5 Apr 1877

Germany
  • Blohm und Voss was founded by Hermann Blohm and Ernst Voss in Hamburg, Germany as a shipyard and machinery factory. The shipyard was established on the island of Kuhwarder. Most of this land was swamp and cow pastures and would need months of work to build a firm foundation under the shipyard. The area measured 15,000 square meters with 250 meters of water frontage. There would be four slips initially with the ability to handle ships of 300 feet and they would launch into the North Elbe. ww2dbase [Blohm und Voss | Hamburg | AG]
10 May 1879

Germany
  • The Blohm und Voss shipyard in Hamburg, Germany launched its first ship, freighter Castle. ww2dbase [Blohm und Voss | Hamburg | AG]
4 Jul 1885

Germany
  • Drydock No. 2 at Blohm und Voss shipyard in Hamburg, Germany began operations. ww2dbase [Blohm und Voss | Hamburg | AG]
7 May 1887

Germany
  • The Blohm und Voss shipyard in Hamburg, Germany purchased additional land, increasing the size of the facility to 77,546 square meters. ww2dbase [Blohm und Voss | Hamburg | AG]
29 Jul 1905

Photo(s) dated 29 Jul 1905
Launching ceremony of barque Pamir, Blohm und Voss shipyard, Hamburg, Germany, 29 Jul 1905
14 May 1912

Germany
  • King Frederick VIII of Denmark (age 68) collapsed and died whilst on a walk in Hamburg, Germany. ww2dbase [Hamburg | AC]
20 Jun 1914

Photo(s) dated 20 Jun 1914
Launching of passenger liner Bismarck, Blohm und Voss shipyard, Hamburg, Germany, 20 Jun 1914, photo 1 of 4Launching of passenger liner Bismarck, Blohm und Voss shipyard, Hamburg, Germany, 20 Jun 1914, photo 2 of 4Launching of passenger liner Bismarck, Blohm und Voss shipyard, Hamburg, Germany, 20 Jun 1914, photo 3 of 4Launching of passenger liner Bismarck, Blohm und Voss shipyard, Hamburg, Germany, 20 Jun 1914, photo 4 of 4
16 Aug 1916

Germany
  • Hamburger Werft AG was established in Hamburg, Germany. Some documents indicated the founding date to be 25 Aug 1916 instead. ww2dbase [Deutsche Werft Hamburg | Hamburg | AG]
6 Jun 1918

Germany
3 May 1919

Germany
24 Dec 1919

Germany
4 Jul 1922

Germany
  • German fighter ace Lothar von Richthofen (brother of the famous Manfred) was killed in a flying accident at Fühlsbüttel, Hamburg, Germany when the engine of his converted L.V.G. CVI failed as he came in to land. ww2dbase [Hamburg | AC]
24 Apr 1923

Germany
  • The name AEG-Deutsche Werft AG was officially entered in the Commercial Register of Berlin-Mitte in Germany. ww2dbase [Deutsche Werft Hamburg | Hamburg | AG]
9 Jun 1923

Germany
24 Oct 1923

Germany
  • A German Communist attempt to revolt in Hamburg, Germany was put down. ww2dbase [Hamburg | CPC]
14 May 1927

Photo(s) dated 14 May 1927
Launching ceremony of Cap Arcona, Slip VII, Blohm und Voss shipyard, Hamburg, Germany, 14 May 1927, photo 1 of 3Launching ceremony of Cap Arcona, Slip VII, Blohm und Voss shipyard, Hamburg, Germany, 14 May 1927, photo 3 of 3Launching ceremony of Cap Arcona, Slip VII, Blohm und Voss shipyard, Hamburg, Germany, 14 May 1927, photo 2 of 3
31 May 1931

Germany
  • Reinhard Heydrich joined the Nazi Party in Hamburg, Germany, receiving party identification number 544,916. ww2dbase [Reinhard Heydrich | Hamburg | CPC]
17 Jul 1932

Germany
  • Clashes between Nazi Party protesters, communists, and the police in Hamburg, Germany resulted in 19 killed and 285 wounded. ww2dbase [Hamburg | CPC]
2 Dec 1932

