Berlin was one of eight German ships commissioned as hospital ships (Lazarettschiffe) during World War II.
Most, if not all, of these ships also served in other capacities during the war after being decommissioned as hospital ships, mainly as accommodation or transport ships for military personnel.
All German hospital ships were given alphabetic identifiers, Berlin's being 'A'.
On 16 July 1939, Berlin began her conversion to hospital ship and entered service with the Kriegsmarine as Lazarettschiff A, Sanitätsamt Ost on 23 August 1939.
The ship had berthing for 400 patients, with a crew of 165.
Initially serving in Norwegian waters, she was identified as "Field Post Number 07520".
By January 1945, Berlin  was assigned to Operation Hannibal, the transport of refugees and soldiers from the Eastern Baltic.
On 31 January 1945, while forming up in convoy to head east, Berlin struck a mine off Swinemünde, and was put in tow for Kiel.

She then hit another mine and was beached (23.53 hr, at position 54°02.6 N/14°19 E, in shallow waters).
There was one fatality.
All usable equipment was salvaged by 5 February 1945, and the ship was abandoned.
Berlin was one of eight German ships commissioned as hospital ships (Lazarettschiffe) during World War II. Most, if not all, of these ships also served in other capacities during the war after being decommissioned as hospital ships, mainly as accommodation or transport ships for military personnel. All German hospital ships were given alphabetic identifiers, Berlin's being 'A'. On 16 July 1939, Berlin began her conversion to hospital ship and entered service with the Kriegsmarine as Lazarettschiff A, Sanitätsamt Ost on 23 August 1939. The ship had berthing for 400 patients, with a crew of 165. Initially serving in Norwegian waters, she was identified as "Field Post Number 07520". By January 1945, Berlin  was assigned to Operation Hannibal, the transport of refugees and soldiers from the Eastern Baltic. On 31 January 1945, while forming up in convoy to head east, Berlin struck a mine off Swinemünde, and was put in tow for Kiel.
She then hit another mine and was beached (23.53 hr, at position 54°02.6 N/14°19 E, in shallow waters). There was one fatality. All usable equipment was salvaged by 5 February 1945, and the ship was abandoned.
SS Admiral Nakhimov