Schlesien, a 13,191-ton Deutschland class battleship built at Danzig, Germany, was commissioned in May 1908. She served the Imperial German Navy as a combat ship until 1917, and was thereafter employed as a barracks and training ship. Schlesien was one of the old armored warships that Germany was allowed to keep in service during the post-World War I era and was modernized in the early 1930s. Though mainly serving in a training role, she was also used as a fighting ship in the Baltic area during World War II. In May 1945, Schlesien was badly damaged by a mine and aircraft bombs near Swinem?nde and was subsequently scuttled. Her wreck was broken up over next three decades.