Germany
1 Apr 1933

Photo(s) dated 1 Apr 1933
Nazi Party members boycotting a Jewish-owned store in Hamburg, Germany, 1 Apr 1933
3 May 1933

Germany Photo(s) dated 3 May 1933
Launching ceremony of Gorch Fock at the Blohm und Voss shipyard in Hamburg, Germany, 3 May 1933
2 Aug 1933

Germany
  • The Blohm und Voss shipyard in Hamburg, Germany received the order to build tender Tsingtau. ww2dbase [Blohm und Voss | Tsingtau | Hamburg | CPC]
21 Oct 1933

Germany
6 Jan 1934

Germany
10 Jan 1935

Germany
  • The keel of fleet escort ship F7 was laid down at the Blohm und Voss yard in Hamburg, Germany. ww2dbase [Blohm und Voss | F7 | Hamburg | CPC]
29 Jan 1935

Germany
  • The keel of fleet escort ship F8 was laid down at the Blohm und Voss yard in Hamburg, Germany. ww2dbase [Blohm und Voss | F8 | Hamburg | CPC]
16 Nov 1935

Germany
  • The Blohm und Voss shipyard in Hamburg, Germany received the contract for laying down the hull of the future battleship Bismarck; the construction number was BV 509. ww2dbase [Blohm und Voss | Bismarck | Hamburg | CPC]
15 Feb 1936

Germany
25 May 1936

Germany
  • Fleet escort ship F7 was launched at the Blohm und Voss yard in Hamburg, Germany. ww2dbase [Blohm und Voss | F7 | Hamburg | CPC]
13 Jun 1936

Germany
  • Horst Wessel was launched by Blohm und Voss in Hamburg, Germany, sponsored by Nazi martyr Horst Wessel's mother. Rudolf Hess gave a speech at the ceremony, which Adolf Hitler also attended. ww2dbase [Blohm und Voss | Horst Wessel | Hamburg | CPC]
Photo(s) dated 13 Jun 1936
Launching of Horst Wessel, Blohm und Voss shipyard, Hamburg, Germany, 13 Jun 1936
1 Jul 1936

Germany
9 Jul 1936

Germany
  • The keel of of M1 was laid down by Stülcken at the H. C. Stülcken Sohn shipyard in Hamburg, Germany. ww2dbase [H. C. Stülcken Sohn | M1 | Hamburg | CPC]
16 Jul 1936

Photo(s) dated 16 Jul 1936
Launching ceremony of transport Pretoria, Blohm und Voss shipyard, Hamburg, Germany, 16 Jul 1936
27 Jul 1936

Germany
  • Fleet escort ship F8 was launched at the Blohm und Voss yard in Hamburg, Germany. ww2dbase [Blohm und Voss | F8 | Hamburg | CPC]
1 Aug 1936

Germany
6 Feb 1937

Photo(s) dated 6 Feb 1937
Launching ceremony of Admiral Hipper, Blohm und Voss shipyard, Hamburg, Germany, 6 Feb 1937; note Wilhelm Gustloff in background
5 Mar 1937

Germany
5 May 1937

Germany Photo(s) dated 5 May 1937
Launching of Wilhelm Gustloff, Slip VII of Blohm und Voss shipyard, Hamburg, Germany, 5 May 1937
15 Jul 1937

Germany
30 Oct 1937

Germany
22 Sep 1938

Germany
14 Feb 1939

Germany Photo(s) dated 14 Feb 1939
Launching of the Bismarck, Hamburg, Germany, 14 Feb 1939Bismarck immediate after her launch, Hamburg, Germany, 14 Feb 1939
15 Jul 1939

Germany
  • The keel of battleship H was laid down at the Blohm und Voss shipyard in Hamburg, Germany. ww2dbase [Blohm und Voss | H | Hamburg | CPC]
28 Jul 1939

Photo(s) dated 28 Jul 1939
Battleship H under construction at the Blohm und Voss shipyard in Hamburg, Germany, 28 Jul 1939
1 Aug 1939

Germany
11 Sep 1939

Germany
  • "Lord Haw-Haw", began broadcasting his "Germany calling" programme on Radio Hamburg. The name was eventually linked to William Joyce, a US citizen who had spent some time in Ireland, had been Propaganda Director of Oswald Moseley's (qv) British Union of Fascists and who had fled to Berlin a week before the outbreak of war. By 1940 30 per cent of the British population would be regularly tuning in to Radio Hamburg for his programme. ww2dbase [William Joyce | Hamburg | AC]
30 Sep 1939

