Forum Marinearchiv

I've started scanning about 180 or so photos taken during the 1910-1911 deployment of S.M.S. Gneisenau to the Far East.

The dates and ports of call visited on the deployment are listed here. There's a composite photo of a chart of the travels at the end of this post.

• 16 Nov: Malaga, Spain
• 22 Nov – 25 Nov: Port Said
• ~6 Dec – ~11 Dec: Colombo, (Sri Lanka)
• 14 Dec – 4 Jan: Bombay
• 4 Jan – 12 Jan: Yaigarh(?), just south of Bombay
• 14 Jan – 18 Jan: Corhin (India)
• 19 Jan – 29 Jan: Colombo, (Sri Lanka)
• 2 Feb – ~17 Feb: Calcutta
• 23 Feb – 27 Feb: Singapore
• 5 Mar – 7 Mar: Hong Kong
• 8 Mar – ~10 Mar: Amoy
• ~14 Mar: Arrive Tsingtau

These take a bit more time to scan than the postcards (http://forum-marinearchiv.de/smf/index.php/topic,10089.0.html) did, so I'll try to get them posted in sets of sixteen. Just like the last time, it will probably take me some time to complete this project... WARNING: Some images in this collection, particularly those depicting death or (nonsexual) nudity, may be disturbing to some viewers. I'll mark the sets that contain potentially disturbing images.

Here's the first set.

• Set 1: 16 photos (http://www.thefrankes.com/wp/?p=1610) The photo album cover; Ankunft des Kronprinzen in Bombay; Ausflug nach Candy - Cylon; Japan; Kohlenübernahme in Wilhelmshaven; Moschee in Heiderabad; Jagdchita - Indien; Walfischbeute, Korsakowsk - Sachalin; Seemannsgräber, Malaga - Spanien; Ruderblatt S.M.S. Gneisenau; Walfischfängerstation Korsakowsk ---; --- Sachalin; Gottesdienst im Mittelmeer; Unser Krokodil; Strassenbau in Bombay; Japans Beute, Russisches Geschütz

To see all photo sets (including those previously posted), visit the index page here:

SMS Gneisenau Far East Photo Collection, 1910-1911 (http://www.thefrankes.com/wp/?page_id=1596)

All comments appreciated!!

(http://www.thefrankes.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/GneisenauChart-1024x479.jpg)

Hallo Alex. Sehr gut sind Ihre Fotos. Sehr interessant. Danke für den Austausch.
Grüße Garf.

Hi Alex,

Excellent pictures, I'm already looking forward to see the Tsingtau pictures.

Best regards
Timm

Hi, Alex,

very good.

Two comments
"Jagdchita" is a mix-up of German and English. The animal is a "hunting cheetah" (that´s the correct spelling) or a "Jagdgepard"

Semannsgräber in Malaga: These are graves of the captain and other crew members of the cadet sail training ship GNEISENAU (a former bearer of the same name) that was lost during a storm on December 16, 1900. After a engine failure, the ship was unable to tack away from the shore and ran aground on the harbour quay. 40 of 452 men, including the commanding officer, captain Kretschmann, lost their lives.

Greetings, Urs

Thanks, Urs!

Once again, do you mind if I post your comments on my blog site as well?

I'll have another set up probably within the hour. Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day -- a holiday in the United States -- so I'm "officially" not working. (But alas, I actually am working to finish up a project, but at least I'm not working that hard! :lol:)

Here's another set of 16:

• Set 2: 16 photos (some nudity) (http://www.thefrankes.com/wp/?p=1639) Bad an Bord; Cocospalme - Cylon; Forcierte Fahrt; Turmdeck, S.M.S. Gneisenau; Bewegte See; Eingeborene, Cylon; Torpedoboot S.90; Techn. Unteroffiz., S.M.S. Gneisenau; Auf der Back; Schimpansen, Indien; Flusslauf in Indien; Unser "Erster"; Offizierkorps, S.M.S. Gneisenau; Der Radja von Travancure; Elefantenwäsche, Indien; Französischer Kreuzer "Dupplex", Colombo

To see all photo sets (including those previously posted), visit the index page here:

SMS Gneisenau Far East Photo Collection, 1910-1911 (http://www.thefrankes.com/wp/?page_id=1596)

All comments appreciated!

