {{ship|German cruiser|Leipzig||2}} was discarded after being badly damaged in a collision with the [[heavy cruiser]] {{ship|German cruiser|Prinz Eugen||2}}. This left {{ship|German cruiser|Nürnberg||2}} as the only vessel of the type to survive the war. She was seized by the Soviet Union as a [[war prize]] and continued in Soviet service until she was scrapped in 1960.{{sfn|Sieche|pp=229–231}}
{{clear}}
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align: center;"
|- valign="top"
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Ship
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Armament
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Armor
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Displacement
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Propulsion
! scope="col" colspan="3" | Service
|- valign="top"
! scope="col" | Laid down
! scope="col" | Commissioned
! scope="col" | Fate
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Gazelle||2}}
| rowspan="10" | 10 × [[10.5 cm SK L/40 naval gun|10.5&nbsp;cm SK L/40 guns]]{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}
| rowspan="10" | {{convert|25|mm|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}
| rowspan="2" | {{convert|2963|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}
| 2 shafts, 2 [[Marine steam engine|reciprocating engine]]s, {{convert|19.5|kn|lk=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}
| 1897{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}
| 15 June 1901{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}
| Scrapped, 1920{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Niobe||2}}
| rowspan="9" | 2 shafts, 2 reciprocating engines, {{convert|21.5|kn|lk=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}
| rowspan="2" | 1898{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}
| 25 June 1900{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}
| Destroyed, 19 December 1943{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Nymphe||2}}
| rowspan="2" | {{convert|3017|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}
| 20 September 1900{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}
| Scrapped, 1932{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Thetis||2}}
| rowspan="3" | 1899{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}
| 14 September 1901{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}
| Scrapped, 1930{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Ariadne||2}}
| {{convert|3006|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}
| 18 May 1901{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}
| Sunk, [[Battle of Heligoland Bight (1914)|Battle of Heligoland Bight]], 28 August 1914{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Amazone||2}}
| {{convert|3082|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}
| 18 May 1901{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}
| Scrapped, 1954{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Medusa||2}}
| {{convert|2972|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}
| 1900{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}
| 26 July 1901{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}
| Scrapped, 1948–1950{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Frauenlob||2}}
| {{convert|3158|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}
| rowspan="3" | 1901{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}
| 17 February 1903{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}
| Sunk, [[Battle of Jutland]], 31 May 1916{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Arcona|1902|2}}
| {{convert|3180|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}
| 12 May 1903{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}
| Scrapped, 1948{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Undine||2}}
| {{convert|3112|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}
| 5 January 1904{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}
| Sunk, 7 November 1915{{sfn|Gröner|pp=99–102}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Bremen||2}}
| rowspan="7" | 10 × 10.5&nbsp;cm SK L/40 guns{{sfn|Gröner|p=103}}
| rowspan="7" | {{convert|80|mm|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=102}}
| {{convert|3797|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=102}}
| rowspan="3" | 2 shafts, 2 reciprocating engines, {{convert|22|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|pp=102–103}}
| rowspan="3" | 1902{{sfn|Gröner|p=103}}
| 19 May 1904{{sfn|Gröner|p=103}}
| Sunk, 17 February 1915{{sfn|Gröner|p=103}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Hamburg||2}}
| {{convert|3651|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=102}}
| 8 March 1904{{sfn|Gröner|p=103}}
| Scrapped, 1956{{sfn|Gröner|p=103}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Berlin||2}}
| {{convert|3792|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=102}}
| 4 April 1905{{sfn|Gröner|p=103}}
| Scuttled, 1947{{sfn|Gröner|p=103}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Lübeck||2}}
| {{convert|3661|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=102}}
| 4 shafts, 2 [[steam turbine]]s, {{convert|22.5|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|pp=102–103}}
| rowspan="2" | 1903{{sfn|Gröner|p=103}}
| 26 April 1906{{sfn|Gröner|p=103}}
