German Imperial Navy postcard collection

[alexfranke]

Vielen dank t-geronimo, Urs and esp Axel!!!

Tomorrow I'll send you a ship list according to which you must tell me which you do not yet have.
[snip]
With the help of my list you can tell the different classes of warships exactly, there is always a space between them. Ships not older than 3 years...

I think I might actually have this list. I'll try to get a scan up.

[alexfranke]

There were two lists included with the postcards. It seems to me that one of these is likely the list Ernst mentions in the recently posted postcards. My guess is that it's the first one -- it does appear to be categorized by class (or at least type of ship).

Click each thumbnail for a larger view.

[Urs Heßling]

Hi, Alex and Axel,

Set 29 #2 ( "U 21") and Set 30 #3 ("U 9") see my previous comment

Set 30
# 5
The 4 ships mentioned by Ernst are the armoured cruisers "Scharnhorst"(860 dead), "Gneisenau" (592 dead), and the small cruisers "Nürnberg" (327 dead) and "Leipzig" (315 dead). The small cruiser "Dresden" did indeed escape, but was found and destroyed by British cruisers in (neutral) Chilean territorial waters in March, 1915

# 6
Axel: spelling mistakes "Kaierin"instead of "Kaiserin"and "Emoress" instead of "Empress"


Set 31

# 8
Axel: is it possible that "Kreuzerschiffe" should read "Kriegsschiffe" ? (Ernst seems to be so knowledgeable that I don´t think he would write "Kreuzerschiffe") - The "PrinzregentLuitpold" had been commissioned in August, 1913, 15 months earlier


Set 32

# 2
Ernst refers to the engagement (not quite a "battle") at the Doggerbank, an area of shallow water in the central North Sea. The German 1st Scouting Group Admiral Hipper in command) had put to sea to surprise and sink British watchships and cruisers there. As the "von der Tann", one of the modern and fast "Large Cruisers" (really: battle cruisers) was undergoing repairs, Admiral Hipper hat taken along as a "replacement" the older armoured cruiser "Blücher". "Blücher", however, was considerably slower than Hipper´s other ships, being the last German large warship built with reciprocating engines as propulsion (all others had turbines, already).
The Royal Navy had, in the first months of the war, learned to decipher the German Naval code and had prior knowledge of Hipper´s raid. Therefore, Admiral Beatty was able to set up a trap with his 5 battlecruisers and 2 cruiser squadrons. When both sides met at the Doggerbank at the morning of Januar, 24, 1915, Hipper turned to flight before Beatty´s superior force. During the chase, the "Blücher", a ploughhorse among racehorses, fell slowly behind. After a heavy hit in the central ammunition supply system (another of "Blücher"´s weaknesses), "Blücher" became a lost case and was sunk after numerous hits, eventually, 792 men going down with her.
Due to erroneous and misinterpretable signals made by Beatty´s staff and "Blücher"´s sacrifice, the other German ships got away.
Another remarkable event was a heavy hit on the German "Seydlitz", Hipper´s flagship. It detonated the propelling charges in the storage chambers of the two  11"-turrets aft and incinerated both turrets with 165 men. The chief petty officer responsible for the water supply system (Pumpenmeister Wilhelm Heidkamp) saved the ship from total destruction through a imminent detonation of the turret´s s grenade magazines by flooding the magazines, turning the red-hot vent wheels with his bare hands. He died, eventually, of his wounds in 1931.

# 8
This is another reference to the Doggerbank fight (see above). Ernst´s opinion that "the English suffered most" is probably based on the erroneous German opinion that the british battlecruiser "Lion", Beatty´s flagship, was sunk, too (it was heavily damaged)

Greetings, Urs

[Big A]

@ Urs

Set 31 # 8 definitely reads "Kreuzerschiffe", I just checked

Axel

[alexfranke]

Four more sets: We're up to 288! 

• Set 33: 8 ships S.M.S. "König"; S.M.S. Kaiserin. Linienschiff.; S.M.S. "Grosser Kurfürst"; Russisches Kanonenboot "Chiwinetz".; S.M.S. Rheinland, Heckansicht; S.M.S. Hessen, Heckansicht,; Vorderschiff S.M.S. Lothringen.; S.M.S. Goeben Steuerbordseite Schwere Heckgeschütze.
• Set 34: 8 ships S.M.S. Rheinland, Steuerbordseite.; S.M.S. Helgoland, Bugansicht.; S.M.S. Dresden, Bugansicht.; S.M.S. Ostfriesland, Bugansicht; S.M.S. Ostfriesland; S.M.S. Preussen. Linienschiff.; S.M.S. Pommern. Linienschiff.; S.M.S. Oldenburg.
• Set 35: 8 ships Das I. Geschwader geht in See.; S.M.S. München. Kl. gesch. Kreuzer.; S.M.S. Kolberg under der Grünthaler Hochbrücke; S.M.S. "Leipzig"; S.M.S. Schlesien under der Rendsburger Hochbrücke; S.M.S. Schleswig Holstein. Linienschiff.; S.M.S. Yorck. Panserkreuzer.; S.M.S. Seydlitz. Schwere Artillerie.
• Set 36: 4 ships, 4 scenes S.M.S. Kaiser. Schwere 30.5 cm Buggeschütze, Kommandobrücke, Torpedofangnetze.; S.M.S. Elsass. Auf Deck, Backbordseite. 15 cm Geschütze.; S.M.S. Preußen, Mittlere Artillerie.; Nach dem Angriff auf die Dardanellen. Ein beschädigter feindlicher Kreuzer zur Reparatur in Malta.; Kiel. Kriegshafen.; Die Rüstenpanzer in See gehend; Die am 6. und 17. Oktober 1914 in der Nordsee gesunkenen Torpedoboote S. 115, S. 116, S. 117, S. 118 and 119.; Das englische Linienschiff "FORMIDABLE" wurde an 1. Januar 1915 durch ein deutsches Unterseeboot zum Sinken gebracht

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

WWI German Navy Postcard Collection Index Page
Search, filter, sort and browse the collection here. (Note that that this tool may not contain the most recent updates.)

