Lutherstadt Wittenberg - Raddampfer Kaiser Wilhelm zu Gast in Wittenberg

June 13, 2025 The floating monument, paddle steamer Kaiser Wilhelm, visits Wittenberg. History of the paddle steamer Kaiser Wilhelm - The ship was built by the Dresdner Maschinenfabrik und Schiffswerft AG (Dresden Machine Factory and Shipyard) in Dresden-Neustadt between 1899 and 1900, construction number 386. The client was the Oberweserdampfschifffahrt (Upper Weser Steamship Company) of F.W. Meyer, owner of a Weser mill in Hameln. According to current knowledge, it was launched on May 20, 1900. Unfortunately, no photos, newspaper articles, or other documents of this event exist. Only in 1904 did the Kaiser Wilhelm sail with a sun awning on the upper deck. The photo excerpt clearly shows the wheelhouse, the two small temporary wind vents, and the galley funnel. The ship's colors were changed at some point. The Kaiser Wilhelm was launched on May 20, 1900. At the "Dresden Machine Factory and Shipyard - Übigau," the KAISER WILHELM was cut into three sections in 1910 by removing the vertical rivets along the hull. The division was located slightly forward of the engine bulkhead, still visible today from the remaining rows of rivets in the galley, and aft of the bulkhead behind the boiler room. The bow and stern sections were then pulled away from the midsection, and a 5-meter-long section was installed in the space between them, sheet by sheet, all without a crane! For a few years, the dinghy was originally positioned aft. It was moved to the foredeck because hanging overboard from the stern proved to be a hindrance during docking maneuvers. The port side of the ship also documents the modifications to the individual compartments during the lengthening in 1910. For example, the slender funnel aft on the port paddle wheel housing was located there, where the galley was originally situated. After the 1910 lengthening, the galley remains on the starboard side to this day. The adjacent image shows the forward section of the bow, which was extended with the companionway (compare to the previous image). The detached bow section, as it appeared in 1900, was raised to deck level and fitted with a window. It was converted into a cabin for four people, which is still recognizable today. However, the forward window has since been replaced with a porthole, and all the divided windows along the hull have been replaced with single-pane windows. Due to the lengthening, the existing manual steering system would have become too cumbersome, so a steam-powered steering engine was installed, which is still in operation on board. A wooden wheelhouse was also built on the upper deck at this time, though it is not yet visible in the photograph. The detached stern section, as it appeared in the original 1900 design, was initially retained and only later brought up to deck level. The stern was later raised to the same height as the rest of the ship. After the refit, the KAISER WILHELM sailed across the North Sea back to its Weser River home waters, passing Lauenburg for the third time. What Lauenburg resident would have ever imagined back then that they would see this Weser River ship again after 60 years, and with its home port still in Lauenburg? The KAISER WILHELM is pictured here in front of the bridge between Lauenförde and Beverungen, with a view of Beverungen (the bridge was destroyed in World War II). Here, the ship can be seen in its original condition after the 1910 lengthening. After German reunification, the KAISER WILHELM undertook a weekend cruise on July 6th and 7th, 1991, via Hitzacker to Schnackenburg. On Sunday, the journey continued to Wittenberge. The KAISER WILHELM was the first West German passenger ship to call at Wittenberge after the fall of the Berlin Wall. It was a magnificent welcome; the dike was packed with people. The KAISER WILHELM is pictured here in front of the bridge between Lauenförde and Beverungen, with a view of Beverungen (the bridge was destroyed in World War II). A boat trip was arranged for the residents of Wittenberg; the ship was fully booked. Source: https://raddampfer-kaiser-wilhelm.de/...