| Scrapped, 1922–1923{{sfn|Gröner|p=103}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|München||2}}
| {{convert|3780|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=102}}
| rowspan="3" | 2 shafts, 2 reciprocating engines, 22&nbsp;kn{{sfn|Gröner|pp=102–103}}
| 10 January 1905{{sfn|Gröner|p=103}}
| Scrapped, 1920{{sfn|Gröner|p=103}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Leipzig|1905|2}}
| {{convert|3756|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=102}}
| rowspan="2" | 1904{{sfn|Gröner|p=103}}
| 20 April 1906{{sfn|Gröner|p=103}}
| Sunk, [[Battle of the Falkland Islands]], 8 December 1914{{sfn|Gröner|p=103}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Danzig||2}}
| {{convert|3783|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=102}}
| 1 December 1907{{sfn|Gröner|p=103}}
| Scrapped, 1922–1923{{sfn|Gröner|p=103}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Königsberg|1905|2}}
| rowspan="4" | 10 × 10.5&nbsp;cm SK L/40 guns{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}
| rowspan="4" | 80&nbsp;mm{{sfn|Gröner|p=104}}
| {{convert|3814|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=104}}
| rowspan="3" | 2 shafts, 2 reciprocating engines, {{convert|23|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=104}}
| 1905{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}
| 6 April 1907{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}
| Scuttled, [[Battle of Rufiji Delta]], 11 July 1915{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Nürnberg|1906|2}}
| {{convert|3902|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=104}}
| 1906{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}
| 10 April 1908{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}
| Sunk, Battle of the Falkland Islands, 8 December 1914{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Stuttgart||2}}
| {{convert|4002|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=104}}
| 1905{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}
| 1 February 1908{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}
| Scrapped, 1920{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Stettin||2}}
| {{convert|3822|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=104}}
| 2 shafts, 2 steam turbines, {{convert|24|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=104}}
| 1906{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}
| 29 October 1907{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}
| Scrapped, 1921–1923{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Dresden|1907|2}}
| rowspan="2" | 10 × 10.5&nbsp;cm SK L/40 guns{{sfn|Gröner|p=105}}
| rowspan="2" | 80&nbsp;mm{{sfn|Gröner|p=105}}
| rowspan="2" | {{convert|4268|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=105}}
| rowspan="1" | 2 shafts, 2 steam turbines, {{convert|24|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=105}}
| 1906{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}
| 14 November 1908{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}
| Scuttled, [[Battle of Mas a Tierra]], 14 March 1915{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Emden|1908|2}}
| 2 shafts, 2 reciprocating engines, {{convert|23.5|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=105}}
| 1906{{sfn|Forstmeier|p=2}}
| 20 July 1909{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}
| [[Ship grounding|Grounded]], [[Battle of Cocos]], 9 November 1914{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Kolberg||2}}
| rowspan="4" | 12 × [[10.5 cm SK L/45 naval gun|10.5&nbsp;cm SK L/45]] guns{{sfn|Gröner|p=106}}
| rowspan="4" | {{convert|40|mm|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=106}}
| {{convert|5418|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=106}}
| rowspan="1" | 4 shafts, 4 steam turbines, {{convert|25.5|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=106}}
| 1908{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=159}}
| 21 June 1910{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=159}}
| Scrapped, 1929{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=201}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Mainz||2}}
| {{convert|4889|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=106}}
| rowspan="1" | 2 shafts, 2 steam turbines, {{convert|26|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=106}}
| 1907{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=159}}
| 1 October 1909{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=159}}
| Sunk, Battle of Heligoland Bight, 28 August 1914{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=159}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Cöln|1909|2}}
| {{convert|4864|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=106}}
| rowspan="2" | 4 shafts, 4 steam turbines, {{convert|25.5|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=106}}
| 1908{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=159}}
| 16 June 1911{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=159}}
| Sunk, Battle of Heligoland Bight, 28 August 1914{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=159}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Augsburg||2}}
| {{convert|4882|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=106}}
| 1908{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=159}}
| 1 October 1910{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=159}}
