| Germany's Greyhounds |
More than a military threat, Germany was deadly
competition for the British because Germany had a
significant share of the trans-Atlantic trade between
1897 and 1914 with some of the fastest and most
fashionable ships on the Atlantic. The Germans had the
two largest ships in the world in 1913-1914, Hamburg-
Amerika's Imperator and Vaterland. Norddeutscher
Lloyd and Hamburg-Amerika Line were Germany's
two major transatlantic shipping companies
competition for the British because Germany had a
significant share of the trans-Atlantic trade between
1897 and 1914 with some of the fastest and most
fashionable ships on the Atlantic. The Germans had the
two largest ships in the world in 1913-1914, Hamburg-
Amerika's Imperator and Vaterland. Norddeutscher
Lloyd and Hamburg-Amerika Line were Germany's
two major transatlantic shipping companies
Hamburg-Amerika invented the "Ala Carte" ship-board restaurant and its interiors were of top-notch
design, and both were planned in cooperation with the Ritz Hotel. But the very first German
superliner was the Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse which Norddeutscher Lloyd (North German Lloyd)
had built at the Vulcan Shipyards at Stettin on May 4, 1897.
design, and both were planned in cooperation with the Ritz Hotel. But the very first German
superliner was the Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse which Norddeutscher Lloyd (North German Lloyd)
had built at the Vulcan Shipyards at Stettin on May 4, 1897.
Norddeutscher Lloyd's Kaiser Wilhelm Der Grosse which entered service in 1897 was the world's
biggest, fastest and the first of the four-funneled ocean greyhounds and she became the first liner to
have a Marconi commercial wireless telegraphy system in February, 1900. She was 648 ft. long and
14,349 tons of awe and beauty, and was named for Kaiser Wilhelm I, first emperor and founder of
the German empire in 1871. In 1897, she won the legendary and coveted 'Blue Ribbon' trans-
Atlantic speed record from the British, and she and her look-alike, Hamburg-America's Deutschland,
kept the speed record until the British launched the Lusitania and the Mauretania which recaptured
the record in 1907 (the Mauretania kept the record until 1929, when the Germans recaptured it with
a pair of super-liners using the innovative 'bulbous bow' hull design).
biggest, fastest and the first of the four-funneled ocean greyhounds and she became the first liner to
have a Marconi commercial wireless telegraphy system in February, 1900. She was 648 ft. long and
14,349 tons of awe and beauty, and was named for Kaiser Wilhelm I, first emperor and founder of
the German empire in 1871. In 1897, she won the legendary and coveted 'Blue Ribbon' trans-
Atlantic speed record from the British, and she and her look-alike, Hamburg-America's Deutschland,
kept the speed record until the British launched the Lusitania and the Mauretania which recaptured
the record in 1907 (the Mauretania kept the record until 1929, when the Germans recaptured it with
a pair of super-liners using the innovative 'bulbous bow' hull design).
| Typical Norddeutscher Lloyd Ladies Room, left, and Kaiser Wilhelm Der Grosse's smoking room, right |
Norddeutscher Lloyd repeated its excellence with other large liners, including the Kronprinz Wilhelm,
Kaiser Wilhelm II and the Kronprinzessin Cecile, all of them four stackers,
Kaiser Wilhelm II and the Kronprinzessin Cecile, all of them four stackers,
Below: Dining Salon on the Kaiser Wilhelm II and dining salon and sitting room on the Kronprinzessin Cecilie
Kronprinzessin Cecilie, twin of the Kaiser Wilhelm II,
was the last of the set of four ocean liners built for North
German Lloyd and the last German four stacker. She had
grand amenities: first class suites fitted with private dining
rooms, a fish tank was in the kitchen with fresh fish, lush
detail and professional decorating. She was made with the
best of German craftsmanship with her salons elegantly
ornamented with carved wood and gilded mirrors.
American millionaires loved her as did countless emigrants.
was the last of the set of four ocean liners built for North
German Lloyd and the last German four stacker. She had
grand amenities: first class suites fitted with private dining
rooms, a fish tank was in the kitchen with fresh fish, lush
detail and professional decorating. She was made with the
best of German craftsmanship with her salons elegantly
ornamented with carved wood and gilded mirrors.
American millionaires loved her as did countless emigrants.
Like other liners of the time, accomodations were divided into three classes, first class being the most
luxurious. But the third class passengers during the massive European emigration made the company
its most profit. The Kronprinz Wilhelm, completed on August 25th 1901, was a ship similar to the
Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse but even larger. She also had the four funnels characteristically grouped
in two pairs. The Kronprinz Wilhelm was designed for 1,761 passengers, of which 1,054 would
travel in third class below decks. While a deluxe suite could cost as much as $2,500, it could cost as
little as $10 on a ship like the Kronprinz Wilhelm to reach the Americas. She could carry some 2500
people. The ship's library, below
luxurious. But the third class passengers during the massive European emigration made the company
its most profit. The Kronprinz Wilhelm, completed on August 25th 1901, was a ship similar to the
Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse but even larger. She also had the four funnels characteristically grouped
in two pairs. The Kronprinz Wilhelm was designed for 1,761 passengers, of which 1,054 would
travel in third class below decks. While a deluxe suite could cost as much as $2,500, it could cost as
little as $10 on a ship like the Kronprinz Wilhelm to reach the Americas. She could carry some 2500
people. The ship's library, below
When launched on August 12, 1902, also at the Vulcan
Company near Stettin, the "Kaiser Wilhelm II" represented
a great advance over all former steamers. The Kaiser
Wilhelm II was even larger and faster than its beautiful
predecessors, and was so impressive that 40,000 people
toured her grand interior while she was at Hoboken pier in
New Jersey. She was a comfortable and popular ship.
Company near Stettin, the "Kaiser Wilhelm II" represented
a great advance over all former steamers. The Kaiser
Wilhelm II was even larger and faster than its beautiful
predecessors, and was so impressive that 40,000 people
toured her grand interior while she was at Hoboken pier in
New Jersey. She was a comfortable and popular ship.
Aside from ordinary berths, there were two Imperial suites,
eight special staterooms, eight "cabines de luxe" and four
suites with private baths. First class passengers enjoyed a
dining saloon, a library, a smoking room, a children's salon,
a drawing room and two cafés. Second class passengers
had their own dining salon, drawing room and smoking
room. There were 28 bath rooms for first and second class
passengers, a large number for its day. The passengers
were provided with electric light, steam heat and an
extensive telephone system.
eight special staterooms, eight "cabines de luxe" and four
suites with private baths. First class passengers enjoyed a
dining saloon, a library, a smoking room, a children's salon,
a drawing room and two cafés. Second class passengers
had their own dining salon, drawing room and smoking
room. There were 28 bath rooms for first and second class
passengers, a large number for its day. The passengers
were provided with electric light, steam heat and an
extensive telephone system.
| See more about these ships later |