Some additional Internet  :-D Informations about Malaga disaster

Gneisenau  (http://gneisenau.blogspot.com/)

Malaga disaster  (http://www.denkmalprojekt.org/dkm_deutschland/gneisenau_malaga.htm)

names of the 41 casualties  (http://www.denkmalprojekt.org/dkm_deutschland/wilhelmshaven_christuskirche.htm)


regards
:MG:

Hi Alex,

Interesting to see that your picture Gneisenau007d also became the motive of a post card.

Best regards
Timm

Zitat von: alexfranke am 18 Januar 2010, 22:00:29
Here's another set of 16:

• Set 2: 16 photos (some nudity) (http://www.thefrankes.com/wp/?p=1639) Bad an Bord; Cocospalme - Cylon; Forcierte Fahrt; Turmdeck, S.M.S. Gneisenau; Bewegte See; Eingeborene, Cylon; Torpedoboot S.90; Techn. Unteroffiz., S.M.S. Gneisenau; Auf der Back; Schimpansen, Indien; Flusslauf in Indien; Unser "Erster"; Offizierkorps, S.M.S. Gneisenau; Der Radja von Travancure; Elefantenwäsche, Indien; Französischer Kreuzer "Dupplex", Colombo

To see all photo sets (including those previously posted), visit the index page here:

SMS Gneisenau Far East Photo Collection, 1910-1911 (http://www.thefrankes.com/wp/?page_id=1596)

All comments appreciated!

Schimpansen is not correct. Chimpanzees do not have a tail.
These apes are  Hanuman Languren  (http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanuman-Languren)
or in english  Gray langur  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semnopithecus)

Thanks for sharing these excellent photo collection.

Regards
:MG:

Yes, Timm, it is interesting. These all came from my Opa, Ernst (the guy who sent the 375 or so postcards in my other thread). I know he liked photography, but I wonder if he was buying a lot of photos as well. For example, they don't all appear to be the same format (from the same camera). In fact I don't even know what type of camera he might have even had at the time...

Zitat von: MS am 18 Januar 2010, 22:46:57Schimpansen is not correct. Chimpanzees do not have a tail.
These apes are  Hanuman Languren  (http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanuman-Languren)
or in english  Gray langur  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semnopithecus)

Thank you! Do you mind if I post your comments on my blog site as well? This way other visitors to my site will be able to learn from your comments as well.

Hi Alex,

I think your grandfather sold most of these pictures as it was quiet uncommon in 1910 to have an own camera. The cameras at that time were very bulky and it required a lot of skills to develop pictures. Most of the pictures I have in my collection are also having different formats but also little white digits in either the left or right bottom corner. I think they were added by professional photographers who numbered the negatives in order to make it easier for their clients to select pictures they were interested in.
Thanks to your collection I finally could identify another picture in my collection, see below.

Best regards
Timm

Zitat von: alexfranke am 18 Januar 2010, 22:00:29
- Torpedoboot S.90;

- Französischer Kreuzer "Dupplex",

Torpedoboat "S 90" was the only German torpedo boat in the Pacific when World War I broke out four years later. She participated in the defense of the German garrison of Tsingtau in China and sank the (old) Japanese cruiser TAKACHIO on October 17,1914.

"Dupplex" should read "Dupleix" (In the history of the French navy, one of four French warships bearing the name)

Greetings, Urs

Timm, Dein Foto zeigt aber nicht die "Dupleix", sondern einen der drei Kreuzer der "Gueydon"-Klasse: "Gueydon", "Montcalm" oder "Dupetit Thouars".

