SS Frankfurt Archival Collection
SS Frankfurt (1899) of the Norddeutscher Lloyd, Bremen. GGA Image ID # 1dde95606f
Frankfurt (1899) North German Lloyd
Sailed as the SS Frankfurt from 1900 to 1914
Built by Tecklenborg, Geestemunde, Germany. Tonnage: 7,431. Dimensions: 429' x 54'. Twin-screw, 13 knots. Triple expansion engines. Two masts and one funnel. Launched: 17 December 1899. Maiden Voyage: Bremen to Baltimore, 31 March 1900. Service: Mainly in Bremen-Baltimore service. Post War Service: Ceded to Great Britain in 1919, and placed under management of White Star Line. Sold to the Oriental Navigation Company in 1922. Renamed: Sarvistan. Scrapped in Japan, 1931. Sister ships: Hannover and Köln. Note: The SS Frankfurt was one of the first ships to respond to the distress signals from the RMS Titanic.
The Frankfurt was launched for Norddeutscher Lloyd on 17 December 1899. She sailed between Bremen and Baltimore transporting immigrants from Germany and Austria.
In 1919, White Star Line acquired the Frankfurt after the ship was surrendered to the United Kingdom after World War I.
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1901-03-30 SS Frankfurt Passenger List
Steamship Line: Norddeutscher Lloyd (North German Lloyd)
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 30 March 1901
Route: Bremen to New York and Baltimore
Commander: Captain E. Malchow
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Sailing Schedule, Bremen-New York, Bremen-Baltimore, and Bremen-Galveston, from 6 October 1903 to 13 December 1904. Ships Included the Brandenburg, Breslau, Cassel, Chemnitz, Darmstadt, Frankfurt, Friedrich der Grosse, Grosser Kurfürst, Hannover, Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse, Kaiser Wilhelm II, Köln, Kronprinz Wilhelm, Main, Neckar, Oldenburg, Rhein, and Willehad. SS Kaiser Wilhelm II Passenger List, 6 October 1903. GGA Image ID # 1ebbf5ff3c. Click to View Larger Image.
Sailing Schedule, Bremen-New York, Bremen-Baltimore, and Bremen-Galveston, from 11 May 1905 to 2 November 1905. Ships Included the Barbarossa, Brandenburg, Bremen, Breslau, Cassel, Chemnitz, Frankfurt, Friedrich der Grosse, Gneisenau, Grosser Kurfürst, Hannover, Köln, Main, Neckar, and Prinzess Alice. SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse First and Second Class Passenger List, 23 May 1905. GGA Image ID # 21087c14bc
Sailing Schedule, Bremen-Southampton-Cherbourg-New York and New York-Plymouth-Cherbourg-Bremen, from 13 March 1906 to 24 August 1906. Ships Included the Barbarossa, Brandenburg, Breslau, Cassel, Frankfurt, Friedrich der Grosse, Grosser Kurfurst, Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse, Kaiser Wilhelm II, Kronprinz Wilehlm, Prinzess Alice, Rhein, and Trave. North German Lloyd Bulletin, March 1906. GGA Image ID # 1eeb93d276
Sailing Schedule, Bremen-New York and Bremen to Baltimore, From 10 October 1906 to 29 August 1907. (Note: Bremen-New York Is for 1907, a Continuation From Previous Schedule). Ships Included the Barbarossa, Brandenburg, Bremen, Breslau, Cassel, Chemnitz, Darmstadt, Frankfort, Friedrich der Grosse, Grosser Kurfürst, Halle, Hannover, Köln, Main, Neckar, Prinzess Alice, and Rhein. SS Bremen Passenger List, 27 October 1906. GGA Image ID # 213e5f2762
Sailing Schedule, Bremen to Various Ports, from 18 October 1906 to 14 February 1907. Ships Included the Breslau, Coblenz, Frankfurt, Hannover, Köln, Mainz, and Wittekind. SS Bremen Passenger List, 27 October 1906. GGA Image ID # 213fabc415
Sailing Schedule, Bremen-Southampton-Cherbourg-New York, Barbarossa-Class Twin-Screw Mail Steamer and Mail Steamer, from 28 March 1907 to 14 November 1907. Ships Included the Barbarossa, Brandenburg, Bremen, Breslau, Chemnitz, Frankfurt, Friedrich der Grosse, Grosser Kurfürst, Main, Prinzess Alice, Rhein, Roon, Trave, and Würzburg. SS Chemnitz Passenger List, 6 April 1907. GGA Image ID # 1f764bc518. The Steamers of the Barbarossa Class Go from Bremen via Southampton or Cherbourg; From New York via Plymouth and Cherbourg—the Mail Steamers Run To and from New York Direct. All Steamers Bound for New York Carry Cabin and Steerage Passengers.
