The SS Europa (later SS Liberté) was a German built ocean liner constructed for the Norddeutsche Lloyd line (NDL) to work the transatlantic sea route. She and her sister ship, the , were the two most advanced, high speed steam turbine ocean vessels in their day, and were a part of the international competition for the Blue Riband

Blue Riband

The Blue Riband is an unofficial accolade given to the passenger liner crossing the Atlantic Ocean in regular service with the record highest speed. The term was borrowed from horse racing and was not widely used until after 1910. Under the unwritten rules, the record is based on average speed...

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Europa was built in 1929 with her sister ship Bremen

SS Bremen (1929)

The SS Bremen was a German-built ocean liner constructed for the Norddeutscher Lloyd line to work the transatlantic sea route. The Bremen was notable for her bulbous bow construction, high-speed engines, and low, streamlined profile. At the time of her construction, she and her sister ship were...

to be the second 50,000 gross ton North German Lloyd liner.