Please feel free to comment!

[Big A]

Hi Alex, might take some days, am TDY, just checking the forum in an internet-café

Axel

[Urs Heßling]

Hi, Alex,

First comments – prior to Axel´s translations

Set 33
#1 and #3 are the same picture (the different names are a fake) Have a good look at the clouds coming out of the funnels, the rigs on the forecastle and the poop and the smaller gun second from left – they are the same.

Set 34
#7 S.M.S. Pommern – that´s the unlucky (pre-Dreadnought) ship-of-the line that went down with all hands (839 men) in the aftermath of the battle of Jutland on June 1, 1916, after a single torpedo hit by a British destroyer

Set 35
#7 again a unlucky ship: S.M.S. Yorck went down on November 4, 1914, in the Jade estuary, i.e. in the "safe heaven" of the German Fleet, after running in dense fog and tidal stream into a (own) protective mine barrier. Probably 336 men (there are different numbers) lost their lives.
typo: Panserkreuzer should read "Panzerkreuzer"

Set 36
#5 showing battleships of the 1st squadron (Ostfriesland- and Nassau-class) preparing to leave harbour ("rising steam" = "Dampf aufmachen")

#6 typo, should read "Küstenpanzer" ("Siegfried"-class)

#7 Torpedoboat S 116 was sunk October 6, 1914 by the British submarine E 9 off the River Ems. E 9´s Commanding Officer was Lieutenant-Commander Max Horton, who had sunk the German light cruiser "Hela" the previous month, started the tradition of British subs to fly a "Jolly Roger" (a pirate flag with skull and crossed bones) on return from a successful mission and rose to rank of Admiral in WW II.
The four other boats S 115, S 117, S 118 and S 119, commisioned in 1903, were, really, out-dated at the start of the war. The 7th Half-flotilla they belonged to was tasked for a minelaying mission off the British coast with considerable risk from the beginning. A British patrol with the Light cruiser "Undaunted" and four more modern destroyers of the L-class (commissioned 1913) intercepted them off the Dutch island of Texel and sank all 4 boats. The Flotilla´s Senior Officer, Commander Georg Thiele (a German WW II-destroyer was named after him) perished with most of his men.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_off_Texel

#8 "Formidable" was sunk by the German "U 24" (Commanding Officer Kapitänleutnant Rudolf Schneider) off Portland in the British Channel in the first submarine underwater night attack in history. 547 men, including her captain, went down with the ship



Greetings, Urs

[Big A]

Hi Alex,
got home earlier than planned, so here is my "homework"

SET 33

1.   Liebe Lotte!  Kiel, d. 16.1.15
Anbei eine Ansicht eines unserer allerneuesten Linienschiffe. Von dieser Sorte müssten wir so ca. 20 Stück haben, dann wäre England sicher schon in die Knie. Ich habe jetzt wieder Karten gekauft. Ich grüße Dich vielmals herzlich als Dein tr(euer) Ernst. Herzlichen Gruß an Deine lieben Angehörigen

Dear Lotte!  Kiel; 16.01.15
Enclosed is a view of one of our newest ships of the line. We ought to have about 20 of that kind, than England would already be on her knees. I bought cards again. I am sending many affectionate greetings as your truthful Ernst. Affectionate greetings to your dear relatives.


2.   Liebe Lotte!  Kiel, d. 23.1.15
Anbei die Gemahlin des gestrigen ,,dicken Dampfers"! Es sind sehr stolze Schiffe, nicht wahr, die es mit jedem Feinde aufnehmen können. Solch einen hätten wir bei den Falklandinseln haben müssen! Dich vielmals herzlich grüßend bin ich in tr(euer) Liebe Dein Ernst

Dear Lotte!  Kiel, 23.01.15
Enclosed is the wife of yesterday's "fat steamer". They are proud ships, aren't they? We should have had one of those at the Falkland Isles. Sending many affectionate greetings I am in true love your  truthful Ernst


3.   Liebe Lotte!  Kiel, d. 28.1.15
Von diesen modernen Linienschiffen hast Du jetzt bis auf 2 alle Ansichten. Wir haben von diesen 9 Schiffe. Wenn wir ebenso viele moderne Schlachtkreuzer hätten, wär für uns bedeutend besser (wrong grammar!) Aber wir werden uns auch hoffentlich so durchschlagen. Ich grüße Dich vielmals herzlich als Dein Dich tr(eu) l(iebender) Ernst

Dear Lotte!  Kiel, 28.01.15
Except for 2 you now have all the views of these modern ships of the line. We have 9 ships of this kind. If we had as many battle cruisers, we would be far better off. But hopefully we will fight through anyway. Many affectionate greetings from your truthful Ernst.