| Scrapped, 1922{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=159}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Magdeburg||2}}
| rowspan="4" | 12 × 10.5&nbsp;cm SK L/45 guns{{sfn|Gröner|p=107}}
| rowspan="4" | {{convert|60|mm|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=107}}
| rowspan="4" | {{convert|4570|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=107}}
| rowspan="4" | 4 shafts, 4 steam turbines, {{convert|27.5|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|pp=107–108}}
| 1910{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}
| 20 August 1912{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}
| Grounded, 26 August 1914{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Breslau||2}}
| 1910{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}
| 10 May 1912{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}
| Sunk, [[Battle of Imbros]], 20 January 1918{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Strassburg||2}}
| 1910{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}
| 9 October 1912{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}
| Sunk, 23 September 1944{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=264}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Stralsund||2}}
| 1910{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}
| 10 December 1912{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=157}}
| Scrapped, 1935{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=201}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Karlsruhe||2}}
| rowspan="2" | 12 × 10.5&nbsp;cm SK L/45 guns{{sfn|Gröner|p=109}}
| rowspan="2" | 60&nbsp;mm{{sfn|Gröner|p=109}}
| rowspan="2" | {{convert|6191|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=109}}
| rowspan="2" | 2 shafts, 2 steam turbines, {{convert|28|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=109}}
| 21 September 1911{{sfn|Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz Vol. 5|pp=83–85}}
| 15 January 1914{{sfn|Gröner|p=109}}
| Sunk, 4 November 1914{{sfn|Gröner|p=109}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Rostock||2}}
| 1911{{sfn|Gröner|p=109}}
| 5 February 1914{{sfn|Gröner|p=109}}
| Sunk, Battle of Jutland, 1 June 1916{{sfn|Gröner|p=109}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Graudenz||2}}
| rowspan="2" | 12 × 10.5&nbsp;cm SK L/45 guns{{sfn|Gröner|pp=109–110}}
| rowspan="2" | 60&nbsp;mm{{sfn|Gröner|p=109}}
| rowspan="2" | {{convert|6382|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|pp=109–110}}
| rowspan="2" | 2 shafts, 2 steam turbines, {{convert|27.5|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|pp=109–110}}
| 1912{{sfn|Gröner|pp=109–110}}
| 10 August 1914{{sfn|Gröner|pp=109–110}}
| Scrapped, 1937{{sfn|Gröner|pp=109–110}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Regensburg||2}}
| 1912{{sfn|Gröner|pp=109–110}}
| 3 January 1915{{sfn|Gröner|pp=109–110}}
| Scuttled, 1944{{sfn|Gröner|pp=109–110}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Pillau||2}}
| rowspan="2" | 8 × [[15 cm SK L/45|{{convert|15|cm|abbr=on}} SK L/45]] guns{{sfn|Gröner|pp=110–111}}
| rowspan="2" | 80&nbsp;mm{{sfn|Gröner|pp=110–111}}
| rowspan="2" | {{convert|5252|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|pp=110–111}}
| rowspan="2" | 2 shafts, 2 steam turbines, 27.5&nbsp;kn{{sfn|Gröner|pp=110–111}}
| rowspan="2" | 1913{{sfn|Gröner|p=111}}
| 14 December 1914{{sfn|Gröner|p=111}}
| Ceded to Italy, 20 July 1920{{sfn|Gröner|p=111}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Elbing||2}}
| 4 September 1915{{sfn|Gröner|p=111}}
| Scuttled, 1 June 1916{{sfn|Gröner|p=111}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Wiesbaden||2}}
| rowspan="2" | 8 × 15&nbsp;cm SK L/45 guns{{sfn|Gröner|p=111}}
| rowspan="2" | 60&nbsp;mm{{sfn|Gröner|p=111}}
| rowspan="2" | {{convert|6601|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=111}}
| rowspan="2" | 2 shafts, 2 steam turbines, 27.5&nbsp;kn{{sfn|Gröner|p=111}}
| rowspan="2" | 1913{{sfn|Gröner|p=111}}
| 23 August 1915{{sfn|Gröner|p=112}}
| Sunk, 1 June 1916{{sfn|Gröner|p=112}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Frankfurt||2}}
| 20 August 1915{{sfn|Gröner|p=112}}
| Sunk as a target, 18 July 1921{{sfn|Gröner|p=112}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Königsberg|1915|2}}
| rowspan="4" | 8 × 15&nbsp;cm SK L/45 guns{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=162}}
| rowspan="4" | 60&nbsp;mm{{sfn|Gröner|p=113}}
| rowspan="4" | {{convert|7125|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=113}}
| rowspan="4" | 2 shafts, 2 steam turbines, {{convert|28|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=113}}
| 1914{{sfn|Gröner|p=113}}
| 12 August 1916{{sfn|Gröner|p=113}}
| Scrapped, 1936{{sfn|Gröner|p=113}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Karlsruhe|1916|2}}
| 1915{{sfn|Gröner|p=113}}
| 15 November 1916{{sfn|Gröner|p=113}}
| Scuttled, 21 June 1919{{sfn|Gröner|p=113}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Emden|1916|2}}
| 1914{{sfn|Gröner|p=113}}
| 16 December 1916{{sfn|Gröner|p=113}}
| Scrapped, 1926{{sfn|Gröner|p=113}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Nürnberg|1916|2}}
| 1915{{sfn|Gröner|p=113}}
| 15 February 1917{{sfn|Gröner|p=113}}
| Sunk as a [[target ship]], 1922{{sfn|Gröner|p=113}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Brummer||2}}
