"Paul Jacobi" bombarded Soviet forces on 6–9 March and alternated between bombardment and escort tasks for the rest of the war as the Germans evacuated East Prussia in the face of advancing Soviet armies. On 2 May, her gyrocompass was sabotaged by some of her crew to prevent the ship from screening the last few refugee convoys. Three men were convicted by a drumhead court-martial and sentenced to death by Rear Admiral ("Konteradmiral") Bernhard Rogge. "Paul Jacobi" was decommissioned five days later at Flensburg and sailed to Wilhelmshaven under British control on 21 May to have her fate determined. France was initially denied any of the captured ships, but eventually received "Paul Jacobi" and three other destroyers. She arrived in Cherbourg on 15 January 1946 and was turned over to the French on 4 February.