The pre-dreadnaught era Schelswig-Holstein enjoyed the dubious privilege of firing the opening shots of World War Two. Her barrage of the Westerplatte in Gdansk heralded the start of the German attack on the city. She was scuttled in March 1945, and some of her armour was taken to the Westerplatte to be used in sculptures commemorating the defence of the city of Gdansk in 1939.

Models supplied unassembled and unpainted