The ship on the left of this stamp, issued in 2009 of the 100th Anniversary of the railway connection between Sasnitz and Trelleborg, is the DEUTSCHLAND. The ship on the right is the PREUSSEN.
Built as a ro-ro train ferry under Yard No. 292 by AG Vulcan, Stettin-Bredow, Germany for the Kònigliche Easenbahndirection, Sassnitz, Germany.
17th February 1909 launched as the DEUTSCHLAND.
Tonnage 2,927 grt, 1,095 net, 2,412 dwt., dim. 113.80 x 16.26 x 4.90m (draught).
Powered by two 3-cyl. Triple-expansion steam engines, manufactured by shipbuilder, 5000 hp, twin screws. Speed 16.5 knots.
Accommodation for 975 passengers and 18 railway carriages.
June 1909 completed.
7th July 1909: Used as a ferry between Sassnitz and Trelleborg, Sweden.
4th August 1914: Requisitioned by German Imperial Navy and refitted in an auxiliary mine layer.
Armament: 4 – 8.8 cm, 2 – 5 cm, 2 – 8.8 cm guns, carried 420 mines.
Mainly used in the Baltic Sea.
August 1914: She laid minefields near Russian ports in the Baltic. There was then a short detachment in the North Sea, returning to the Baltic to lay mines near the Russian coast in 1915.
April 1917: Used during the operations around the Russian Baltic Islands and in October 1917 took part in the Battle of the Moon-Sund.
Until January 1919, she was used by the Imperial Navy. After decommisioning, she returned to her ferry service between Germany and Sweden.
1st April 1920: Transferred to the Deutsche Reichseisenbahn (German Railways), Sassnitz.
1923: Transferred to Reichseisenbahndirektion, Sassnitz.
12th February 1924: Transferred to Deutsche Reichsbahn Ges.-Reichsbanh Direktion Stettin, Sassnitz.
18th January 1929: She grounded when leaving Trelleborg. Refloated the next day and towed to Kiel for repairs.
Between 1933 and 1938 made several voyages for the Seedienst Ostpreussen in the service between Kiel – Swinemünde - Pillau.
18th August 1940: Requisitioned by the German Navy with the plan to use her in the invasion of the U.K. (Operation Seelöwe [Sealion]).
22nd August 1940 renamed in STRALSUND.
6th September 1940: Went from Swinemünde to Wilhelmshaven to be refitted as a minelayer.
25th September 1940: Damaged following a bomb attack by Allied planes.
7th November 1940: Handed back to her owners and renamed DEUTSCHLAND, returning to the service between Sassnitz and Trelleborg.
26th June 1942: Ended passenger transport, only used for cargo.
19th October 1942: Torpedoed by a Russian submarine in which 16 people lost their lives. Repaired by the Kockums yard in Malmo, Sweden.
26th September 1944: Ended the ferry service and became a troop transport in Norway.
May 1945: Transferred to the Allied Occupation Forces at Sønderborg and used in the service between Travemunde and Trelleborg
August 1945: Used as a troop transport between Lübeck and Gdynia.
12th March 1946: Handed over to the Soviet Union as war reparation at Lübeck.
13th March 1946: renamed in ANIVA with the homeport of Vladivostok.
Between 1950 and 1951 refitted and strengthened at Vladivostok.
Thereafter in service.
1959 Sank.
May 1960: Refloated and thereafter used as floating hotel for dockworkers at Nakhodka.
1963: Broken up.
Germany 2009
Source: http://www.faktaomfartyg.se/deutschland_1909.htm http://wapedia.mobi/de/Deutschland_%281909%29 Register of Merchant Ships Completed in 1909.
See also article on the PREUSSEN