According
to the evening newspapers published at Berlin was in 1936 the building ordered
by the German government of 1-35.000 ton battleship, (1) 1-10.000 ton heavy
cruiser, 6-1,811 ton destroyer and 4-250 ton submarines. The building was
possible according to the quantity provisions set in the treaty with England.
Further more were ordered some smaller vessels including 12 small torpedo
boats, 12 torpedo boat chasers, mine sweepers, 2 fast motorboats and the
training vessel Horst Wessel. The same newspapers reported that Germany was the
only country which decreased her navy in qualitative and quantitative manner
just fitting a fleet necessary for her own defence.
Note
1. The Scharnhorst was laid down on 15 June 1935 and her sister ship Gneisenay on 6 May 1935. The Scharnhorst class with a displacement of 38.700 tons was preceded by the planned L20e a-class and succeeded by the Bismarck-class. The Bismarck and Tirpitz with a displacement of 50.300 tons respectively 52.600 tons were laid down on 1 July respectively 2 November 1936.