| rowspan="2" | 4 × 15&nbsp;cm SK L/45 guns{{sfn|Novik|pp=185–188}}
| rowspan="2" | {{convert|15|mm|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=112}}
| rowspan="2" | {{convert|5856|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=112}}
| rowspan="2" | 2 shafts, 2 steam turbines, {{convert|28|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=112}}
| rowspan="2" | 1915{{sfn|Gröner|p=113}}
| 2 April 1916{{sfn|Gröner|p=113}}
| Scuttled, 21 June 1919{{sfn|Gröner|p=113}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Bremse||2}}
| 1 July 1916{{sfn|Gröner|p=113}}
| Scuttled, 21 June 1919{{sfn|Gröner|p=113}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Cöln|1916|2}}
| rowspan="10" | 8 × 15&nbsp;cm SK L/45 guns{{sfn|Campbell & Sieche|p=163}}
| rowspan="10" | {{convert|40|mm|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=114}}
| rowspan="10" | {{convert|7486|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=114}}
| rowspan="10" | 2 shafts, 2 steam turbines, {{convert|27.5|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=114}}
| 1915{{sfn|Gröner|pp=114–115}}
| 17 January 1918{{sfn|Gröner|pp=114–115}}
| Scuttled, 21 June 1919{{sfn|Gröner|pp=114–115}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{SMS|Dresden|1917|2}}
| 1916{{sfn|Gröner|pp=114–115}}
| 28 March 1918{{sfn|Gröner|pp=114–115}}
| Scuttled, 21 June 1919{{sfn|Gröner|pp=114–115}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{lang|de|Wiesbaden}}
| 1915{{sfn|Gröner|pp=114–115}}
|&nbsp;—
| Scrapped, 1920{{sfn|Gröner|pp=114–115}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{lang|de|Magdeburg}}
| 1916{{sfn|Gröner|pp=114–115}}
|&nbsp;—
| Scrapped, 1922{{sfn|Gröner|pp=114–115}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{lang|de|Leipzig}}
| 1915{{sfn|Gröner|pp=114–115}}
|&nbsp;—
| Scrapped, 1921{{sfn|Gröner|pp=114–115}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{lang|de|Rostock}}
| 1915{{sfn|Gröner|pp=114–115}}
|&nbsp;—
| Scrapped, 1921{{sfn|Gröner|pp=114–115}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{lang|de|Frauenlob}}
| 1915{{sfn|Gröner|pp=114–115}}
|&nbsp;—
| Scrapped, 1921{{sfn|Gröner|pp=114–115}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{lang|de|Ersatz Cöln}}
| 1916{{sfn|Gröner|pp=114–115}}
|&nbsp;—
| Scrapped, 1921{{sfn|Gröner|pp=114–115}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{lang|de|Ersatz Emden}}
| 1916{{sfn|Gröner|pp=114–115}}
|&nbsp;—
| Scrapped, 1921{{sfn|Gröner|pp=114–115}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{lang|de|Ersatz Karlsruhe}}
| 1916{{sfn|Gröner|pp=114–115}}
|&nbsp;—
| Scrapped, 1920{{sfn|Gröner|pp=114–115}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | [[German FK cruiser designs|FK 1]]
| rowspan="3" | 5 × 15&nbsp;cm SK L/45 guns{{sfn|Gröner|p=116}}
| rowspan="5" |&nbsp;—
| {{convert|3800|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=116}}
| 2 shafts, 2 steam turbines, {{convert|32|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=116}}
|&nbsp;—
|&nbsp;—
| rowspan="5" | Design study only{{sfn|Gröner|pp=116–117}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | FK 1a
| {{convert|4850|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=116}}
| 2 shafts, 2 steam turbines, {{convert|33|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=116}}
|&nbsp;—
|&nbsp;—
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | FK 2
| {{convert|5350|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=117}}
| 2 shafts, 2 steam turbines, 32&nbsp;kn{{sfn|Gröner|p=117}}
|&nbsp;—
|&nbsp;—
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | FK 3
| 7 × 15&nbsp;cm SK L/45 guns{{sfn|Gröner|p=117}}
| {{convert|6900|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=117}}
| rowspan="2" | 2 shafts, 2 steam turbines, 32&nbsp;kn{{sfn|Gröner|p=117}}
|&nbsp;—
|&nbsp;—
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | FK 4
| 8 × 15&nbsp;cm SK L/45 guns{{sfn|Gröner|p=117}}
| {{convert|8650|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=117}}
|&nbsp;—
|&nbsp;—
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{lang|de|[[German cruiser Emden|Emden]]}}
| 8 × 15&nbsp;cm SK L/45 guns{{sfn|Gröner|p=118}}
| 40&nbsp;mm{{sfn|Gröner|p=118}}
| {{convert|6990|LT|MT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=118}}
| 2 shafts, 2 steam turbines, {{convert|29.5|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=118}}
| 8 December 1921{{sfn|Sieche|p=229}}
| 15 October 1925{{sfn|Sieche|p=229}}
| Destroyed, 3 May 1945{{sfn|Williamson ''Light Cruisers''|p=13}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{lang|de|[[German cruiser Königsberg|Königsberg]]}}
| rowspan="3" | 9 × [[15 cm SK C/25|15&nbsp;cm SK C/25 guns]]{{sfn|Sieche|p=230}}
| rowspan="3" | 40&nbsp;mm{{sfn|Gröner|p=119}}
| rowspan="3" | {{convert|7700|LT|MT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=119}}
| rowspan="3" | 3 shafts, 4 steam turbines, 2 [[diesel engine]]s, 32&nbsp;kn{{sfn|Gröner|pp=119–120}}
| 12 April 1926{{sfn|Sieche|p=230}}
| 17 April 1929{{sfn|Sieche|p=230}}
| Sunk, 10 April 1940{{sfn|Sieche|p=230}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{lang|de|[[German cruiser Karlsruhe|Karlsruhe]]}}
| 27 July 1926{{sfn|Sieche|p=230}}
| 6 November 1929{{sfn|Sieche|p=230}}
| Sunk, 9 April 1940{{sfn|Sieche|p=230}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{lang|de|[[German cruiser Köln|Köln]]}}
