Delayed by fire, Europa eventually joined Bremen at the end of 1929 but proved to be the faster ship and held the title for nearly four yearsbefore losing tit to the Italian Line's Rex.

During the war she lay safely in her home port of Hamburg but on the occupation of Germany was taken over by the United States as a troopship. In 1946 she was awarded to France as a spoil of war and, rechristened LibertÈ was sailed to St. Nazaire for refitting.

While at the fitting out dock a gale tore her loose from her moorings and, driven against a sunken hull, she went down in the harbour. She was eventually raised and refitted and three years later was virtually a new ship. Although she never again competed for the Blue Riband she gained a reputation for comfort and fine French cuisine and made her last Atlantic run in 1952, eventually being broken up at La Spezia, Italy..

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