The SS 'George Washington', c1910. German passenger ship launched in 1908, named after the first US president George Washington (1732-1799), and operated by the North German Lloyd (Norddeutscher Lloyd) shipping line. On 14 April 1912, the 'George Washington' passed a large iceberg off Newfoundland and radioed a warning to all ships in the area, including White Star Line liner Titanic, which sank near the same location on the following day. 'Washington' was seized by the US Government during World War I, and served as a troopship. She resumed transatlantic passenger service in the 1920s, and was again used to transport troos during World War II. Postcard.