The launching of the German cruiser Königsberg according to the Dutch newspaper Het Vaderland: staat- en letterkundig nieuwsblad morning edition dated 27 March 1927

Berlin, 26 March. At Wilhelmshaven was the new German cruiser Königsberg launched.(1) While since the end of the First World war it seldom happened that a large warship in Germany was build came almost 10,000 men to sight the launching. The German navy invited a few hundred men including representatives of the cabinet, parliament and the industry. She was baptized by Mrs. Lohmager spouse of the burgomaster of Königsberg and admiral Zenker in behalf of the navy thanked all who worked to realize the cruiser. She was to be a memory of faith to the province which was not longer part of Germany and the navy wanted to accomplish a ‘figurative bridge’ to East Prussia. (2)

Notes

1. A light cruiser laid down at the Reichsmarinewerft on 12 April 1926, launched on 26 March 1927, commissioned on 17 April 1929, sunk on 10 April 1940 off Bergen, Norway as result of a British air attack, salvaged on 17 July 1942, righted in March 1943 and became a pier for submarines, capsized on 22 September 1944 and broken up after 1945.

2. As a result of the Treaty of Versailles (1919) signed after the for Germany disastrous First World War was West Prussia for the major part Polish and was East Prussia cut off from Germany by the Polish corridor and the independent city Danzig (Gdanks). Memelland which was part of East Prussia was in 1923 occupied by voluntary soldiers mainly from Lithuania which country later occupied the territory.