world of warships german cruisers never get citadeled

Mainz has a 25mm extremity for both the bow and stern. The one that struck in the center of your stern is what likely Citadeled you. Where the German Cruiser protection scheme is less capable in protecting the ship. But lots of German Cruiser players are too scared to fight like this, they prefer to fight at long range. They become pretty stubborn targets that even BBs can struggle to put them down quickly enough before they put fish in the water. Proper use of angling and their very peculiar protection scheme suited for close ranged fighting, that's where they're at their best. High Tier German Cruisers are at their best when in a short ranged fight. Eventually I'll connect, and at those distances, the way my NC, Alabama, Iowa-class, Montana shells arc up and down, I'm going to get good results.

On the flip side, when I'm playing my USN BBs and engage a German CA at range, I keep at it. One good salvo from Montana and I'm eating lots of damage. I love my Hindenburg but if I am engaging a Montana at range, and it seems the Montana player's aim is decent, I start to get nervous. Most especially those High Tier USN BB shells that have those high arcing shells? When they arc up high and crash down into a Cruiser at range, that's how they get Pens / Citadels. But it's while fighting at range and BB shells start hitting, that's where the German Cruiser protection scheme falls apart. Their gunnery is actually very good for the reality of long range combat in High Tier. High Tier German CAs are an interesting paradox.

Even the better armored German CAs have always been more vulnerable at range.

World of warships german cruisers never get citadeled