Lindemann arrived at the Blohm & Voss shipbuilding works in Hamburg at the beginning of August 1940. "Bismarck"s keel had been laid on 1 July 1936 and she was launched on 14 February 1939. Burkard Freiherr von Müllenheim-Rechberg joined "Bismarck" as fourth gunnery officer in June 1940, and he would become the highest-ranking officer to survive "Bismarck"s last battle on 27 May 1941. Much of what is currently known about "Bismarck"s final days is attributed to his account as a witness. Lindemann made Von Müllenheim-Rechberg his personal adjutant and instructed him to refer to the ship as "he" rather than "she"; Lindemann considered the ship too powerful to be referred to as a female. He commissioned the battleship on 24 August 1940. He showed a great deal of attachment to the ship and was respected by his crew.