4.   Liebe Lotte!  Kiel, den 22.10.15
Anbei sende ich Dir auch mal eine Ansicht eines russischen Schiffes. Das Schiff ist ähnlich gebaut wie unsere Kleinen Kreuzer. – Das erste Friedenszeichen scheint sich bereits bemerkbar zu machen, da Serbien in einem Kronrat die Aussichtslosigkeit des Kampfes gegen die Mittelmächte und Bulgarien ausgesprochen hat. Sei vielmals herzlich gegrüßt von Deinem treuen Ernst

Dear Lotte!  Kiel, 22.10.15
Enclosed I am sending you a view of a Russian vessel for a change. The ship is built similar to our light cruisers. – The first signs of peace seem to emerge, because Serbia spoke of the forlornness of the fight against the Middle-powers and Bulgaria after a session of the crown council. Many affectionate greetings from your truthful Ernst.


5.   Liebe Lotte!  Kiel, d. 5.12.14
Anbei eine Teilansicht (achtern) des Patenschiffes meiner Heimatprovinz; von derselben Klasse wie ,,Westfalen". Die schwarzen runden Dinger in der Nähe der Masten sind Scheinwerfer. Nicht die runden Öffnungen am Schiffskörper, das sind Bulleyes (runde Fenster). Dich vielmals herzlich grüßend bin ich in inniger Liebe Dein treuer Ernst

Dear Lotte!  Kiel, 05.12.14
Enclosed is a partial view (astern) of the partnership of my home province, the class as "Westfalen". The round black things close to the mast are floodlighs. Not the round openings in the hull, those are bull eyes (round windows). Many affectionate greetings, I am in deep love your truthful Ernst.


6.   Liebe Lotte!  Kiel, d. 18.12.14
Anbei eine Ansicht eines Linienschiffes einer Serie, die vor der Dreadnought – Periode gebaut wurden. Das Schiff wurde im Jahre 1905 baufertig. – Gefallen Dir diese Schiffskarten, oder möchtest Du gerne andere haben? Dich vielmals herzlich grüßend bin ich in inniger Liebe Dein treuer Ernst


Dear Lotte!  Kiel, 18.12.14
Enclosed a view of a ship of the line built before the Dreadnought – period. The ship was constructed in 1905. – Do you like the ship cards, or would you like to have other cards? Many affectionate greetings, I am in deep love your truthful Ernst.


7.   Liebe Lotte!  Kiel, d. 2.12.14
Für Deine liebe Karte von 29.11. herzlichen Dank, sie hat mich sehr erfreut. Ich bedauere sehr dass Du so erkältet bist und wünsche Dir gute Besserung. Mir geht es noch gut. Anbei eine Ansicht von der Back eines Linienschiffes. Dich vielmals herzlich grüßend bin ich in inniger Liebe Dein tr(euer) Ernst.  Herzl(iche) Grüße an D(eine) l(ieben) Angehörigen

Dear Lotte!    Kiel, 02.12.14
Many thanks for your dear card dating from 29.11., I was very delighted. I am sorry that you have a cold and wish all the best for you. I am still fine. Enclosed is a view of the forward part of a ship of the line. Many affectionate greetings, I am in deep love your truthful Ernst. Affectionate greetings to your dear relatives


8.   Liebe Lotte!  Kiel, den 16.11.15
Anbei noch eine Ansicht von S.M.S. Goeben, wo ich meine letzte aktive Zeit drauf diente. Meine Arbeitsstelle war dort das Maschinenbüro; ich habe an dem betr(effenden) Bulleye einen  (arrow)      gemacht (unterhalb des aufgerollten Torpedoschutznetzes) Sei vielmals herzlich gegrüßt von Deinem treuen Ernst.

Dear Lotte!  Kiel, 16.11.15
Enclosed another view of S.M.S Goeben, were I served during my last active duty. My work place there was the machinery office; I put an   (arrow)      at the related bull eye. (below the coiled up torpedo protection net). Many affectionate greetings from your truthful Ernst.

[Big A]

SET 34

1.   Liebe Lotte!  Kiel, d. 9.12.14
Heute war ein Tag kritischer Ordnung. Erstens erhielt ich Deinen lieben Brief, wofür besten Dank. Dazu einen Brief von meinem Vater, dann eine Schachtel mit Liebes-Zigarren und Zigaretten von der Beamtenschaft – Vulcan, dann eine Schachtel mit Liebesgaben von einer Familie (ev. Vereinsmitgl(ieder)) aus Kaldenkirchen, dann ein umfangreiches Liebesgabenpaket von der Stadt Kaldenkirchen, wozu verschiedene Leute beigesteuert hatten! Ich weiß absolut keinen Rat mehr mit all den Sachen. Wenn Morgen Zeit, werde ich näheres berichten. Dich vielmals herzlich grüßend bin ich in tr(euer) Liebe Dein Ernst

Dear Lotte!   Kiel, 09.12.14
It was critical day today. First I received your dear letter, many thanks. Also a letter from my father, then a box with love cigars and cigarettes from the civil employees of the Vulcan, then a box with love gifts from a family (prob. club members) from Kaldenkirchen , then a large love gift package from the city of Kaldenkirchen, many people contributed to that. I have no idea where to with all those things. I time permits, tomorrow I'll give detailed information. Many affectionate greetings, I am  your truthful Ernst.