| 7 August 1926{{sfn|Sieche|p=230}}
| 15 January 1930{{sfn|Sieche|p=230}}
| Sunk, 3 March 1945{{sfn|Sieche|p=230}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{lang|de|[[German cruiser Leipzig|Leipzig]]}}
| rowspan="2" | 9 × 15&nbsp;cm SK C/25 guns{{sfn|Sieche|p=230}}
| rowspan="2" | {{convert|30|mm|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=119}}
| {{convert|8100|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=119}}
| rowspan="2" | 3 shafts, 2 steam turbines, 4 diesel engines, 32&nbsp;kn{{sfn|Gröner|pp=119–120}}
| 28 April 1928{{sfn|Sieche|p=231}}
| 8 October 1931{{sfn|Sieche|p=231}}
| Scuttled, July 1946{{sfn|Sieche|p=231}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | {{lang|de|[[German cruiser Nürnberg|Nürnberg]]}}
| {{convert|9040|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=119}}
| 1934{{sfn|Sieche|p=231}}
| 2 November 1935{{sfn|Sieche|p=231}}
| Scrapped, [[Wiktionary:circa|c.]] 1960{{sfn|Sieche|p=231}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | M
| rowspan="6" | 8 × [[15 cm SK C/28|15&nbsp;cm SK C/28]] guns{{sfn|Sieche|p=232}}
| rowspan="6" | 25&nbsp;mm{{sfn|Gröner|p=124}}
| rowspan="4" | {{convert|8500|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=124}}
| rowspan="6" | 3 shafts, 2 steam turbines, 4 diesel engines, {{convert|35.5|kn}}{{sfn|Gröner|pp=124–125}}
| rowspan="2" | 1938{{sfn|Sieche|p=232}}
| rowspan="6" |&nbsp;—
| rowspan="2" | Scrapped, 1939{{sfn|Gröner|p=125}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | N
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | O
| rowspan="4" |&nbsp;—
| rowspan="4" |&nbsp;—
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | P
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | Q
| rowspan="2" | {{convert|9300|MT|LT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=124}}
|- valign="center"
! scope="row" | R
|}
==Heavy cruisers==
[[File:Bundesarchiv DVM 10 Bild-23-63-09, Kreuzer "Blücher".jpg|thumb|300px|{{lang|de|Blücher}} on [[sea trials]]|alt=A large gray warship cruising through calm seas; several men are standing on the deck]]
{{main|List of heavy cruisers of Germany}}
In addition to restricting the number of light cruisers Germany could possess, the Treaty of Versailles also limited the [[capital ship]] strength of the new {{lang|de|[[Reichsmarine]]}} to six old [[pre-dreadnought battleship]]s and placed restrictions on the size of replacement ships, with the intent of prohibiting ships more powerful than [[coastal defense ship]]s from being built.{{sfn|Sieche|p=227}} The {{lang|de|Reichsmarine}} responded by designing the {{sclass|Deutschland|cruiser|4}}; these heavy cruisers armed with {{convert|28|cm|abbr=on}} guns were intended to break the naval clauses of Versailles by significantly outgunning the new [[treaty cruiser]]s being built by Britain and France under the terms of the [[Washington Naval Treaty]], which were limited to {{convert|20.3|cm|abbr=on}} guns. If Britain and France agreed to abrogate the naval clauses of the Versailles treaty, Germany would abandon the new cruisers. France rejected the proposal, and so the three {{lang|de|Deutschland}}s were built,{{sfn|Bidlingmaier|p=2}} and a further two of the [[D-class cruiser (Germany)|D-class]] were planned, though these were cancelled in favor of a larger derivative, the {{sclass|Scharnhorst|battleship|4}} of [[fast battleship]]s. When Germany signed the [[Anglo-German Naval Agreement]] in 1935, the {{lang|de|Reichsmarine}} was permitted to build five new heavy cruisers—the {{sclass|Admiral Hipper|cruiser|4}}. [[Plan Z]], approved in early 1939, projected a dozen [[P-class cruiser]]s based on the {{lang|de|Deutschland}} design.{{sfn|Gröner|pp=63–67}}
Owing to the outbreak of World War II, only three of the {{lang|de|Admiral Hipper}}s were completed and the P-class ships were cancelled.{{sfn|Gröner|pp=63–67}} {{ship|German cruiser|Admiral Graf Spee||2}} was scuttled following the [[Battle of the River Plate]] in December 1939, and {{ship|German cruiser|Blücher||2}} was sunk during the invasion of Norway. {{ship|German cruiser|Admiral Scheer||2}} and {{Ship|German cruiser|Admiral Hipper||2}} were destroyed by Allied bombers in the last month of the war. In 1942 the {{lang|de|Kriegsmarine}} decided to convert the {{lang|de|Admiral Hipper}}-class cruiser {{ship|German cruiser|Seydlitz||2}} into an [[aircraft carrier]], though the project was not completed.{{sfn|Gröner|pp=62, 67}} {{ship|German cruiser|Deutschland||2}}, renamed {{lang|de|Lützow}}, and {{lang|de|Prinz Eugen}} both survived the war; the former was sunk in Soviet weapons tests in 1947 and the latter sank after enduring two nuclear detonations in [[Operation Crossroads]] in 1946.{{sfn|Prager|pp=317–320}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=67}} The two unfinished {{lang|de|Admiral Hipper}}s, {{lang|de|Seydlitz}} and {{ship|German cruiser|Lützow|1939|2}}, were scrapped in the Soviet Union in the late 1950s; the former was a war prize but the latter had been sold to the Soviets before the [[Operation Barbarossa|German invasion of the Soviet Union]] in 1941.{{sfn|Gröner|p=67}}
{{clear}}
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align: center;"
|- valign="top"
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Ship
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Armament
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Armor
