North German Lloyd - Page 4: Post War Years 1945-1970 - Ocean Liner Postcards

These pages are devoted to postcards and photographs of the Norddeutsche Lloyd fleet (NDL). An alphabetical index of ships names covered on this page is shown below. Beneath this is the post war NDL Fleet List in chronological order. There is a table of complete ship histories, on the NDL Header Page.

NDL was formed in 1856 to operate a shipping service between Bremerhaven and New York. Before the First World War, they built up an impressive fleet including four famous four-stackers. In 1913 they carried 240000 transatlantic passengers. All the lines' remaining ships were seized by the allies at the end of the war. Services resumed in 1922, and the lines' recovery allowed the delivery of the magnificent 50000grt sisters Bremen and Europa in 1929 and 1930. The line again lost its whole fleet during and after World War 2, and did not restart passenger services again until the Swedish American Line Gripsholm was bought in 1954. She was followed by another Bremen (ex-Pasteur) and Europa (ex-Kungsholm). The latter two ships were transferred to the combined Hapag-Lloyd fleet on 1st September 1970. The subsequent history of this combined fleet is covered on this link.


Ships Covered on this Page:-
Berlin (4) - 1954-56 (ex-Gripsholm of 1925)
Bremen (5) - 1957-70 (ex-Pasteur of 1939)
Europa (2) - 1965-70 (ex-Kungsholm of 1953)

NDL Pages:-
NDL Header Page
NDL - Page 1 - up to 1899
NDL - Page 2 - 1900-1914
NDL - Page 3 - 1915-1939
NDL - Page 4 - 1940-1970 - this page!
Hapag-Lloyd Postcards

Associated Pages:-
Chandris Lines
Swedish American Line
German Liner Postcards
Cruise Ship Postcards
Ocean Liner Postcards
Simplon Postcards Home Page

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powered by FreeFind NDL Fleet ListPage 4: Post War Years 1945-1970


Berlin (4) 1954-66

The Swedish American Line Gripsholm was built in Newcastle in 1925. She was the first diesel-engined transatlantic liner, and operated on Swedish American's Gothenburg-New York routes. She received a major refit in 1950, receiving a new bow and funnels. Gripsholm was sold to Norddeutsche Lloyd in 1954, and renamed Berlin (the fourth ship of this name in the NDL fleet). She was scrapped in 1966.

A complete history of this ship is available on this link.


Two official NDL postcards are shown below.








This photographic postcard of Berlin at New York was published by Wilhelm Worthmann of Bremen, serial number 355.




Roland-Marie (France) postcard of Berlin.




This postcard of Berlin at Bremerhaven was published by Carl Strack of Bremerhaven, serial number 715/1.







Bremen (5) 1957-70

Bremen was completed as the Pasteur for Cie.Sudatlantique, Bordeaux in 1939, but did not enter service due to the start of WW2. In 1940 she carried the French gold reserves to Halifax, and entered service as a troop transport under the British flag, managed by Cunard-White Star. Returned to French Flag in 1945, and continued as a troop transport under management of Sudatlantique, operating to the Far East. In 1957 Pasteur was sold to Norddeutsche Lloyd, becoming the Bremen (5). Entered service in 1959 as Bremen, after rebuilding by Bremer Vulkan, on the Bremerhaven-New York service. Bremen (5) passed to the combined HAPAG-Lloyd fleet on 1st September 1970. She lasted only one year, being sold to Chandris Lines. She was renamed Regina Magna, and ran cruises worldwide until 1974, when laid up. Later used as an accommodation ship in Saudi Arabia, and sank in 1980 on the way to breakers in Taiwan.
A complete history of this ship is available on this link. Painting of North German Lloyd's Bremen by Willem Johan Hoendervanger Website: www.wjmaritiem.nl The maiden voyage of North German Lloyd's Bremen (the fifth ship of this name in the NDL fleet). This is an official card for Otto W.A.Schreiber, owner of the large excursion ship in the picture. Printed by H.Lika, Bremen, serial no.35.



Another card of the maiden voyage of North German Lloyd's Bremen.
This is also an official card for Otto W.A.Schreiber, owner of the large excursion ship Oceania. Printed by H.Lika, Bremen, serial no.41.




An official North German Lloyd card of Bremen. Serial no.150.2.61.
" N.G.L. - sailing the seven seas since 1857. Presented without charge"




An official North German Lloyd card of Bremen. Serial no.445-5762/6




LHB serial no.251 of Bremen.




Wilhelm Worthmann serial no.349 of Bremen.




Th.Kruzig serial no.422 of Bremen.




ARB serial no.852 of Bremen.




Cramers 'Cekade' serial no.70, 68/5 of Bremen.




Kruger serial no.715/27 of Bremen at Columbusbahnhof, Bremerhaven.




Anders serial no.B391/8020 of Bremen at Columbusbahnhof, Bremerhaven.




Deutsche Luftbild (Hamburg) card of Bremen, published for the Columbus-Bahnhof and restaurant at Bremerhaven.







Europa (2) 1965-70

Built in the Netherlands in 1953, Europa was originally the Swedish American liner Kungsholm (3). She was the first of three striking two-funnelled liners built for Transatlantic service and cruising. The leading funnel on all three ships was a dummy. She was bought by Norddeutsche Lloyd in 1965, and passed to the combined HAPAG-Lloyd fleet on 1st September 1970. In 1981, Costa bought the Europa, and renamed her Columbus C. In 1984 her keel fouled the rocks near a breakwater in Cadiz. She managed to reach the quay, but sank alongside soon afterwards. Although subsequently raised, she was sold for scrap in 1985.

A complete history of this ship is available on this link.


Official NDL art postcard of Europa.




Official NDL postcard of Europa.




Official NDL postcard of Europa.




Official NDL postcard of Europa.
Scan: Ken Murayama.




Official NDL postcard of Europa.






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