Germany
2 Oct 1939

Germany
  • German Luftwaffe Friegerkorps X under the command of General Hans Geissler was formed at Hamburg, Germany. The Korps would specialise in anti-shipping operations. ww2dbase [Hamburg | AC]
7 Nov 1939

Germany
  • Herbert Norkus was launched prematurely by Blohm und Voss in Hamburg, Germany to make way for submarine construction. ww2dbase [Blohm und Voss | Herbert Norkus | Hamburg | CPC]
23 Nov 1939

Germany
3 Apr 1940

Germany
  • German supply ships began departing Hamburg, Germany for the invasion of Norway; in all 7 freighters of 28,693 tons would set sail. The British cabinet was warned of this action and the German concentration of troops within hours. ww2dbase [Invasion of Denmark and Norway | Hamburg | CPC, HM]
12 Apr 1940

Germany
  • Luftflotte 5 was formed in Hamburg, Germany under the command of Generaloberst Erhard Milch for operations in Norway. Milch would soon establish his headquarters in Oslo, Norway. ww2dbase [Erhard Milch | Hamburg | CPC]
17 May 1940

Germany
12 Jun 1940

Germany
1 Aug 1940

Germany
15 Sep 1940

Germany
  • Battleship Bismarck departed Hamburg, Germany for the first time. At 1658 hours, while steaming down the Elbe River, she collided with bow tug Atlantik without damage. At 1902, she anchored in Brunsbüttel roads. During the night, she fired 13 10.5cm, 136 3.7 cm, and 191 2cm shells during a British air raid, without any hits. ww2dbase [Bismarck | Hamburg | CPC]
15 Nov 1940

Germany
16 Nov 1940

Germany
17 Nov 1940

Germany
9 Dec 1940

Germany
  • Battleship Bismarck arrived at Hamburg, Germany. ww2dbase [Bismarck | Hamburg | CPC]
6 Mar 1941

Germany
  • Battleship Bismarck departed Hamburg, Germany. ww2dbase [Bismarck | Hamburg | CPC]
23 Apr 1941

Germany
  • German armed merchant cruiser Thor arrived at Hamburg, Germany, ending a 322-day raiding mission that covered 57,532 miles which saw the sinking of 11 merchant ships and 1 British armed merchant cruiser. ww2dbase [Thor | Hamburg | CPC]
30 Apr 1941

Germany
  • U-576 was launched at Hamburg, Germany. ww2dbase [U-576 | Hamburg | CPC]
8 May 1941

Germany
10 May 1941

Germany
11 May 1941

Germany
25 May 1941

Germany
11 Jun 1941

Germany
  • After dark, British bombers conducted the first of 20 consecutive nightly raids on the Ruhr and Rhineland industrial areas in Germany. Several German port cities such as Hamburg and Bremen were also hit. ww2dbase [Bombing of Hamburg, Dresden, and Other Cities | Hamburg | TH]
26 Aug 1941

Germany
  • German Type IXC U-Boat U-505 was a commissioned at Hamburg, Germany with Kapitänleutnant Axel-Olaf Loewe in command. ww2dbase [U-505 | Hamburg | DS]
15 Sep 1941

Germany
30 Nov 1941

Germany
  • German armed merchant cruiser Komet arrived at Hamburg, Germany after a 516-day, 87,000-mile, circumnavigating journey. She sank 5 ships, captured 1 ship, and shared credit for another two sinkings on this mission. ww2dbase [Komet | Hamburg | CPC]
14 Jan 1942

Germany
  • Hamburg, Germany was bombed for the first time by mainforce aircraft of RAF Bomber Command; this raid conducted by aircraft of No. 207 Squadron would last until the early hours of the next date. Altona railway station and other targets were hit. Hamburg would ultimately be bombed on seventeen occasions, destroying 75% of the city. ww2dbase [Bombing of Hamburg, Dresden, and Other Cities | Hamburg | AC]
8 Apr 1942

