The class comprised three ships named after German cities: Königsberg, Karlsruhe, and Köln, all built between 1926 and 1930.

After the outbreak of World War II in September 1939, the three ships laid defensive minefields in the North Sea.

They all saw action in Operation Weserübung, the invasion of Norway, in April 1940; Königsberg was damaged by Norwegian coastal guns outside Bergen and sunk by British bombers the following day.

She provided gunfire support to German ground forces during Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, and returned to Norway in 1942.

Her guns were still above water, which allowed her to support the defending German army against British ground forces until the final days of the war.

The ships carried a number of smaller vessels, including two picket boats, two barges, two launches, one cutter, and one dinghy.

The ships were moderately good sea boats, but had the potential to capsize if internal stores were improperly loaded, and suffered from a slight lee helm.

As built, the ships were also equipped with two 8.8 cm SK L/45 anti-aircraft guns in single mounts; they had 400 rounds of ammunition each.

Königsberg came under heavy fire from a 21 cm (8.3 in) battery outside Bergen, and was badly damaged; after the port was captured, she moved into harbor for temporary repairs.

[9] Karlsruhe meanwhile suppressed Norwegian coastal guns outside Kristiansand and successfully landed her contingent of ground troops.

After Karlsruhe left port, the British submarine HMS Truant attacked the German cruiser and hit her with a pair of torpedoes.

The torpedo hits knocked out Karlsruhe's power and thus prevented her crew from pumping out the water that was rapidly flooding the ship.

[5][10] Her wreck was later discovered in 2017 and its identity confirmed in September 2020; it lies at a depth of 490 m (1,610 ft), some 13 nmi (24 km; 15 mi) off the coast of Norway.

In mid 1942, she returned to Norwegian waters, and unsuccessfully attempted to attack Convoy PQ 18 along with several other German warships.

She was then ordered back to Germany, where she served in a variety of roles, including training ship and convoy escort, before again returning to Norway.

She sank on an even keel, with her guns still above water, which permitted their use against advancing British forces until the final days of the war.