2.   Liebe Lotte!  Kiel, d. 12.12.14
Deine liebe Karte vom 9.d.M. erhielt ich mit vieler Freude, hierfür besten Dank. Hiermit sende ich Dir eine Ansicht der ,,Helgoland"; ein Linienschiffstyp welcher nach der Nassau-Klasse gebaut wurde. Dich, Deine Mutter und Schwester herzlich grüßend verbleibe ich in inniger Liebe Dein treuer Ernst

Liebe Lotte!  Kiel, 12.12.14
With great joy I received your dear card from the 9th of this month, many thanks. I am sending you a view of "Helgoland", a type of ship of the line built after the Nassau-class. Sending affectionate greetings to you, your mother and your sister I am in deep love your truthful Ernst


3.   Liebe Lotte!  Kiel, d. 30.11.14
Anbei eine Ansicht des Kl(einen) Kreuzers ,,Dresden" welcher auch mit beim Seegefecht an der chilenischen Küste war. Ich habe von meiner Schwester Johanna jetzt ein Paket bekommen, worüber ich mich freute. Dich vielmals herzlich grüßend bin ich Dein Dich treu liebender Ernst

Dear Lotte!  Kiel, 30.11.14
Enclosed a view of light cruiser "Dresden" who took part in the naval engagement off the Chilenian coast.  I received a package from my sister Johanna, I was very delighted. Many affectionate greetings, I am your truthful Ernst.


4.   Liebe Lotte!  Kiel, d. 28.10.15
Schon haben die Russen den Lohn für Prinz Adalbert, den sie durch ein engl(isches) U-Boot versenkten. Die an sich schon nicht sehr starke russische Schwarzmeerflotte wird durch den Verlust der beiden Linienschiffe sehr geschwächt. – Griechenland scheint jetzt auch dem Viererbunde gegenüber eine energische Sprache zu führen. Sei Du  herzlichst gegrüßt von Deinem treuem Ernst

Dear Lotte!  Kiel, 28.10.15
Now the Russians have the reward for Prinz Adalbert, they sank her with an English submarine. The already not very strong Russian fleet of the Black Sea will be weakened through the loss of the two ships of the line. – Greece, too, seems to use a strong language against the Union of the Four. Many affectionate greetings from your truthful Ernst.


5.   Liebe Lotte!  Kiel, d. 27.2.15
Das Resultat unseres U-Boot-Krieges in der ersten Woche ist doch sehr erfreulich nicht wahr? Es sind über 20 Dampfer versenkt worden, darunter 2 Transportschiffe. Wie ist Dein Befinden, liebe Lotte? Mir geht es noch gut. Dich vielmals herzlich grüßend bin ich in inniger Liebe D(ein) tr(euer) Ernst

Dear Lotte!  Kiel, 27.02.15
The results of the first week of our submarine war are quite delightful, aren't they. More than 20 steamers have been sunk, among them 2 transport ships. How are you, dear Lotte? I am still fine. Many affectionate greetings, I am in deep love your truthful Ernst.


6.   Liebe Lotte!  Kiel, d. 3.2.15
Deine lieben Kartenbrief habe ich bestens dankend erhalten. Du machst mir wirklich Sorgen mit Deinem Finger; ist die Operation gut verlaufen? Ist es eine Eiterung oder was? Teile mit bald etwas über den Befund mit. Hoffentlich ist er bald wieder heil. – Die Apfelsinen, die Du mir sandtest sind gut. – Die ,,Preußen" ist beim Vulkan Stettin gebaut worden. Es grüßt Dich herzlich, mit dem Wunsche auf gute Besserung, Dein tr(euer) Ernst

Daer Lotte!  Kiel, 03.02.15
I received your dear card letter with many thanks. I am really concerned about your finger, has the operation been successful? Is it a suppuration or something else? Please inform me about the results. Hopefully it will be well soon. The oranges you sent to me are good. – "Preussen" has been built at Vulkan Stettin. Affectionate greetings with the hope of your timely recovery I am your truthful Ernst


7.   Liebe Lotte!  Kiel, d. 24.2.15
Anbei eine Ansicht des Patenschiffes Deiner Heimat. Es ist zu merken, liebe Lotte, dass Du wieder tätig bist, Du hattest mich bald verwöhnt. Wie steht es übrigens mit Deinem Finger? Bald wieder ganz heil? Es grüßt Dich vielmals herzlich Dein Dich treu liebender Ernst.

Dear Lotte!  Kiel, 24.02.15
Enclosed is a view of the name – ship of your homeland. I can feel that you are working again, you pampered me so much. By the way, how is your finger? Completely healed? Many affectionate greetings from your truthful Ernst.


8.   Liebe Lotte!"  Kiel, d. 25.2.15
Gestern war ich noch mal zum Fotografen wegen der Familienaufnahmen. Er hat an der Zusammenstellung noch gar nicht gearbeitet, er sagt, er sei mit alten Aufträgen noch so überhäuft, die er allein ausführen muß, da sein Personal im Felde steht. Am 8.3. soll ich noch mal wieder kommen. Es grüßt Dich vielmals herzlich Dein Dich tr(eu) l(iebender) Ernst.

Dear Lotte!  Kiel, 25.02.15
Yesterday I went to the photographers again to look after the family pictures. He has not yet worked at the composition, he says, he is overbooked with old orders, he has to complete them alone because all of his employees are in the field. I am to return on 08.03. Many affectionate greetings from your truthful loving Ernst.

