The SMS Nassau was the first dreadnought in the Kaiserliche Marine. It was built in response to the revolutionary British Dreadnought. It was laid down in 1907, launched in 1908, and commissioned in 1909. Like its counterpart, it was obsolete by the start of World War I and played a limited role in the war. In 1915, SMS Nassau took part in the Battle of the Gulf of Riga, opening fire on the Russian battleship Slava. The following year, it participated in the Battle of Jutland as a second echelon ship. During the battle, SMS Nassau collided with the British destroyer HMS Spitfire, resulting in hull damage. There were also casualties among the crew.

After World War I ended, it was left to Germany because it was outdated. However, after the German fleet was sunk at Scapa Flow, the ship was transferred to Japan as reparations in April 1920. Japan sold it for scrap, and the dreadnought was subsequently dismantled in the Netherlands.

The SMS Nassau was introduced in Update 2.29 "Sons of Attila". The battleship is almost identical to its sister ship, the SMS Westfalen, differing only in its lack of anti-aircraft artillery. Otherwise, it is a typical first-generation dreadnought — fairly solid armor, extremely mediocre mobility, and an basically a complete lack of air defense.