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Displacement
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Propulsion
! scope="col" colspan="3" | Service
|- valign="top"
! width="5%" scope="col" | Laid down
! width="5%" scope="col" | Commissioned
! width="20%" scope="col" | Fate
|-
! scope="row" | {{ship|German cruiser|Deutschland||2}}/{{ship|German cruiser|Lützow|1940|2}}
| rowspan="3" | 6 × [[28 cm SK C/28 naval gun|28&nbsp;cm SK C/28]] guns{{sfn|Gröner|p=60}}
| rowspan="3" | {{convert|80|mm|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=60}}
| {{convert|14290|LT|MT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=60}}
| rowspan="3" | 2 shafts, 8 diesel engines, {{convert|28|kn|lk=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=60}}
| 5 February 1929{{sfn|Sieche|p=227}}
| 19 May 1931{{sfn|Gröner|p=61}}
| style="text-align: left;" | Sunk in Soviet weapons test, July 1947{{sfn|Prager|pp=317–320}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{ship|German cruiser|Admiral Scheer||2}}
| {{convert|15180|LT|MT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=60}}
| 25 June 1931{{sfn|Sieche|p=227}}
| 1 April 1933{{sfn|Gröner|p=62}}
| style="text-align: left;" | Sunk on 9 April 1945, broken up for scrap{{sfn|Gröner|p=62}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{ship|German cruiser|Admiral Graf Spee||2}}
| {{convert|16020|LT|MT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=60}}
| 1 October 1932{{sfn|Sieche|p=227}}
| 30 June 1934{{sfn|Gröner|p=62}}
| style="text-align: left;" | Scuttled on 17 December 1939{{sfn|Gröner|p=62}}
|-
! scope="row" | D
| rowspan="2" | 6 × 28&nbsp;cm guns{{sfn|Gröner|p=63}}
| rowspan="2" | {{convert|220|mm|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=63}}
| rowspan="2" | {{convert|20000|LT|MT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=63}}{{efn|This figure is as designed; the combat displacement is unknown.{{sfn|Gröner|p=63}}}}
| rowspan="2" | Turbine propulsion,{{efn|The details of the ships' propulsion system are unknown.{{sfn|Gröner|p=63}}}} {{convert|29|kn|lk=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=63}}
| 14 February 1934{{sfn|Gröner|p=63}}
| rowspan="2" |&nbsp;—
| style="text-align: left;" | Work halted on 5 July 1934, broken up{{sfn|Gröner|p=63}}
|-
! scope="row" | E
|&nbsp;—
| style="text-align: left;" | Work not begun{{sfn|Gröner|p=63}}
|-
! scope="row" | P1–P12
| 6 × 28&nbsp;cm guns{{sfn|Gröner|p=64}}
| {{convert|120|mm|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=63}}
| {{convert|25689|LT|MT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=64}}
| 12 diesel engines, {{convert|33|kn|lk=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=63}}
|&nbsp;—
|&nbsp;—
| style="text-align: left;" | Canceled on 27 July 1939{{sfn|Gröner|p=64}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{ship|German cruiser|Admiral Hipper||2}}
| rowspan="5" | 8 × [[20.3 cm SK C/34 naval gun|20.3&nbsp;cm SK C/34]] guns{{sfn|Gröner|p=66}}
| rowspan="5" | {{convert|80|mm|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=65}}
| {{convert|18200|LT|MT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=60}}
| rowspan="5" | 3 shafts, 3 turbine engines, {{convert|32|kn|lk=on}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=60}}
| 6 July 1935{{sfn|Williamson ''Heavy Cruisers''|p=12}}
| 29 April 1939{{sfn|Gröner|p=67}}
| style="text-align: left;" | Scuttled 3 May 1945, broken up in 1948{{sfn|Gröner|p=67}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{ship|German cruiser|Blücher||2}}
| {{convert|18200|LT|MT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=60}}
| 15 August 1936{{sfn|Williamson ''Heavy Cruisers''|p=22}}
| 20 September 1939{{sfn|Gröner|p=67}}
| style="text-align: left;" | Sunk on 9 April 1940{{sfn|Gröner|p=67}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{ship|German cruiser|Prinz Eugen||2}}
| {{convert|18750|LT|MT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=60}}
| 23 April 1936{{sfn|Williamson ''Heavy Cruisers''|p=37}}
| 1 August 1940{{sfn|Gröner|p=67}}
| style="text-align: left;" | Sunk after US atomic tests, 22 December 1946{{sfn|Gröner|p=62}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{ship|German cruiser|Seydlitz||2}}
| {{convert|19800|LT|MT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=60}}
| 29 December 1936{{sfn|Williamson ''Heavy Cruisers''|pp=42–43}}
|&nbsp;—
| style="text-align: left;" | Ceded to the Soviet Union, broken up after 1958{{sfn|Gröner|p=67}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{ship|German cruiser|Lützow|1939|2}}
| {{convert|19800|LT|MT|abbr=on|0}}{{sfn|Gröner|p=60}}
| 2 August 1937{{sfn|Williamson ''Heavy Cruisers''|pp=42–43}}
|&nbsp;—
| style="text-align: left;" | Sold to the Soviet Union, broken up in 1958–1959 or 1960{{sfn|Gröner|p=67}}
|}
==See also==
{{portal|Germany}}
* [[List of battleships of Germany]]
* [[List of battlecruisers of Germany]]
* [[List of ironclad warships of Germany]]
==Notes==
'''Footnotes'''
{{notes}}
'''Citations'''
{{reflist|20em}}
==References==
* {{cite book
| last = Bidlingmaier
| first = Gerhard
| year = 1971
| chapter = KM Admiral Graf Spee
| pages = 73–96
| title = Warship Profile 4
| publisher = Profile Publications
| location = Windsor
| oclc = 20229321
| ref = {{sfnRef|Bidlingmaier}}
}}
* {{cite book
| last1 = Campbell
| first1 = N. J. M.
