Elbe steam tug “Württemberg”

For 65 years the impressive Elbe steam tug transported its loads on the Elbe. The contract for building the ship was signed by the “Neue Deutsch-Bohmische Elbeschiffahrt AG” in Dresden. The shipyard and machine factory of Gebrüder Sachsenberg in Roßlau built the ship from 1908 to 1909 so that it was launched in March 1909. The shipping company liked to call their ships after the federal states of the empire. And so the steamer was given the name “Württemberg”.

After that it experienced a very varied history. The financial position of the firm was difficult, and the Free State of Saxony agreed to help and became one of the main shareholders. When the personnel of the ship were sent to war during the Second World War, Chinese, Ukrainian and even French men were organized for forced labour. The ship also suffered during the war and the damage caused by air-raids had to be repaired after the war.

Then the company was taken over by the State and from then on was called “Elbeschiffahrt Sachsen”, but in the following years it had a number of different owners and names. However, the increase of motor ships made the steamships a rarity. In 1970 the “Württemberg” was the only side-wheel steam tug on the Elbe. On April 30, 1974 it ended its long period of service with a festive trip of honour. It led the traditional parade of the “White Fleet” in Magdeburg. On its journey between Hamburg and the Czech town of Ústí nad Labem (Aussig), over the many years it had covered about 500,000 miles.

But what was to happen to the ship? In order to preserve and protect it, it was decided to turn it into a museum and restaurant. In 1976 the work was finished and the really interesting ship is now in the “Stadtpark Rotehorn” in Magdeburg. So now a unique witness of the history of shipping and technology can be admired there.