At the outbreak of the Second World War Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine had 21 destroyers (German: Zerstörer) in service, while another one was just being completed.Data summarised from Whitley, pp56-75 These 22 vessels – comprising 3 classes (Type 34, 34A and 36) – had all been built in the 1930s, making them modern vessels (no destroyers remained in German hands following the close of the First World War). Including that final pre-war vessel, a further 19 were brought into service during the war and more were captured from opposing navies, including the Italian Navy (Regia Marina) after the Italian Armistice with the Allies in 1943.Whitley, pp76-81

German destroyer classes were generally known by the year of their design. Because of their size, use and weaponry, some vessels classified as "fleet torpedo boats", Flottentorpedoboot, are also described as destroyers. During World War II, destroyers were administratively grouped into one of several destroyer flotillas.

Class general characteristics are taken from the first of each class, and may differ slightly for individual ships, particularly when they were refitted. Post-war, some surviving ships had significant changes to armament.

Zerstörer 1934

This class of four ships was the first German destroyer class. It was designed around a new type of engine, using high pressure steam. This should have allowed higher speed, while saving space and crewmembers. The engine was however so complicated and prone to breakdown, that it forced the navy to assign even more very highly qualified personnel on board to operate and service them. As a result of stability problems, the range of the ships had to be restricted by navy regulations, allowing them to use only half of the fuel carried, to prevent the ships from becoming too light. The bow proved to be of faulty design, resulting in the ships being rather wet in heavy seas. This was fixed by rebuilding all four ship of the class before 1939.Harald Fock: "Kampfschiffe, Marineschiffbau auf Deutschen Werften 1870 bis heute" Koehlers, Hamburg, 1995, , pages 75 and 77 Four destroyers were laid down between October 1934 and January 1935. Only one ship survived the war. The ships were named after German navy personnel killed in World War I.

The ships were: Z1 Leberecht MaassLaid down: Deutsche Werke Kiel, 15 October 1934 Launched: 18 August 1935 Commissioned: 14 January 1937 Fate: sunk after friendly fire bomb hits on 22 February 1940, during Operation Wikinger Named after Leberecht MaassZ2 Georg ThieleLaid down: Deutsche Werke Kiel, 25 October 1934 Launched: 18 August 1935 Commissioned: 27 February 1937 Fate: beached on 13 April 1940, after suffering serious damage during the Battles of Narvik Named after Georg ThieleZ3 Max SchultzLaid down: Deutsche Werke Kiel, 2 January 1935 Launched: 30 November 1935 Commissioned: 8 April 1937 Fate: sunk as a result of friendly fire bomb hits and striking mines on 22 February 1940, during Operation WikingerNamed after Max SchultzZ4 Richard BeitzenLaid down: Deutsche Werke Kiel, 7 January 1935 Launched: 30 November 1935 Commissioned: 13 May 1937 Fate: scrapped 1947 Named after Richard Beitzen

Zerstörer 1934A

Twelve destroyers laid down between July and November 1935. They were only slightly modified from the design of the preceding 1934 class and continued their predecessors' limited endurance and magazine capacity – factors which contributed to the heavy German losses in the Second Battle of Narvik. Five survived the war.