[Big A]

SET 35

1. Liebe Lotte!   Kiel, d. 19.10.15
Jetzt fängts im Viererbund allmählich an zu krieseln. Die Herrn verantwortlichen Redakteure versichern alle, sich so nach und nach zudrücken. Ich wollte, die Volkswut der betr(offenen) Länder käme über diese Elenden, welche die großen Blutopfer und das große Weh der Daheimgebliebenen verschuldeten. Aber eins ist gewiß, Gott wird alle diese Taten rächen. Wie geht es Dir mein Lieb? Sei vielmals herzlich gegrüßt von Deinem treuen Ernst

Dear Lotte!   Kiel, 19.10.15
Now the crisis begins to show in the Union of the Four. The responsible editors are now all explaining to get out of everything step by step. I just wish that the rage of the affected countries would fall upon these miserable men who are guilty of the great bloodshed and pain of those at home. But one thing is certain, God will revenge these deeds. How are you my dear? Many affectionate greetings from your truthful Ernst.


2.   Liebe Lotte!  Kiel, d. 1.2.15
Wie steht es mit Deinem Finger, ist er wieder heil? Hoffentlich! Wir haben heute einen neuen Kompanieführer bekommen, unser bisheriger kommt nach Sonderburg. Hast Du auch von den neuen Taten unserer U-Boote gelesen, die an der Westküste Englands operieren? Fein was? Es grüßt Dich vielmals herzlich in treuer Liebe Dein Ernst

Dear Lotte!   Kiel, 01.02.15
How is your finger, is it ok? Hopefully! Today we got a new company CO, our last was sent to Sonderburg. Have you read about the new successes of our submarines operating off the west coast of England? Great, isn't it? Many affectionate greetings in truth love Ernst.


3.   Liebe Lotte!  Kiel, d. 5.3.15
Hiermit erhälst Du die Ansicht der Grünthaler – Hochbrücke, wie Du wünschtest. Hast Du jetzt alle 4 Brückenansichten? Bemerkst Du auch den Mann oben auf der Brücke, welcher heimlich auf das Achterdeck des Schiffes spuckt? Interessant ist auch das Fuhrwerk auf der Brücke. Es grüßt Dich vielmals herzlich Dein treuer Ernst

Dear Lotte!   Kiel, 05.03.15
Enclosed you receive a view of the Grünthal high bridge, as per your wish. Now you have the views of the 4 bridges. Did you notice the man on of the bridge spitting clandestinely on the aft deck of the ship. Also of interest is the carriage on the bridge. Many affectionate greetings from your truthful Ernst.


4. Liebe Lotte!   Kiel, d. 12.11.14
Hiermit sende ich Dir eine Ansicht des Kleinen Kreuzers ,,Leipzig", der auch an unserem siegreichen Gefecht bei der südamerikanischen Küste beteiligt war. – Ich arbeite zur Zeit auf V 189. Dich vielmals herzlich grüßend bin ich  Dein Dich treu liebender Ernst

Dear Lotte!  Kiel, 12.11.14
Enclosed I am sending you a view of the light cruiser "Leipzig", she also took part in our victorious naval engagement off the South American coast. – Momentarily I am working  working onboard V 189. Many affectionate greetings I am your truthful Ernst.


5. Liebe Lotte!   Kiel, d. 23.3.15
Umstehendes Bild zeigt Dir einen Teil des Kaiser-Wilhelm-Kanals, der die Ost- und Nordsee miteinander verbindet. Über den Kanal führen 4 große Hochbrücken, unter denen die großen Kriegsschiffe hindurch fahren können. Die Brücken heißen: Grünthaler-, Rendsburger, Levensauer und Prinz-Heinrich-Hochbrücke, letztere bei Holtenau. Es grüßt Dich vielmals herzl(ich) D(ein) tr(euer) Ernst

Dear Lotte!"   Kiel, 23.03.15
The picture overleaf shows a part of Kaiser-Wilhelm-Kanal (now called Kiel-Canal) that connects the Baltic to the North Sea. 4 high bridges cross this canal under which the large warships can pass. The bridges are called: Grünthaler-, Rendsburger-, Lenvensauer- and Prinz-Heinrich-High Bridge (now: Holtenauer-), the last one is at Holtenau (at the Baltic entrance to the canal). Many affectionate greetings from your truthful Ernst.


6. Liebe Lotte!   Kiel,  4.2.15
Wie steht es mit Deinem Finger? Ist er bald besser? – Gestern war ich noch mal beim Fotografen wegen der Familienaufnahmen. Die Bilder werden erst in ca. 3 Wochen fertig. Er bringt mich ganz neu auf das Bild, ich hatte mir die Platte von Kaldenk(irchen) schicken gelassen. – Wie England über unsere neue U-Bootstat wettert! Geschieht ihnen recht so! Es grüßt Dich vielmals herzlich und in treuer Liebe Dein Ernst

Dear Lotte!  Kiel, 04.02.15
How is your finger? Is it going to be better soon? – Yesterday I was at the photographer shop again because of the family pictures. The pictures will be ready in three weeks. He is placing myself on the pictures, I had the plates sent over from Kaldenkirchen. – How England is hollering against our new submarine successes. They deserve it. Many affectionate greetings from your truthful Ernst.