| last2 = Sieche
| first2 = Erwin
| chapter = Germany
| pages = 134–189
| editor1-last = Gardiner
| editor1-first = Robert
| editor2-last = Gray
| editor2-first = Randal
| year = 1986
| title = Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921
| publisher = Conway Maritime Press
| location = London
| isbn = 978-0-85177-245-5
| name-list-style=amp
| ref ={{sfnRef|Campbell & Sieche}}
| url=https://archive.org/details/allworldsfightin00rgre
}}
* {{cite book
|last=Forstmeier
|first=Friedrich
|editor-last=Preston
|editor-first=Antony
|year=1972
|chapter=SMS Emden, Small Protected Cruiser 1906–1914
|pages=1–24
|title=Warship Profile 25
|publisher=Profile Publications
|location=Windsor
|oclc=33083971
|ref={{sfnRef|Forstmeier}}
}}
* {{cite book
| editor-last = Gardiner
| editor-first = Robert
| year = 1979
| title = Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1860–1905
| publisher = Conway Maritime Press
| location = Greenwich
| isbn = 978-0-8317-0302-8
| ref = {{sfnRef|Gardiner}}
| url-access = registration
| url = https://archive.org/details/conwaysallworlds0000unse_l2e2
}}
* {{cite book
| last = Gottschall
| first = Terrell D.
| year = 2003
| title = By Order of the Kaiser: Otto von Diedrichs and the Rise of the Imperial German Navy 1865–1902
| publisher = Naval Institute Press
| location = Annapolis
| isbn = 978-1-55750-309-1
| ref = {{sfnRef|Gottschall}}
}}
* {{cite book
| last = Gröner
| first = Erich
|author-link=Erich Gröner
| year = 1990
| title = German Warships: 1815–1945
| volume = I: Major Surface Vessels
| publisher = Naval Institute Press
| location = Annapolis
| isbn = 978-0-87021-790-6
| ref = {{sfnRef|Gröner}}
}}
* {{cite book
| last = Halpern
| first = Paul G.
| year = 1995
| title = A Naval History of World War I
| publisher = Naval Institute Press
| location = Annapolis
| isbn = 978-1-55750-352-7
| ref = {{sfnRef|Halpern}}
}}
* {{cite book
|last=Herwig
|first=Holger
|title="Luxury" Fleet: The Imperial German Navy 1888–1918
|year=1980
|location=Amherst
|publisher=Humanity Books
|isbn=1-57392-286-2
|ref={{sfnRef|Herwig}}
}}
* {{cite book
|last1=Hildebrand
|first1=Hans H.
|last2=Röhr
|first2=Albert
|last3=Steinmetz
|first3=Hans-Otto
| title = Die Deutschen Kriegsschiffe: Biographien – ein Spiegel der Marinegeschichte von 1815 bis zur Gegenwart
| trans-title=The German Warships: Biographies − A Reflection of Naval History from 1815 to the Present
| volume = 2
|year=1993
|location=Ratingen
|publisher=Mundus Verlag
|isbn = 978-3-8364-9743-5
|name-list-style=amp
|ref={{sfnRef|Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz Vol. 2}}
}}
* {{cite book
|last1=Hildebrand
|first1=Hans H.
|last2=Röhr
|first2=Albert
|last3=Steinmetz
|first3=Hans-Otto
| title = Die Deutschen Kriegsschiffe: Biographien – ein Spiegel der Marinegeschichte von 1815 bis zur Gegenwart
| trans-title=The German Warships: Biographies − A Reflection of Naval History from 1815 to the Present
| volume = 3
|year=1993
|location=Ratingen
|publisher=Mundus Verlag
|isbn = 3-7822-0211-2
|name-list-style=amp
|ref={{sfnRef|Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz Vol. 3}}
}}
* {{Cite book
|last1=Hildebrand
|first1=Hans H.