Sailing Schedule, Bremen-Baltimore (Direct), from 27 March 1907 to 9 October 1907. Ships Included the Breslau, Cassel, Chemnitz, Frankfurt, Gera, Hannover, Köln, Main, Rhein, Stuttgart, Weimar, and Wittekind. Ships Carry Cabin and Steerage Passengers. SS Chemnitz Passenger List, 6 April 1907. GGA Image ID # 1f766813b3
Sailing Schedule, Bremen-Galveston, Bremen-Cuba, Bremen-Savannah, Bremen-London, and Bremen-Hull, from 9 April 1907 to 12 September 1907. Ships Included the Amerika, Breslau, Cassel, Chemnitz, Frankfurt, Hannover, Hansa, and Köln. SS Chemnitz Passenger List, 6 April 1907. GGA Image ID # 1f766f1fa7
Proposed Sailings, Europe-New York, from 21 January 1908 to 23 June 1908, and Mediterranean Sailings from 23 January to 10 October 1908. Ships Included the Barbarossa, Bremen, Buelow, Friedrich der Gross, Grosser Kurfürst, Kaiser Wilhelm der Gross, Kaiser Wilhelm II, Knoenig Albert, Koenigin Luise, Kronprinz Wilhelm, Kronprinzessin Cecilie, Luetzow, Main, Necktar, Prinzess Irene, Rhein, Roon, and Scharnhorst. North German Lloyd Bulletin, February 1908. GGA Image ID # 1dde6667a4. Click to View Larger Image.
Attention is drawn to the fact that the steamers of the company running between GENOA and NEW YORK, which almost without exception touch at NAPLES, afford an opportunity of making the voyage from Genoa to Naples and vice versa. The steamers also touch at GIBRALTAR on the outward and homeward trips. Some weeks before starting, it can be determined whether there are berths vacant for the voyage to Naples or Gibraltar. The North German Lloyd is. However, in no way responsible if any of the steamers in question: do not start or if the departure is postponed. Potential passengers must likewise apply for passage on these steamers to Messrs. LEUPOLD FRATELLI, GENOA, 10 Piazza San Siro.
Sailing Schedule, Bremen-Baltimore Line, Bremen-Philadelphia Line, and the River Plate Line, from 3 February 1912 to 25 December 1912. Ships Included the Brandenburg, Breslau, Chemnitz, Coburg, Eisenach, Frankfurt, Giessen, Gotha, Hannover, Javorina, Köln, Main, Neckar, Norderney, Rhein, Sigmaringen, and Wittekind. SS Berlin First and Second Cabin Passenger List, 20 January 1912. GGA Image ID # 20d81054a8. Click to View Larger Image.
Sailing Schedule, Galveston Line, Brazil Line, Bremen-Australia- Austral-Japan Line, from 11 January 1912 to 24 August 1912. Ships Included the Brandenburg, Coblenz, Frankfurt, Göttingen, Greifswald, Hannover, Prinz Siglsmund, Prinz Waldemar, and Wittekind. SS Berlin First and Second Cabin Passenger List, 20 January 1912. GGA Image ID # 20d913dd36. Click to View Larger Image.