7. Liebe Lotte!  Kiel, d. 6.11.14
Hiermit eine Ansicht des Großen Kreuzers ,,Yorck"  welcher am Mittwoch d. 7.11. bei Wilhelmshaven auf eine Mine gelaufen ist und unterging. Es ist dies ein ähnliches Schiff wie ,,Gneisenau" nur etwas kleiner (9500 t W(asser)verdr(ängung). Viele herzliche Grüße sendet Dir D(ein) D(ich) l(iebender) Ernst.  Herzlichen Dank für erhaltene Karte

Dear Lotte!  Kiel, 06.11.14
Here is a view of the large cruiser "Yorck", she sank on Wednesday, 07.11. at Wilhelmshaven after running on a mine. It is a ship similar to "Gneisenau", just a little smaller (9.500 metric tons displacement). Many affectionate greetings from your truthful Ernst. Many thanks for received card


8. Liebe Lotte!   Kiel, d. 3.11.15
Herzlichen Dank für Deine lieben Kartenbrief, habe mich sehr darüber gefreut. Über Deinen Wunsch betreffs der vielen Ohren, habe ich herzlich gelacht. Mir geht es immer noch gut, liebe Lotte und denke recht oft an Dich. Sei herzlich gegrüßt von Deinem treuen Ernst
   
Dear Lotte!  Kiel, 03.11.15
Many thanks for your d ear card letter, I was very delighted. I laughed a lot about your wish concerning the many ears. I am still fine dear Lotte and I am thinking of you often. Many affectionate greetings from your truthful Ernst.

[Big A]

SET 36


1. Liebe Lotte!   Kiel, d. 15.11.15
Umstehend siehst Du auch wieder eine Pinaß schwabbeln, das Boot mit dem Schornstein, wo der Heizer gerade sein Zeug ausspult. Das Boot ist mittels eines Stagen an der Backspier (der lange Querbaum, wo auch noch zwei Leitern dran hängen) festgemacht. Über diese Backspier muß man klettern, wenn man vom Boot an Bord will. Sei herzlich gegrüßt von Deinem treuen Ernst

Dear Lotte!  Kiel, 15.11.15
Overleaf you see a small boat wobbling around, the boat with the stack where a stoker is washing his stuff. The boat is fastened with lines to the gangway (the long log where two ladders are attached) you have to climb the ladders if you want to go aboard from the boat. Many affectionate greetings from your truthful Ernst.


2. Liebe Lotte!  Kiel, d. 29.11.15
Gestern war ich wieder im Schlosshof, wo die Kapelle der 1. Matrosen – Division konzertierte. Das Etablissement war ziemlich dicht besetzt und es wurden viele bekannte u(nd) schöne Stücke gegeben. Es ist jetzt sehr kalt hier, 6-8 Grad unter Null, ist es dort auch so kalt? Sei vielmals herzlich gegrüßt von Deinem treuen Ernst

Dear Lotte!  Kiel, 29.11.15
Yesterday I was at the court of the palace, the band of the 1. Sailor's Division was playing a concert. The place was packed and many popular and nice songs were played. It is now very cold here, 6 – 8° (Celsius) below zero, is it equally cold there too? Many affectionate greetings from your truthful Ernst.


3. Liebe Lotte!  Kiel, d. 16.12.14
Deine liebe Karte mit dem süßen Buben habe ich erhalten, hierfür besten Dank. Auch besten Dank für die freundlich übermittelten Grüße aus Eggesin. Ich freue mich dass Du einen schönen Sonntag verlebt hast. Mir geht es noch immer gut, hoffentlich Dir auch! Es grüßt Dich vielmals herzlich Dein Dich treu liebender  Ernst

Dear Lotte!  Kiel, 16.12.14
I received your dear card with the cute guy, many thanks. Also, many thanks for the relayed greetings from Eggesin. I am glad you had such a nice Sunday. I am still fine, hope the same goes for you too. Many affectionate greetings from your truthful loving Ernst.


4.   Liebe Lotte!  Kiel, d. 4.6.15
Herzlichen Dank für Deinen lieben Brief vom 1.6. der mich sehr erfreute. Hoffentlich wirst Du auch den Brief meiner Schwester Amalie inzwischen erhalten haben. Es war auch so gegen 6 Uhr vorigen Sonntag, dass ich an Land Dir die Karte schrieb; angestoßen haben wir jedoch eine größere Spanne Zeit  hindurch. Sei herzlich gegrüßt von Deinem treuen Ernst  Herzliche Grüße an Deine lieben Angehörigen

Dear Lotte!  Kiel, 04.06.15
Many thanks for your dear letter dating 01.06., I was very delighted. Hopefully you will whave received the letter  form my sister Amalie by now. It was about 6 o'clock last Sunday that I wrote the card from ashore, but we were partying for a longer time. Many affectionate greetings from your truthful Ernst. Affectionate greetings to your dear relatives.


5.  Liebe Lotte!   Kiel, d. 25.11.15
Umstehend siehst Du ein Teil unserer Flotte im Kieler Hafen an der Boje liegen. Das viele Qualmen der Schlote zeigt Dir, dass die Schiffe klar zum ,,in See gehen" sind. Das erste Schiff links gehört zur Helgoland-Klasse, die andern in der ersten Reihe zur Nassau-Klasse. Sei vielmals herzlich gegrüßt von Deinem treuen Ernst

Dear Lotte!  Kiel, 25.11.15
Overleaf you will see a part of our fleet at the buoys at Kiel harbour. Lots of smoke from the stacks indicate that the ships are ready to go to sea. The first ship on the left belongs to the Helgoland-class, the others in the first row are Nassau-class ships. Many affectionate greetings from your truthful Ernst.


6. Liebe Lotte!   Kiel, d. 23.10.15
Jetzt sind hier auch von der Stadt Höchstpreise festgesetzt worden, und zwar beträgt der Höchstpreis für Butter 2,60 (Mark) pro Pfund (metric pound, a little less than a US pound). Es soll ferner eingeführt werden, dass es an zwei Tagen der Woche kein Fleisch zu kaufen giebt, (wrong spelling) ebenso fallen an den Tagen die Fleischmahlzeiten in den Restaurants fort. Es soll mit Gewalt gespart  werden. - Sei vielmals herzlich gegrüßt von Deinem treuen Ernst

Dear Lotte!  Kiel, 23.10.15
Ceiling prices have been enforced here too by the town council , the ceiling price for butter is 2,60 per pound. Furthermore it has been ordered that no meat must sold on two days per week, also, there will be no meat in the restaurants. Savings at all costs. Many affectionate greetings from your truthful Ernst.


