| German battleship Bismarck firing on HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Hood. Photographed from the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen, which was in the lead. The Bismarck opens fire against the Hood in the morning of May 24, 1941, as seen from the Kriegsmarine (“Nazi German Navy”) heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen. This is 1 of the 1st salvoes fired by the battleship at about 0555-0556 hours. The Bismarck is about 2,500 meters (2,700 yards) behind the heavy cruiser. This photo was copied from the report of officers of Prinz Eugen, with identification by her 2nd Artillery Officer Kapitänleutnant Paul S. Schmalenbach (August 21, 1909 – September 26, 1986). In 1970, Schmalenbach identified this photo as part of Prinz Eugen’s war diary. | |
| Image Filename | wwii1689.jpg |
| Image Size | 1.23 MB |
| Image Dimensions | 5635 x 3311 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | Kriegsberichter Prinz Eugen |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | May 24, 1941 |
| Location | |
| City | |
| State or Province | Denmark Strait |
| Country | Atlantic Ocean |
| Archive | Naval History and Heritage Command |
| Record Number | NH 69722 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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