Sailing Schedule, Bremen-Philadelphia, from 18 September 1913 to 2 April 1914. Ships Included the Brandenburg, Breslau, Chemnitz, Frankfurt, Main, Neckar, Seydlitz, Willehad, and Wittekind. SS Grosser Kurfürst Passenger List, 8 November 1913. GGA Image ID # 1f682ff461
Sailing Schedule, Bremen-Baltimore-Bremen, from 9 October 1913 to 8 April 1914. Ships Included the Brandenburg, Breslau, Cassel, Chemnitz, Frankfurt, Main, Neckar, Rhein, Willehad, and Wittekind. SS Grosser Kurfürst Passenger List, 8 Novmeber 1913. GGA Image ID # 1f6888ea56
Sailing Schedule, Bremen-Boston, from 8 October 1913 to 25 March 1914. Ships Included the Cassel, Frankfurt, Hannover, and Köln. SS Grosser Kurfürst Passenger List, 8 Novmeber 1913. GGA Image ID # 1f68b8de76
Sailing Schedule, Bremen-New Orleans-Bremen, from 8 October 1913 to 22 April 1914. Ships Included the Cassel, Frankfurt, Hannover, and Köln. SS Grosser Kurfürst Passenger List, 8 Novmeber 1913. GGA Image ID # 1f68e9f070
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Great Passenger Ships of the World 1858-1912
This initial volume deals with Ships from 1858-1912, from the first passenger ship of over 10,000 GRT to be placed in service (the Great Eastern) to those unforgettable sister ships, the Olympic and Titanic — the first of more than 40,000 GRT.
Legacy of the White Star Line: History of the Titanic, Her Sisters, and Other White Star Liners
The Titanic disaster has fascinated the world since she sank, losing over 1,500 lives in April 1912. This copiously illustrated book considers much more than its title suggests, beginning with an overview of the White Star Line's fleet.
Norddeutscher Lloyd Bremen 1857-1970, Volume One, History -- Fleet -- Ship Mails
🌍 Transatlantic Titans: The Rise of Norddeutscher Lloyd and the Transformation of Ocean Travel (1857–1918)
Norddeutscher Lloyd, Bremen, 1857–1970, Volume 1 by Edwin Drechsel is a meticulously researched chronicle of the origins and golden age of the Norddeutscher Lloyd (NDL), one of the most important steamship lines in global maritime history.
The book covers:
- The founding of NDL in 1857 by Hermann Henrich Meier and Eduard Crüsemann
- The transition from sail to steam, paddle to screw propulsion
- The increasing demand for transatlantic mail and passenger service
- The NDL’s competition with British lines for speed, prestige, and the Blue Riband
- The line’s crucial role in transporting millions of emigrants to North America
- Its involvement in global mail and freight services
- The impact of World War I on German shipping and commerce
Volume 1 concludes just before or during the war years that halted NDL’s rapid rise.
Norddeutscher Lloyd Bremen 1857-1970, Volume Two, History -- Fleet -- Ship Mails
Winds of Change: Norddeutscher Lloyd and the Final Era of Ocean Travel (1920–1970)
The second volume of Edwin Drechsel’s monumental work Norddeutscher Lloyd, Bremen, 1857–1970 picks up in the aftermath of World War I, tracing five tumultuous decades through:
🌊 Postwar decline and slow recovery
🚢 The interwar years and the Blue Riband triumph of the Bremen (1929)
📉 The Great Depression’s toll on ocean travel
🌍 The transformation of global shipping under the shadow of WWII
🧱 Postwar reconstruction and the decline of passenger liners
📦 The pivot to container freight and the 1970 merger with HAPAG
Drechsel, drawing on his personal ties (his father was a North German Lloyd captain), maritime journalism background, and deep expertise in ship mails and German liner history, delivers a book that is both richly detailed and profoundly human.
Passenger Ships of the World - 1963
🎓 “A Global Voyage Through Steamship History for Historians, Genealogists, and Maritime Enthusiasts”
Eugene W. Smith’s Passenger Ships of the World – Past and Present (1963) is a masterfully curated encyclopedic reference that charts the rise, peak, and transformation of ocean-going passenger ships through nearly two centuries. Expanding upon his earlier Trans-Atlantic and Trans-Pacific works, Smith offers a global maritime panorama that includes ships serving the Americas, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Oceania, as well as Canal routes and California-Hawaii shuttle lines.
🧭 This book is an essential resource for:
- Maritime historians seeking design evolution and fleet data
- Genealogists tracing voyages and shipping lines
- Educators and students studying transoceanic migration and tourism
- Ship modelers, naval architects, and enthusiasts interested in dimensions, tonnage, and speed
Picture History of German and Dutch Passenger Ships
Picture History of German and Dutch Passenger Ships is a superbly illustrated volume that documents a long line of great ships--from "floating palaces" such as the Imperator (1913) and the Vaterland (1914) to such luxurious cruise ships as the Statendam (1957), Hamburg (1969), the remodeled Bremen (1990), and the new Deutschland (1998).
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