Here's another set of 16:

• Set 3: 16 photos (http://www.thefrankes.com/wp/?p=1676) Sonntagsmusik auf S.M.S. Gneisenau; Indischer Zauberer; Fischfang in der Castriesbay, Sibirien; Russische Soldatenwohnungen in Sibirien; Bumbootsleute an Bord, Port Said; Der Fürst von Travancore geht von Bord; Indische Händler, Diamond Harbor, Ganges; Strand von Mallabar Hill, Bombay; Das Kronprinzenpaar an Bord, Colombo; Indische Fischer längsseits; Indische Testilarbeiter Familie; Nielpfers-fütterung, Bombay; Palast eines indischen Mahradjas; Das heilige Bad im Ganges, Calcuta; Fischfang am Indischen Ocean; Die Gemahlin des Radjas von Travancore

To see all photo sets (including those previously posted), visit the index page here:

SMS Gneisenau Far East Photo Collection, 1910-1911 (http://www.thefrankes.com/wp/?page_id=1596)

All comments appreciated!

Just a hint to two typos:
Testilarbeiter should read Textilarbeiter
Nielpfers should read Nilpferd (literally: horse of the Nile)

Axel

Zitat von: Big A am 22 Januar 2010, 07:04:18
Just a hint to two typos:
Testilarbeiter should read Textilarbeiter
Nielpfers should read Nilpferd (literally: horse of the Nile)

Thank you! I have fat fingers I guess :) I changed "Textil", and the ending of Nielpferd, but I left the "ie"  because that's the way he had it written in the album. I wonder if maybe the spelling has changed over the years...

Here's another set of 16:

• Set 4: 16 photos (http://www.thefrankes.com/wp/?p=1703) Ankunft des Kronprinzen in Bombay; Der Kronprinz an Bord der Gneisenau; Jagdleoparden zur Verfügung des Kronprinzen; Strasse in Shanghai; Der Kronprinz auf der Tiegerjagd; Japanischer u. Chinesischer Kreuzer, Yangsekiang; Torpedoboot Taku & Franz. Kreuzer; Chinesischer Zampan; Der Kronprinz beim Vicekönig von Indien; Landungskorps klar zum Maneuver; Strasse in Shanghai; Schärfen der Seitengewehre; Abnahme einer Parade durch den Kronprinzen, Indien; Yangtselotse; Chinesisches Militär; Steinwüste bei Amoy, China

To see all photo sets (including those previously posted), visit the index page here:

SMS Gneisenau Far East Photo Collection, 1910-1911 (http://www.thefrankes.com/wp/?page_id=1596)

All comments appreciated!

Hallo Alex.

Zitat von: alexfranke am 24 Januar 2010, 20:05:03
Here's another set of 16:

Japanischer u. Chinesischer Kreuzer

"AKITSUSHIMA" und "KING CH'ING"

Schöne Grüße

Alex

Hi, Alex

Zitat von: alexfranke am 24 Januar 2010, 20:05:03
Torpedoboot Taku & Franz. Kreuzer;

the torpedo boat TAKU was built in Germany by the shipyard Schichau in Elbing in 1898, chinese name HAI CHING. During the "Boxer rebellion", the boat was seized by German troops, commissioned 1902 for the German navy and integrated into the German Far East squadron. After the outbreak of the first World War, it was scuttled by its crew off Tsingtau.

The ship in the background is, certainly, a French Cruiser, but the ship directly behind TAKU seems to me to be a US Navy ship, concluding from the flags shown

greetings, Urs

Here's another set of 16:

• Set 5: 16 photos (http://www.thefrankes.com/wp/?p=1721) Der Kronprinz in Calcutta; Exerzieren chin. Rekruten in Woosung; Kulangsoo bei Amoy; Engl. Kreuzer New Castle; Salon des Kronprinzen in Bombay; Kommandobrücke von Torpedoboot S.90; Torpedoboot S.90; Engl. Kreuzer Minotaur; Ort Cochin im State Travancore, Indien; Schiesscheiben; "Landsleute" von Tsingtau; Kohlen nehmen in Tsingtau; Hindu-Tempel, Colombo.; Elefantenritt, Bombay; Bild aus Japan; Heizraum, S.M.S. Gneisenau

To see all photo sets (including those previously posted), visit the index page here:

SMS Gneisenau Far East Photo Collection, 1910-1911 (http://www.thefrankes.com/wp/?page_id=1596)

All comments appreciated!

