In May 1941, Lindemann commanded "Bismarck" during "Operation Rheinübung". "Bismarck" and the heavy cruiser formed a task force under the command of Admiral Günther Lütjens on board Bismarck. Orders were to break out of their base in German occupied Poland and attack British merchant shipping lanes in the Atlantic Ocean. The task force's first major engagement was the Battle of the Denmark Strait which resulted in the sinking of . Less than a week later, on 27 May, Lindemann and most of his crew died in "Bismarck"s last battle.