7. Liebe Lotte!   Kiel, d. 16.10.15
Außer Anschwellung und örtlich starker Spannung fühle ich mich bis jetzt nach der 2.ten Impfung noch sehr wohl. – Hast Du von der schändlichen Tat der Engländer gegen eine unserer U-Bootsbesatzungen gelesen? Gemein, was? – In Serbien machen wir ja gute Fortschritte, was mich sehr erfreut. Sei herzlich gegrüßt von Deinem treuen Ernst

Dear Lotte!  Kiel, 16.10.15
Except for a swelling and a strong local tenseness I am feeling fine after my second vaccination. – Have you read about the disgraceful deed of the English against one of our submarine crews? Very mean, isn't it? In Serbia, we are advancing well, I am very delighted. Many affectionate greetings from your truthful Ernst.


8. Liebe Lotte!   Kiel, d. 26.11.15
Heute ist es hier recht kalt und es schneit tüchtig, mit einem Male ist es Winter geworden. Ich bedauere Dich schon wieder Deine Hände wegen, fette sie nur immer gut ein und tüchtig massieren. - Sei vielmals herzlich gegrüßt von Deinem treuen Ernst

Dear Lotte!   Kiel, 26.11.15
Today it is very cold and it is snowing heavily, all of the sudden winter is here. I feel sorry for you because of your hands, just grease them thoroughly and give them a good massage. Many affectionate greetings from your truthful Ernst.

[alexfranke]

Thanks, guys! You're the best!

Dear Lotte!   Kiel, 09.12.14
It was critical day today. First I received your dear letter, many thanks. Also a letter from my father, then a box with love cigars and cigarettes from the civil employees of the Vulcan, then a box with love gifts from a family (prob. club members) from Kaldenkirchen , then a large love gift package from the city of Kladenkirchen, many people contributed to that.

He and Lotte talk a lot about the "Marineverein" in their 1930-1935 letters. It sounds like it was a great organization -- often organizing parties and the like, and even often checking in with Lotte when Ernst was away. And they also mentioned a Marineverein in New York City. (?)

Is the Navy Club affiliated with the navy? I mean, is/was it run by the military for the benefit of servicemen or are they run independently in various towns where there is a big military presence? Does it make sense that there would be a chapter in New York City of a German navy club?

Also if anyone knows anyone in or around Kaldenkirchen, I'd love to see if I can get some recent photos of where they used to live and some of the places they mention in their letters... Once the kids are a bit older, we want to make the trip out there ourselves.

[Big A]

Yes, the Marineverein was a club of active and former Navy members and associated friends who took great interest in the Navy. Today, there is a similar organization called "Marinekameradschaft" organized in local chapters. During the war they helped the families of active duty members and took care of sailors aboard, sending, as Ernst wrote, love packages to the ships with goodies like cigars etc. esp. for xmas. Our Navy supports these clubs as well.

Axel

[Urs Heßling]

Hi, Alex,

Set 33 (including prior comment)

#1 and #3 are the same picture (the different names are a fake) Have a good look at the clouds coming out of the funnels and the rigs on the forecastle and the poop – they are the same.

#1 - Ernst is right, "König" was one of the most modern ships, commissioned August 10, 1914, i.e. just 5 months before

#2 - Ernst makes a joke as "the wife of yesterdays "Fat steamer"(i.e., Kaiserin)" refers, probably, to the Linienschiff "König". When Ernst expresses the wish to have had one of those at the Falklands, he disregards the problem of coal supply and the short range of the battleships ("wishful thinking").

#3 - "9 ships of this kind" refers to 5 ships of the "Kaiser"-class and 4 ships of the "König-class, all commissioned in 1913 and 1914

#4 – Ernst´s statement "The [russian] ship is built similar to our cruisers" is only partially true. The "Chivinets", a gunboat to the "Korietz"-class, was at 1334 ts displacement larger than the German gunboats (900 ts), but quite smaller than German light (or: "small") cruisers (> 2000 ts). It had, however, a heavy armament with two 8"-guns forward.

#5 – Both "Rheinland" (picture) and the mentioned "Westfalen" belonged to the "Nassau"-class, the first German dreadnought-type battleships / ships of the line

#6 – The "Hessen" was commissioned in 1905. The construction took, of course, more time, 2 years from 1903 to 1905. The ship belonged to the "Braunschweig"-class and was, although already obsolete, the only one of that class to participate in the battle of Jutland in 1916.

more to follow,
greetings, Urs

[Urs Heßling]

Hello,

here we are:

SET 34 (Sets 34-36 with my prior comments included, again)

#1 – ,,Vulcan" is a german civilian shipyard at Stettin that built a number of warships, especially torpedo boats, for the German Navy. The "Preussen" mentioned in card #6 was built at the "Vulcan", too

#2 – The battleship-class Ernst refers to as built "after the Nassau-class" is the "Ostfriesland"-class, comprising the 4 ships "Ostfriesland", "Helgoland", "Oldenburg" and "Thüringen", easily recognizable by 3 closely-grouped funnels (see SET 36 card #5  )

#3 – Ernst refers to the battle of Coronel on November 1, 1914, where Admiral von Spee´s cruiser squadron had sunk two British cruisers. The "Dresden" was the only ship that escaped the annihilation of Spee´s squadron at the Falklands one month later.