The picture from Japan (No 021c) looks like it was taken at Kamakura, the residence of the Shoguns and once capital of Japan. Walking through this gate and then looking left one can find the world famous Three Monkies (see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil)

Axel

Picture Gneisenau020d is showing SMS Gneisenau at the place indicated by the arrow.

Regards
Timm

Hello, Alex

comments to HMS Minotaur/Newcastle

HMS Minotaur was the lead ship of the Minotaur-class (3 ships: Minotaur, Defence, Shannon), comprising the last armoured cruisers to be built for the Royal Navy before the introduction of the battle-cruisers, the first of them, HMS Indomitable, being commissioned only a few months after Minotaur. Thus, they must be considered as obsolete or, at least, unfit for real battle at the beginning of the First World War (somewhat comparable to the German Blücher).
All three Minotaur-class cruisers did, however, take part in the battle of Jutland, where HMS Defence was lost with all hands (893 dead).

HMS Newcastle was one of the first cruisers of the Town- (Bristol-)class, the first light cruiser of the Royal Navy armed with 6"-guns.

Both ships fired what were, probably, the first shots of the Royal Navy in the First World War in the Pacific theatre when they bombarded the German wireless communications station on the island of Yap in the Carolines on August 6, 1914.

greetings, Urs

Very cool, Timm! ...and thank you again, Urs, as always! :) It's great stuff.

Do you all mind if I include these comments on my blog site, too?   :?

Here's the next set of 16:

• Set 6: 16 photos (one photo depicts human death and cremation) (http://www.thefrankes.com/wp/?p=1741) Strassenbild aus Yocohama; Sonntagnachmittag auf See in den Tropen; Japanische Küstenlandschaft mit Fujiyama; Stoker beim Bilgereinigen; Garten eines Japanischen Teehauses; Tech. Unteroff. Corps vor den Zeltlangern in Calcutta; Strandbild aus Japan; Von einem Ausfluge ins Innere Indiens; Burma Pagode, Calcutta; Ausflug ins Innere Indiens; Itsikushima, die heilige Insel Japans; Bergdorf in Japan; Leichenverbrennung in Indien; Hindutempel, Bombay; Kesseljungen in der Werft Tsingtau; Japanischer Kaufladen

To see all photo sets (including those previously posted), visit the index page here:

SMS Gneisenau Far East Photo Collection, 1910-1911 (http://www.thefrankes.com/wp/?page_id=1596)

All comments appreciated!

Zitat von: alexfranke am 05 Februar 2010, 03:00:04
Do you all mind if I include these comments on my blog site, too?   :?

No (as before) go ahead

greetings to NC, Urs

Hi Alex,

The Chinese workers shown in your picture Gneisenau025c were waiting below the 150 ton crane which was part of the German dockyard. The building with the round roof in the rear to the left of your picture can also be seen in my attached picture together with the crane.

Best regards
Timm

Some interest for you, Alex:
http://www.kartonist.de/wbb2/thread.php?threadid=2624&threadview=0&hilight=&hilightuser=0&page=1
This card modeller is picturing a diorama "Ostasiengeschwader in Tsingtau", and does also show a lot of his historic references, e.g. pics and some maps, to get things right.
A bilateral crossover might be interesting for you...
Ciao,
Harold

Timm -- I'm absolutely amazed at how familiar you are with the locations in these photos!  top top

Harold, thank you -- I will take a close look at that link.

Meantime, here's another set of 16. I can't read the handwriting on the fourth one. Can anyone tell me what it says?  :?

