In April 1945, the Kriegsmarine was in a dire state, with most of its large surface vessels out of commission. Admiral Scheer, a veteran heavy cruiser, was one of the few still operational. Throughout the war's final months, she served in various critical roles, including bombarding advancing Soviet forces and assisting in the evacuation of civilians.
By January 1945, with the Soviet offensive in full swing, Admiral Scheer was stationed in Pillau. Her mission: support the German land offensive and aid in the evacuation efforts. On January 18th, she docked astern of the night fighter direction ship Togo. Before dawn the next day, she unleashed her powerful 28 cm and 15 cm guns on Soviet positions to help reopen the Königsberg-Pillau corridor. Her actions were crucial in enabling the escape of thousands of refugees.
February saw Admiral Scheer off Elbing, bombarding Soviet lines from a distance of 35 kilometers. This relentless engagement took a toll on her guns, necessitating urgent repairs. The only workshop capable of such repairs was in Kiel, so the cruiser set sail, carrying more refugees and wounded from Gdynia along the way. Despite a dangerous journey through an uncleared minefield, she reached Kiel on March 18th and docked for repairs.
Kiel, by this time, was a city under constant Allied bombardment. To bolster the city's defenses, Admiral Scheer's anti-aircraft guns and ammunition were removed. However, her main guns were unserviceable due to the ongoing barrel replacements. On April 8th, "B" turret's barrel was successfully exchanged, but further repairs were planned for "A" turret using a floating crane in Heikendorf Bay.
The night of April 9th marked the beginning of the end for Admiral Scheer. At 9:50 PM, an air-raid alarm sent most of the crew to bunkers ashore, leaving about 90 officers and men on board. At 10:38 PM, bombs began to rain down, causing severe damage. Despite desperate efforts to manage the flooding and maintain power, the ship began to list severely. The order to abandon ship was given, but due to electrical failures, not all the crew received it.
Salvage workers from the light cruiser Emden cut into the hull in a heroic effort to rescue trapped crew members. After 42 hours of intense search operations, the ship finally capsized, entombing 15 men within its hull. The wreck was left high in the water, a grim testament to the devastating bombardment.
When British forces captured Kiel in early May 1945, they found the mangled remains of Admiral Scheer among the wreckage. By July, British authorities had begun salvaging the valuable metals and components from the wreck. The process of breaking up the ship continued throughout the following year, with much of the metal shipped to Britain. However, the cost of complete scrapping proved too high, leaving the remains of the hull buried beneath the rubble of the rebuilt naval arsenal.
Today, the final resting place of Admiral Scheer lies under a parking lot in Kiel, her story a poignant reminder of the war's devastation. Despite the limited information on her scrapping, the legacy of Admiral Scheer endures, remembered for her service and sacrifice.
Intro 0:00
Early 1945 1:59
Bombing the Admiral Scheer 5:48
Scrapping and Burial 7:53
Conclusion 10:43
Sources/Other Reading:
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www.amazon.com/Big-Guns-Atlan...
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www.amazon.com/Northern-Theat...
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