Fitted with an auxiliary steam engine,[1] it was especially built as the main research ship of the Second German North Polar Expedition of 1869–1870 that explored northeastern Greenland.

The smaller schooner, Hansa—not fitted with an auxiliary engine—was the convoy and supply ship of the Germania during the expedition.

During the wintering period, Hansa was crushed by pack ice and sank.

However, Germania managed to force its way through the ice, returning to Bremerhaven on 11 September 1870.

This former research ship ended its career after it ran aground during a hurricane on 2 October 1891.