• Set 7: 16 photos (One photo depicts human death and cremation.) (http://www.thefrankes.com/wp/?p=1762) Der Kronprinz mit seinem Jagdshita; Mussestunde an Bord; Mitteldeck S.M.S. Gneisenau; Ind. Begleiteskorte des Kronprinzen in Calcutta; Leichenverbrennung in Indien; Empfang des Kronprinzen in Bombay; Itsucushima die heilige Insel, Japan; Amoy (China) von der Insel Kolangsoo aus gesehen; "Gneisenau" beim japanischen Kaisersalut vor Nanking; Deutsch-Engl. Seemannsfest in Tsingtau; Die Kronprinzessin an Bord; Stadttor in Nanking; Engl Kreuzer "New Castle" & Yacht "Alecrite" for Woosung; Wohn-und Fischerboote, Colombo, Ceylon; Ehrenwache und Bordkapelle; "Iltis" Friedhof beu Jung-tsching (Tschifu) China

To see all photo sets (including those previously posted), visit the index page here:

SMS Gneisenau Far East Photo Collection, 1910-1911 (http://www.thefrankes.com/wp/?page_id=1596)

All comments appreciated!

Hello Alex,

the title of your picture Gneisenau026d is: Ind. Begleiteskorte des Kronprinzen in Calcutta.

Best regards
Köln

Zitat von: Köln am 15 Februar 2010, 20:13:05the title of your picture Gneisenau026d is: Ind. Begleiteskorte des Kronprinzen in Calcutta.

vielen Dank, Köln! I'll update it now.

hello, Alex

Zitat von: alexfranke am 15 Februar 2010, 19:17:25

• Set 7: 16 photos (One photo depicts human death and cremation.) (http://www.thefrankes.com/wp/?p=1762) Engl Kreuzer "New Castle" & Yacht "Alecrite" for Woosung;
  

It seems to me that there might be a mistake. The ship shown in company with the yacht is - in my opinion - not NEWCASTLE, but MINOTAUR.
You can compare both ships very easily in your set #5.
(a) The NEWCASTLE´s funnels are raked, the second and third are more voluminous. The MINOTAUR´s funnels are perpendicular - like in this picture.
(b) The artillery officers stand in the foreward mast looks like the MINOTAUR´s, not the NEWCASTLE.

greetings, Urs

Zitat von: Urs Hessling am 15 Februar 2010, 21:21:45It seems to me that there might be a mistake. The ship shown in company with the yacht is - in my opinion - not NEWCASTLE, but MINOTAUR.

Good eye. I think you're correct. I found photos of the two ships on wikipedia.org: HMS Newcastle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Newcastle_%281909%29) and HMS Minotaur (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Minotaur_%281906%29)

I'll correct it and make a note of the original caption.

Here's another set of 16:

• Set 8: 16 photos (some nudity) (http://www.thefrankes.com/wp/?p=1905) Dampfer "Silesia" auf dem Yangtsekiang, China; Eingeborene auf Ceylon; Badender Elefant, Candy, Ceylon; Schwimmendes Dorf auf dem Yangtsekiang; Chinesische Tschunke transportiert Bambus; Ehrenwache des Kronprinzen in Bombay; Suez Kanal, Einfahrt bei Port Said; Exellenz von Truppel's Besuch auf S.M.S. Gneisenau; Ausflug zum Tiegertempel bei Amoy, China; Port Said; Port Said; Familie von Truppel und Kapitän von Uslar a.d. Iltisfriedhof; Governeur, Admiral von Truppel verlässt Tsingtau; Improvisiertes Seebad an Bord; Zeugwäsche an Bord; Unteroffiziere von S.M.S. Gneisenau & H.M.S. Minotaur in Tsingtau

To see all photo sets (including those previously posted), visit the index page here:

SMS Gneisenau Far East Photo Collection, 1910-1911 (http://www.thefrankes.com/wp/?page_id=1596)

All comments appreciated!

Hi Alex,

Thanks a lot for sharing. I really like your picture Gneisenau033a because I have a picture showing the same scene but from the opposite direction (see below). The caption reads: "Farewell to Governor Truppel, passage to Japan on board of armored cruiser Gneisenau".
Please note the guy with the flag who is visible in both pictures. The pictures had been taken at the northern side of Pier 2 in the big harbor of Tsingtau.