Z5 Paul Jacobi Laid down: AG Weser (Deschimag), Bremen, 15 July 1935 Launched: 24 March 1936 Commissioned: 29 June 1937 Fate: Transferred to France as war reparation Desaix, scrapped 1958 Named after Paul JacobiZ6 Theodor RiedelLaid down: AG Weser (Deschimag), Bremen, 18 July 1935 Launched: 22 April 1936 Commissioned: 2 July 1937 Fate: Transferred to France as the Kleber, scrapped 1958 Named after Theodor RiedelZ7 Hermann SchoemannLaid down: AG Weser (Deschimag), Bremen, 7 September 1935 Launched: 16 July 1936 Commissioned: 9 September 1937 Fate: sunk 2 May 1942 by the British cruiser Edinburgh Named after Hermann SchoemannZ8 Bruno HeinemannLaid down: AG Weser (Deschimag), Bremen, 14 January 1936 Launched: 15 September 1936 Commissioned: 8 January 1938 Fate: sunk 25 January 1942 by a mine near Calais Named after Bruno Heinemann, killed during the Wilhelmshaven mutinyZ9 Wolfgang ZenkerLaid down: Germaniawerft Kiel, 23 March 1935 Launched: 27 March 1936 Commissioned: 2 July 1938 Fate: scuttled on 13 April 1940 Named after Wolfgang Zenker, killed during the Wilhelmshaven mutinyZ10 Hans LodyLaid down: Germaniawerft Kiel, 1 April 1935 Launched: 14 May 1936 Commissioned: 13 September 1938 Fate: Taken over by Great Britain after the war and used as a trials ship, scrapped 1946–1949 Named after Carl Hans Lody, unusually not a captain of a vessel but had been spying in Britain.Z11 Bernd von ArnimLaid down: Germaniawerft Kiel, 26 April 1935 Launched: 8 July 1936 Commissioned: 6 December 1938 Fate: scuttled on 13 April 1940 Named after Bernd von ArnimZ12 Erich GieseLaid down: Germaniawerft Kiel, 3 May 1935 Launched: 12 March 1937 Commissioned: 4 March 1939 Fate: sunk 13 April 1940 Named after Erich GieseZ13 Erich KoellnerLaid down: Germaniawerft Kiel, 12 October 1935 Launched: 18 March 1937 Commissioned: 28 March 1939 Fate: sunk 13 April 1940 Named after Erich KoellnerZ14 Friedrich IhnLaid down: Blohm & Voss Hamburg, 30 March 1935 Launched: 5 November 1935 Commissioned: 6 April 1938 Fate: Transferred to the Soviet Union, served in the Baltic Fleet as the Prytkiy (Прыткий) scrapped 1952 Named after Friedrich IhnZ15 Erich SteinbrinckLaid down: Blohm & Voss Hamburg, 30 March 1935 Launched: 24 September 1936 Commissioned: 31 May 1938 Fate: Transferred to the Soviet Union, served in the Baltic Fleet as the Pylkiy (Пылкий) scrapped 1958 Named after Erich SteinbrinckZ16 Friedrich EckoldtLaid down: Blohm & Voss Hamburg, 14 November 1935 Launched: 21 March 1937 Commissioned: 28 July 1938 Fate: sunk 31 December 1942 by during battle of the Barents Sea Named after Friedrich Eckoldt

Zerstörer 1936

These 6 ships (of 26 planned) ordered under the 1935 Program were improved and enlarged versions of the 1934 and 1934A classes. Most of the serious faults of the earlier ships had been resolved: engine reliability and the structural integrity was much improved and they were much better seagoing ships, shipping less water through an improvement in the design of the bows. Despite this, five of this newer type were also lost at Narvik in April 1940.

Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 9 September 1936 Launched: 19 August 1937 Commissioned: 29 August 1938 Fate: sunk 13 April 1940 (Narvik) Named after Diether von RoederLaid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 9 September 1936 Launched: 1 December 1937 Commissioned: 8 October 1938 Fate: scuttled on 13 April 1940 Named after Hans LüdemannLaid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 5 October 1936 Launched: 22 December 1937 Commissioned: 12 January 1939 Fate: beached on 13 April 1940 Named after Hermann KünneLaid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 14 September 1937 Launched: 15 June 1938 Commissioned: 21 March 1939 Fate: Transferred to the Soviet Union, served in the Baltic Fleet as the Prochnyi (Прочный) scrapped 1956 Named after Karl GalsterLaid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 15 December 1937 Launched: 20 August 1938 Commissioned: 10 June 1939 Fate: sunk on 10 April 1940 Named after Wilhelm HeidkampLaid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 3 January 1938 Launched: 20 September 1938 Commissioned: 24 September 1939 Fate: sunk on 10 April 1940 Named after Anton Schmitt

Zerstörer 1936A "Narvik"

Eight destroyers intended to carry new 150 mm (5.9 inch) guns in single turrets with a twin turret at the bow. The twin mountings were not ready in time and so singles were first used, and the twins fitted later. Anti-aircraft armament was substantially improved.

