She was seized in May 1945 by the British at Copenhagen, Denmark, passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and renamed Empire Deben.

Making her maiden voyage on 22 January 1923,[5] she was used on the Hamburg - New York route.

[6] Thuringia made her last voyage for HAPAG starting on 9 January 1930 on the Hamburg – Cobh – Halifax – New York route.

[5] In 1930, she was refitted for service on the South American route, and renamed General San Martin.

[7] On 26 December 1932, General San Martin ran aground at Cuxhaven, Germany in fog.

[5] On 20 January 1940, General San Martin was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine for use as a barracks ship.

[1] From 25 January 1945,[2] General San Martin assisted in the evacuation of civilians from the Baltic.

[2] Her departure from Southampton, Hampshire on 14 September 1948 for Gibraltar, Malta and Port Said, Egypt was delayed due to engine defects.

[11] One of the apprentices who served on board Empire Deben was Dennis Scott-Masson, who was the captain of Canberra during the Falklands War.