Germany
  • 272 RAF bombers (177 Wellington, 41 Hampden, 22 Stirling, 13 Manchester, 12 Halifax, and 7 Lancaster aircraft) conducted a raid on Hamburg, Germany; 4 Wellington and 1 Manchester aircraft were lost in this attack. ww2dbase [Bombing of Hamburg, Dresden, and Other Cities | Hamburg | CPC]
3 May 1942

Germany
26 Jul 1942

Germany
  • 403 British bombers (181 Wellington, 77 Lancaster, 73 Halifax, 39 Stirling, and 33 Hampden) attacked Hamburg, Germany, destroying 823 houses, damaging 5,000 houses, killing 337, wounding 1,027, and making 14,000 homeless; 14 bombers were lost on this mission. ww2dbase [Bombing of Hamburg, Dresden, and Other Cities | Hamburg | CPC]
28 Jul 1942

Germany
  • 256 British bombers (161 Wellington, 71 Stirling, and 24 Whitley) were launched to attack Hamburg, Germany, but bad weather forced most of them to turn back before reaching the city; the 68 aircraft that reached Hamburg killed 13 and wounded 48 at the cost of about 30 bombers shot down. ww2dbase [Bombing of Hamburg, Dresden, and Other Cities | Hamburg | CPC]
12 Mar 1943

Germany
15 Mar 1943

Germany
  • Traute Lafrenz was arrested by the Gestapo in Hamburg, Germany for her involvement with the White Rose resistance group. ww2dbase [Traute Lafrenz | Hamburg | CPC]
19 Apr 1943

Germany
  • In Hamburg, Germany, Traute Lafrenz was sentenced to an one-year prison term for her involvement with the White Rose resistance group. ww2dbase [Traute Lafrenz | Hamburg | CPC]
29 Apr 1943

Germany
11 May 1943

Germany
25 Jun 1943

Germany
24 Jul 1943

Germany
  • The first operational use of "Window" radar jamming took place during Operation Gomorrah when 746 RAF planes drop 2,300 tons of explosive on Hamburg, Germany, losing 12 aircraft. Hamburg burned in a major firestorm that killed a significant number of civilians. ww2dbase [Bombing of Hamburg, Dresden, and Other Cities | Hamburg | TH]
25 Jul 1943

Germany
  • 109 USAAF bombers attacked Hamburg, Germany in the afternoon as a follow up to the night raid by British bombers on the previous day; 15 bombers were lost. German passenger ship Weissesee was sunk in the harbor, the incomplete passenger liner Vaterland was heavily damaged at the Blohm und Voss shipyard, and the incomplete submarine U-1011 was also damaged at the Blohm und Voss shipyard. ww2dbase [Bombing of Hamburg, Dresden, and Other Cities | Blohm und Voss | U-1011 | Weissesee | Hamburg | TH]
27 Jul 1943

Germany
  • After nightfall, a repeated bombing of Hamburg, Germany by 787 RAF aircraft created a fire storm in which an estimated 42,000 people perished, most of them by carbon monoxide poisoning when all the air was drawn out of their basement shelters. The fire storm, in which the heat and humidity of the summer night was a contributory factor, raged for three hours until there was nothing left to burn. ww2dbase [Bombing of Hamburg, Dresden, and Other Cities | Hamburg | AC]
29 Jul 1943

Germany
30 Jul 1943

Germany
2 Aug 1943

Germany
  • Overnight, Hamburg, Germany suffered its ninth and final raid in eight days as 740 RAF bombers attacked; 30 of the bombers were shot down. By this time Hamburg had lost as many civilians as Britain had in the entire air war. ww2dbase [Bombing of Hamburg, Dresden, and Other Cities | Hamburg | TH]
23 Dec 1943

Germany
7 Jan 1944

Germany
20 Feb 1944

Germany
18 Mar 1944

Germany
3 Apr 1944

Germany
  • The keel of U-2501 was laid down at the Blohm und Voss shipyard in Hamburg, Germany. ww2dbase [Blohm und Voss | U-2501 | Hamburg | CPC]
12 May 1944