Despite reusing earlier ship designs as a basis, with modifications to improve seaworthiness, the ships were wet in heavy seas, especially fitted with heavy turrets. After much effort, the problem was traced to a newly designed stern. However, this problem was somewhat offset by the fact that the twin mount was fully enclosed and had a high maximum elevation, allowing limited use against aircraft.

These ships reverted to the traditional German practice of giving torpedo ships numbers rather than names. Four survived the war.

Z23Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 15 November 1938 Launched: 15 December 1939 Commissioned: 15 September 1940 Fate: scrapped after 1951Z24Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 2 January 1939 Launched: 7 March 1940 Commissioned: 26 October 1940 Fate: sunk 25 August 1944Z25Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 15 February 1939 Launched: 16 March 1940 Commissioned: 30 November 1940 Fate: scrapped 1961Z26Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 1 April 1939 Launched: 2 April 1940 Commissioned: 11 January 1941 Fate: sunk 29 March 1942 by British cruiser Trinidad and destroyers Eclipse and FuryZ27Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 27 December 1939 Launched: 1 August 1940 Commissioned: 26 February 1941 Fate: sunk 28 December 1943Z28Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 30 November 1939 Launched: 20 August 1940 Commissioned: 9 August 1941 Fate: sunk 6 March 1945Z29Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 21 March 1940 Launched: 15 October 1940 Commissioned: 25 June 1941 Fate: scuttled 16 December 1946Z30Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 15 April 1940 Launched: 8 December 1940 Commissioned: 15 November 1941 Fate: scrapped 1949

Zerstörer 1936A (Mob)

When war broke out in 1939, planned new destroyer classes were cancelled and twelve additional 1936A vessels (Z.31 to Z.42, although the last three were to be cancelled) were ordered with slight modifications to speed construction and save materials. "Mob" stands for "Mobilmachung" (Mobilisation). The 150 mm twin turrets had been manufactured for planned, but never built, "O" class battlecruisers. In war service, the engines were more reliable than in earlier ships but at the end of the war, heavy corrosion was discovered.

Seven of this sub-class were built: one was sunk, another two were severely damaged and not repaired. The remaining four were war booty allocated to the Allies. Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 1 September 1940 Launched: 15 April 1941 Commissioned: 11 April 1942 Fate: scrapped 1958Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 1 November 1940 Launched: 15 August 1941 Commissioned: 15 September 1942 Fate: sunk 9 June 1944 (wrecked while pursued by Canadian destroyers and ) Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 22 December 1940 Launched: 15 September 1941 Commissioned: 6 February 1943 Fate: Transferred to the Soviet Union, served in the Baltic Fleet as the Provornyi (Проворный), sunk as target ship 1961Laid down: DeSchiMAG Bremen, 14 January 1941 Launched: 5 May 1942 Commissioned: 5 June 1943 Fate: scuttled 26 March 1946Laid down: Germaniawerft Kiel, 1940 Launched: 24 February 1941 Commissioned: 16 July 1942 Fate: scrapped 1949Laid down: Germaniawerft Kiel, 1940 Launched: 5 August 1941 Commissioned: 20 March 1943 Fate: transferred to Britain at the end of the war; renamed HMS Nonsuch; scrapped 1949Laid down: Germaniawerft Kiel, 1940 Launched: 5 August 1941 Commissioned: 21 August 1943 Fate: transferred to the US Navy at the end of the war and designated DD-939; transferred to France 1947, scrapped 1953

Zerstörer 1936B

The main armament of this class reduced back to single mounted 128 mm guns and the anti-aircraft armament was increased. The efficacy of this change was not proven in high seas as this sub-class only operated in the Baltic and coastal waters.