As we see Admiral Hipper in the wake of Tirpitz (where the photo is taken from) and most likely a pocket battleship further aft it could show the german battlegroup leaving Altafjord on their sortie against convoy PQ 17.
I believe Thorsten already answered your question.
Their shoulders held the sky suspended;
They stood and Earth's foundations stay;
What God abandoned these defended;
And saved the sum of things for pay.