#4 – Ernst´s use of the word "reward" really means "revenge" or "retribution" for the loss of the German armoured cruiser "Prinz Adalbert" (covered in a previous comment) in the Baltic. He is, however, completely wrong with the assumption that two Russian battleships were lost. On the contrary, two modern battleships, the "Imperatrica Marija" (Empress Mary) and "Imperatrica Ekaterina Welikaja" (Empress Catherine the Great) were commissioned into the Russian Black Sea Fleet in the fall of 1915.

#5 – Ernst´s "the first week" refers to the fact, that Germany had declared the seas surrounding the British Isles a "war zone" on February 4, 1915:
"(1) The waters around Great Britain and Ireland, including the whole of the English Channel, are hereby declared to be a War Zone. From February 18 onwards every enemy merchant vessel encountered in this zone will be destroyed, nor will it always be possible to avert the danger thereby threatened to the crew and passengers.
(2) Neutral vessels also will run a risk in the War Zone, because in view of the hazards of sea warfare and the British authorization of January 31 of the misuse of neutral flags, it may not always be possible to prevent attacks on enemy ships from harming neutral ships."

#6 - Ernst writes "Vulkan" instead of "Vulcan". The "older" name "Vulcan" was changed to "Vulkan" in 1926.

#7 –S.M.S. "Pommern" was the unlucky (pre-Dreadnought) ship-of-the line that went down with all hands (839 men) in the aftermath of the battle of Jutland on June 1, 1916, after a single torpedo hit by a British destroyer. Pommern, at the Baltic Sea, is Lotte´s home state.


SET 35

#2 – Sonderburg at the Alsen-Sund was the site of the Gunnery School of the Imperial Navy. It is, originally, Danish territory, was occupied by Prussia (later: Germany) after the German-Danish war of 1864 and returned to Denmark after World War I. The school still exits, it now the Danish Army´s NCO school.
"The new successes of our submarines operating off the west coast of England" weren´t as "great" as Ernst supposed. One submarine, "U 21", Commanding Officer Kapitänleutnant Hersing (later successful in the Mediterranean, see Set 8 card #7 ) sank 3 vessels with a total of less than 4,000 tons in the Irish Sea west of Liverpool on January, 30.

#4 – Again, Ernst refers to the battle of Coronel on November 1, 1914, where Admiral von Spee´s cruiser squadron had sunk two British cruisers. "Leipzig" was sunk a few weeks later on December 8, 1914 at the Falklands together with 3 other cruisers of Spee´s squadron, 315 men going down with the ship. (both events were mentioned several times, now)

#6 – The successes mentioned by Ernst are the victims of "U 21" described in #2 and three more ships, totalling 12,000 tons, sunk on the same day by "U 20", Commanding Officer Kapitänleutnant Schwieger in the English Channel off Le Havre (that´s the very boat that sank the "Lusitania" in May, 1915)

#7 – Ernst is wrong about the date. The "Yorck" was lost on November, 4, 1914, not on November, 7. Although "Yorck" and "Gneisenau" may look similar, there were many differences, e.g. among the heavy armament, the "Yorck" carrying only four 8"-guns versus the "Gneisenau"`s eight. - S.M.S. "Yorck" went down in the Jade estuary, i.e. in the "safe heaven" of the German Fleet, after running in dense fog and tidal stream conditions into a (own) protective mine barrier. Probably 336 men (there are different numbers) lost their lives.
- typo: Panserkreuzer should read "Panzerkreuzer"


SET 36

#5 showing battleships of the 1st squadron (Ostfriesland- and Nassau-class) preparing to leave harbour ("rising steam" = "Dampf aufmachen"). Ernst´s "set sail" is an obsolete term for modern warships.

#6 typo, should read "Küstenpanzer" ("Siegfried"-class)

#7 Torpedoboat S 116 was sunk October 6, 1914 by the British submarine E 9 off the River Ems. E 9´s Commanding Officer was Lieutenant-Commander Max Horton, who had sunk the German light cruiser "Hela" the previous month, started the tradition of British subs to fly a "Jolly Roger" (a pirate flag with skull and crossed bones) on return from a successful mission and rose to rank of Admiral in WW II.
The four other boats S 115, S 117, S 118 and S 119, commisioned in 1903, were, really, out-dated at the start of the war. The 7th Half-flotilla they belonged to was tasked for a minelaying mission off the British coast with considerable risk from the beginning. A British patrol with the Light cruiser "Undaunted" and four more modern destroyers of the L-class (commissioned 1913) intercepted them off the Dutch island of Texel and sank all 4 boats. The Flotilla´s Senior Officer, Commander Georg Thiele (a German WW II-destroyer was named after him) perished with most of his men.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_off_Texel

The "disgraceful deed" Ernst is talking about is the at least controversial "Baralong incident" when the commanding officer of the British Q-ship "Baralong" (a submarine trap looking like a harmless old steamer), Godfrey Herbert, ordered the survivors of the sunk German submarine "U 27" to be shot while swimming in the water and taking shelter aboard a civilian ship ("take no prisoners") as he "supposedly" feared the unarmed men were going to sink that steamer. See wiki for more.

#8 "Formidable" was sunk by the German "U 24" (Commanding Officer Kapitänleutnant Rudolf Schneider) off Portland in the British Channel in the first submarine underwater night attack in history. 547 men, including her captain, went down with the ship.