Best regards
Timm

Wow, Timm -- that is very cool!  top top Do you have that photo posted somewhere so I can link to it on my blog site? Or would you mind if I put it on my web server and linked to it there? It looks like maybe your photographer might have been up on the platform to the left of the guy with the flag.

Here's another set of 16:

• Set 9: 16 photos (http://www.thefrankes.com/wp/?p=1930) Küste von Tsingtau, China; Bootsmanöver; Ehrenwache und Bordkapelle; Von einem Ausfluge nach Tei-tu-sheng, Kiautschaugebiet; Frau von Truppel nimmt Abschied von Tsingtau; Governeur, Admiral von Truppel verlässt Tsingtau; Russisches Blockhaus, Castriesbay, Sibirien; Kameraden von "Gneisenau" & "Kaiser Franz Josef" in Tsingtau; Japanische Singspielhalle; Alter Tempel auf der Insel Elephanta bei Bombay; Das heilige Bad in Ganges, Calcutta; Japaner beim Fechtsport; Einfahrt bei Chimonosecki, Japan; Kameraden von "Kaiser Franz Josef" bei uns zu Gast; Shanghai; Gesandter, Graf Rex und Offizierkorps von "Gneisenau"
  

To see all photo sets (including those previously posted), visit the index page here:

SMS Gneisenau Far East Photo Collection, 1910-1911 (http://www.thefrankes.com/wp/?page_id=1596)

All comments appreciated!

Hi Alex,

Please check your private messages. Indeed I'm also pretty sure that you can see the photographer in the background of your picture (see below). I also tried to find the photographer on board of SMS Gneisenau, but I'm not sure about the precise location.

Best regards
Timm

Hi Alex,

Some more information about your picture "Gneisenau 34a." I can indentify:
1-Arcona Island with the light house
2-Observatory
3-Bismarck barracks
4-Mine depot
5-Beach hotel
6-Iltis barracks
The map shows you from where the picture had been taken and the angle visible.

Best regards
Timm

Part 2

Timm, I am very grateful for your very interesting and informative replies!!  top top top

Here's another set of 16:

• Set 10: 16 photos (http://www.thefrankes.com/wp/?p=1950) Teehaus in Miatsu, Japan; "Cesarewitsch" in Tsingtau; "Cesarewitsch" in Tsingtau; Inneres eines Shintoistentempels, Japan; Strassenbild aus Iokohama; Zahnziehen in unserm Lazarett; "Cesarewitsch" in Tsingtau; Geisha Tanz; Geisha Tanz; Korsakowsk auf Sachalin; Grenzposten auf Sachalin; Geisha Tanz; Vergnügungspark der Japaner in Tsuruga; Gemäldeaufnahme: Japaner stürmen ein Fort; Gemäldeaufnahme: Battle of Cavite, Philipinen; "Titania" längseits zur Materialübernahme, Castiesbay, Sibirien

.
To see all photo sets (including those previously posted), visit the index page here:

SMS Gneisenau Far East Photo Collection, 1910-1911 (http://www.thefrankes.com/wp/?page_id=1596)

All comments appreciated!

Thank you for publishing this great collection! :lol:

Why is the CESAREWITSCH demaged? Is it an effect of the russian/japanese war of 1905?

Best wishes: Klaus

Zitat von: Schaarhörn am 09 April 2010, 08:46:07Why is the CESAREWITSCH demaged? Is it a effect of the russian/japanese war of 1905?

According to an email I got from Timm, "The Russian warship was very badly damaged in August 1904 during the Russian-Japanese war. The ship managed to escape to Tsingtau where it was detained until the end of the Russian-Japanese war. The ship was repaired at Tsingtau and left the harbor in November 1905."

He pointed out before that these photos are not all from 1910-1911 and that they were probably purchased by my grandfather during that trip. This photo is a good example of why what must be true.

Glad you like the collection!