Germany
18 Jun 1944

Germany
20 Jun 1944

Germany
1 Jul 1944

Germany
22 Jul 1944

Germany
6 Aug 1944

Photo(s) dated 6 Aug 1944
B-24J Liberator of the 856th Bomb Squadron over the target of the Rhenania-Ossag oil refinery near Hamburg, Germany, Aug 6 1944.
6 Nov 1944

Germany
17 Jan 1945

Germany
24 Feb 1945

Germany
11 Mar 1945

Germany
30 Mar 1945

Germany
  • Over 1,250 heavy bombers of US 8th Air Force bombed German ports of Hamburg, Bremen, and Wilhelmshaven. Submarines U-96, U-429, and U-3308, as well as schnellboote S-186, S-194, and S-224 were destroyed at Wilhelmshaven. U-72, U-230, U-430, U-870, U-884, and U-886 were destroyed at Bremen. U-2340, U-348, U-350, and U-1167 were destroyed at Hamburg. ww2dbase [Bombing of Hamburg, Dresden, and Other Cities | Hamburg | CPC, HM]
8 Apr 1945

Germany
  • German submarines U-2514 (Kapitänleutnant Rolf-Birger Wahlen) and U-2509 (Korvettenkapitän Rudolf Schendel), both of 31st Flotilla (a training unit) of the German Navy, were sunk at the Blohm und Voß shipyard in Hamburg, Germany by bombs from British Lancaster and Handley Page Halifax aircraft. ww2dbase [Conclusion of the Battle of the Atlantic | Hamburg | HM]
23 Apr 1945

Germany
  • British Second Army reaches the Elbe River near Hamburg, Germany. ww2dbase [Hamburg | TH]
29 Apr 1945

Germany
  • British Second Army crossed the Elbe River at Hamburg, Germany. ww2dbase [Hamburg | TH]
30 Apr 1945

Germany
  • William Joyce's "Germany Calling" radio program ceased broadcasting as British Army troops closed in on the radio station facilities in Hamburg, Germany. ww2dbase [William Joyce | Hamburg | CPC]
3 May 1945

Germany
  • A German delegation met with British Field Marshal Montgomery on Luneberg Heath, outside Hamburg, Germany, offering the surrender of all their forces in northwestern Germany - A total of more than one million men. ww2dbase [Bernard Montgomery | Hamburg | AC]
  • Hamburg, Germany was declared an open city and surrendered to British Second Army. In the harbor, the Germans scuttled 59 merchant ships and 600 smaller craft to prevent capture. ww2dbase [Hamburg | TH]
  • U-2501 was scuttled at 0708 hours in Hamburg, Germany. ww2dbase [U-2501 | Hamburg | CPC]
4 May 1945

Germany
14 Jun 1945

Germany
21 Oct 1945

Germany
  • British engineers destroyed the U-Boat pens in Hamburg, Germany. ww2dbase [Hamburg | TH]
18 Oct 1948

Germany
  • Walther von Brauchitsch passed away from bronchial pneumonia in the British Military Hospital in Hamburg, Germany. ww2dbase [Walther von Brauchitsch | Hamburg | CPC]
21 Jan 1949

Germany
  • Fritz Knoechlein, formerly an officer in the German SS Toptenkopf, went to the gallows in Hamburg, Germany, having been found guilty of "committing a war crime in that in the vicinity of Paradis, Pas-de-Calais, France, on or about 27 May 1940, in violation of the laws and usages of war, was concerned in the killing of about ninety prisoners of war, members of the 2nd Battalion, the Royal Norfolk Regiment and other British units". ww2dbase [Hamburg | AC]
22 Jul 1953

Germany
  • Edmund Veesenmayer's divorce with his wife Mary was made official in Hamburg, Germany. ww2dbase [Edmund Veesenmayer | Hamburg | CPC]
15 Oct 1954

Germany
18 Mar 1967

Germany
13 Jul 1970

Germany
  • USS Wasp arrived at Hamburg, Germany, welcomed by a gathering of 15,000 Germans. ww2dbase [Wasp (Essex-class) | Hamburg | CPC]
17 Oct 1979

Germany

Timeline Section Founder: Thomas Houlihan
Contributors: Alan Chanter, C. Peter Chen, Thomas Houlihan, Hugh Martyr, David Stubblebine
Special Thanks: Rory Curtis




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