Germany had been in the background ever since Cunard and White Star launched their Lusitania and Olympic class liners. Hamburg-Amerika hadn't owned a promenant ship since the turn of the century, and not wanting to be outdone by their greatest maratime rival, chairman Ablert Ballin set out to introduce three new liners. The ships were built at Blohm and Voss shipyard in Hamburg and the first, Imperator was launched as the biggest ship in the world in May 1912 and the Vaterland came in early 1914.
Bismarck, the third and largest ship in the trio was launched on June 20th, 1914, only weeks before the out break of war. Imperator and Vaterland served as troopers during the war for America and England having been impounded, but Bismarck had no action during the war for friend or foe.
After the war, the three massive ships were handed over to America and England, each to become flagships of their own line, Imperator going to Cunard and being re named the Berengaria and Vaterland going to the America line, having already been renamed Leviathan during the war. Bismarck, when completed would be given to the White Star Line. Albert Ballin never saw or heard the fates of his three liners. He took an overdoes of sleeping tablets a day before the armistice. |