|last2=Röhr
|first2=Albert
|last3=Steinmetz
|first3=Hans-Otto
| title = Die Deutschen Kriegsschiffe: Biographien – ein Spiegel der Marinegeschichte von 1815 bis zur Gegenwart
| trans-title=The German Warships: Biographies − A Reflection of Naval History from 1815 to the Present
| volume = 5
|year=1993
|location=Ratingen
|publisher=Mundus Verlag
|asin=B003VHSRKE |asin-tld=de
|name-list-style=amp
|ref={{sfnRef|Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz Vol. 5}}
}}
* {{cite book
|last1 = Hildebrand
| first1 = Hans H.
| last2 = Röhr
| first2 = Albert
| last3 = Steinmetz
| first3 = Hans-Otto
| year = 1993
| title = Die Deutschen Kriegsschiffe: Biographien – ein Spiegel der Marinegeschichte von 1815 bis zur Gegenwart
| trans-title=The German Warships: Biographies − A Reflection of Naval History from 1815 to the Present
| volume = 7
| publisher = Mundus Verlag
| location = Ratingen
|asin=B003VHSRKE |asin-tld=de
|name-list-style=amp
| ref = {{sfnRef|Hildebrand, Röhr, & Steinmetz Vol. 7}}
}}
* {{cite book
| last = Mitchell
| first = Nancy
| title = The Danger of Dreams: German and American Imperialism in Latin America
| year = 1999
| publisher = University of North Carolina Press
| location = Chapel Hill
| isbn = 978-0-8078-4775-6
| ref = {{sfnRef|Mitchell}}
| url-access = registration
| url = https://archive.org/details/dangerofdreamsge0000mitc
}}
* {{Cite journal
|last=Novik
|first=Anton
|year=1969
|title=The Story of the Cruisers Brummer and Bremse
|journal=Warship International
|volume=3
|pages=185–189
|publisher=International Naval Research Organization
|location=Toledo
|oclc=1647131
|ref={{sfnRef|Novik}}
}}
* {{cite book
| last = Perry
| first = Michael
| year = 2001
| title = Peking 1900: The Boxer Rebellion
| publisher = Osprey Publishing
| location = Oxford
| isbn = 978-1-84176-181-7
| ref = {{sfnRef|Perry}}
}}
* {{cite book
| last = Prager
| first = Hans Georg
| year = 2002
| language = de
| title = Panzerschiff Deutschland, Schwerer Kreuzer Lützow: ein Schiffs-Schicksal vor den Hintergründen seiner Zeit
| publisher = Koehler
| location = Hamburg
| isbn = 978-3-7822-0798-0
| ref = {{sfnRef|Prager}}
}}
* {{cite book
| last = Sieche
| first = Erwin
| chapter = Germany
| pages = 218–254
| editor-last1 = Gardiner
| editor-first1 = Robert
| editor-last2 = Chesneau
| editor-first2 = Roger
| year = 1992
| title = Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946
| publisher = Conway Maritime Press
| location = London
| isbn = 978-0-85177-146-5
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=bJBMBvyQ83EC
| ref = {{sfnRef|Sieche}}
}}
* {{cite book
| last = Sondhaus
| first = Lawrence
| title = Preparing for Weltpolitik: German Sea Power Before the Tirpitz Era
| year = 1997
| publisher = Naval Institute Press
| location = Annapolis
| isbn = 978-1-55750-745-7
| ref = {{sfnRef|Sondhaus}}
}}
* {{cite book
| last = Staff
| first = Gary
| year = 2006
| title = German Battlecruisers: 1914–1918
| publisher = Osprey Books
| location = Oxford
| isbn = 978-1-84603-009-3
| ref = {{sfnRef|Staff}}
}}
* {{cite book
| last = Tarrant
| first = V. E.
| year = 2001
| orig-year = 1995
| title = Jutland: The German Perspective
| publisher = Cassell Military Paperbacks
| location = London
| isbn = 978-0-304-35848-9
| ref = {{sfnRef|Tarrant}}
}}
* {{cite book
| last = Williamson
| first = Gordon
| author-link = Gordon Williamson (writer)
| year = 2003
| title = German Heavy Cruisers 1939–1945
| publisher = Osprey Publishing
| location = Oxford
| isbn = 978-1-84176-502-0
| ref = {{sfnRef|Williamson ''Heavy Cruisers''}}
}}
* {{Cite book
|last=Williamson
|first=Gordon
|title=German Light Cruisers 1939–1945
|year=2003
|publisher=Osprey Publishing
|isbn=1-84176-503-1
|location=Oxford
|ref={{sfnRef|Williamson ''Light Cruisers''}}
}}
{{German cruisers}}
{{Cruisers}}
[[Category:Lists of cruisers|Germany]]
[[Category:Cruisers of Germany| ]]
[[Category:Lists of ships of Germany|Cruiser]]
[[Category:German naval-related lists|Cruisers]]