The Germans are known, perhaps stereotypically
so, for being good engineers, and in the case of the passenger steamer
their contribution cannot be denied. Early crossings were miserable
affairs, to be endured or even survived rather than enjoyed, and
-- although the everyday European of the day might be content with
a chamber pot and and a water pitcher -- the wealthy demanded better.
While the lines knew they could continue to earn the lion's share
of their revenue from immigrants, who did not demand much in the
way of amenities, much was to be gained by winning the favour of
not only wealthy Europeans, but the up-and-coming neuveau riche
in the United States.
So, in the late 1880's, German architects and
shipbuilders set out to raise the standard of living aboard. One
man who impacted this movement greatly was Johannes Poppe, who had
designed many of the imposing, gilt-laden Baroque public buildings
of the day. Under his influence while employed by Norddeutcher Lloyd,
the First Class interiors of many of the early twentieth-century
liners were faithful reproductions of grand spaces on land.
This rose to a crescendo just before World War
One, which virtually obliterated the German merchant fleet. The
three prestigious liners that survived the war were given to the
victorious countries as payment for their losses. Progress in rebuilding
the fleet was slow, and Germany had just completed several grand
express liners when her ambitions got her in trouble again, and
-- once again -- the entire fleet was lost.
German passenger service on the North Atlantic
did not resume until 1954, then with used tonnage. This continued
until 1970, when the two main German lines merged and concentrated
their efforts on freight shipping. A small cruise division remains.
