Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse was a German transatlantic ocean liner operated by Norddeutscher Lloyd from 1897 to 1914. As the first major four-funnel liner, she is often regarded as the world’s first “superliner.” For a time, she was the largest ship afloat and won the prestigious Blue Riband for the fastest Atlantic crossing, helping Germany challenge British dominance at sea. The ship symbolized a new era of luxury, speed, and prestige in ocean travel. After the introduction of newer sister ships, she was increasingly used to carry emigrants to the United States. At the outbreak of World War I, Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse was converted into an auxiliary cruiser and raided Allied shipping. In August 1914, she was defeated by the British cruiser HMS Highflyer near West Africa and scuttled by her crew, ending her career after just three weeks of wartime service.
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