Collectables 350 German Navy Postcards, WWI

Alex Franke

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Hi all,

I'm in the process of scanning, transcribing, translating, and cataloging about 350 or so postcards sent around WWI mostly of the German Imperial Navy (Kaiserliche Marine). Almost all were sent from my grandfather to my grandmother (before they were married), who was collecting them. They cover a variety of personal and military topics.

I thought you all would enjoy seeing them, and Bombardier suggested that the WWI forum was the best place to post them. So far I have about 80 scanned, and I'm adding more and more as I have time.

WWI German Navy Postcard Collection Index Page

I also scanned or photographed some his souvenirs and posted them here:

http://www.thefrankes.com/wp/?p=269

I hope you all enjoy these photos!
 
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I posted four more sets, bringing the total up to 112 so far. I also created a new index page that lists the ship names and provides links to each set.

WWI German Navy Postcard Collection Index Page

The four new sets are:

  • Set 11: 8 ships S.M.S. Baden; S.M.S. Kaiserin Augusta; S.M.Kl. Kreuzer Arkona; S.M.S. Ariadne, Korvette; S.M.S. Ariadne am 18. Aug. 1914 im Seegefecht bei Helgoland gesunken; S.M. Panzerkreuzer Prinz Adalbert; S.M.S. Adler, Kanonenboot; S.M.S. Aegir
  • Set 12: 8 ships S.M.S. Albatross; S.M.S. Alexandrine; S.M.S. Drache; S.M.S. Delphin; S.M.S. Cormoran, Kl. Kreuzer; S.M. Kleiner Kreuzer Coln; S.M.S. Freya, Korvette; S.M.S. Freya
  • Set 13: 8 ships S.M.S. Frauenlob; S.M.S. Falke; S.M. Kleiner Kreuzer Geier; S.M.S. Gefion; S.M. Kleiner Kreuzer Gazelle; S.M.S. Fuchs; S.M.S. Frithjof; S.M.S. Friedrich der Grosse
  • Set 14: 8 ships S.M.S. Friedrich der Grosse Turbinenlinienschiff 25000 tons; S.M.S. Grille (yacht); S.M.S. Grille; S.M.S. Greif; S.M.S. Blitz; S.M.S. Amazone; S.M.Kl. gesch. Kreuzer Dansig; S.M. Linienschiff Kaiser Friedrich III
To make it easier to for people to find specific ships by searching this forum, here's a list of all the postcards in sets 1-10. (I won't keep repeating this list when I post updates.)

S.M.S. Deutschland, Linienschiff; Torpedoboot V. 187; Torpedoboot G. 169; Torpedoboot V. 188; S.M.S. Kronprinz; S.M.S. Komet; (art); Unterseeboot U 29, U 9 (submarines); S.M.S. Moltke; Unsere Marine – Geschutsexerzieren der Fahnriche; Hamburg II; (art) Einer von der Bau-ch-Division; S.M.S. Kondor; Am Vulkan Stettin; S.M.S. Seydlitz, Panzerkreuzer; S.M.S. ?ela; Fregattenkapitain von Muller; Kapitanleutnant von Murke; Kapitanleutnant Otto Weddigen; Kapitanleutnant Weddigen; S.M.S. Seeadler; S.M.S. Scorpion, Panzerkanonenboot; S.M.S. Schwalbe (twice); S.M.S. Sophie, Segel-Fregatte; Depeschenboot Sleipner; S.M.S. Sperber; S.M.S. Stein; S.M.S. Thetis; S.M.S. Stosch; S.M.S. Strasburg ; S.M.S. Stralsund; S.M.S. Thuringen, Linienschiff; S.M.S. Thuringen, Vordere Steuerbordseite, schwere Artillerie; Unsere Marine – Im Ruderkutter; Torpedoboots – Manover; Unterseeboot unter wasser (underwater submarine); Unterseeboot beim Austauchen in voller Fahrt; Unterseeboot unter wasser; Unterseeboot beim Untertauchen wahrend der Fahrt; S.M.S. Wurttemburg S.M.S. Wolf; S.M. Linienschiff Worth; S.M. Linienschiff Wittelsbach; S.M.S. Vineta – Grosser geschutzter Kreuzer; S.M.S. Vineta (1863); S.M.S. Vorwarts, Flusskanonenboot; S.M.S. Vulkan; S.M.S. Falke, Radaviso; S.M.S. Konig Wilhelm, Panserfregatte; S.M.S. Taku, Torpedoboot; S.M.S. Thetis, Segelfregatte; S.M.S. Kurfurst Friedrich Wilhelm; S.M.S. Kaiser Wilhelm II; S.M.S. Wettin; S.M.S. von der Tann; S.M.S. Prinzess Wilhelm, Kreuzer-Korvette; S.M.S. Konig Wilhelm; S.M. Linienschiff Kaiser WIlhelm der Grosse; S.M.S. Wacht, Aviso; Unterseeboot klar zum tauchen; Unterseeboot U 1; Unterseeboot U 8; Unterseeboot U 9; S.M.S. Augusta, Korvette; S.M.S. Arcona, Fregatte; S.M.S. Amazone, Korvette; S.M.S. Cyclop, Kanonenboot; S.M.S. Carmen; S.M.S. Carola; S.M.S. Fredrich Carl; S.M.S. Bussard; S.M.S. Brummer; S.M.S. Breslau; S.M.S. Blucher ; S.M.S. Brandenburg ; S.M. Grosser Kreuzer Furst Bismarck; S.M.S. Beowulf; S.M.S. Bayern; S.M.S. Kaiser Barbarossa
 
Transcriptions and translations have been added for Sets 11-14.

Now I need to do some more scanning! ;)
 
Thanks, Bombardier! :)

Two more sets:

  • Set 15: 8 ships S.M.S. Berlin; S.M.S. Dresden; S.M.S. Elsass; S.M.S. Goeben; S.M.S. Bremen; S.M.S. Braunschweig; S.M.S. Augsburg ; S.M.S. Emden
  • Set 16: 8 ships S.M.S. Friedrich Carl, Panzerkreuzer; S.M.S. Blucher, Panzerkreuzer; S.M.S. Konig Albert Linienschiff; S.M.S. Fredrich der Grosse, Flottenflaggschiff; S.M.S. Gneisenau; S.M.S. Musquito, Schiffsjungen-Brigg; S.M.S. Niobe, Kadetten-Schulschiff; S.M. Schulschiff Nixe
To see all postcard sets (including those previously posted), visit the index page here:

WWI German Navy Postcard Collection Index Page

Please feel free to comment!
 
And here are two more sets I just finished up with -- this brings the total up to 144! :)


  • Set 17: 8 ships S.M.S. Rower; S.M.S. Charlotte; S.M.S. Zieten; S.M. Vermessungsschiff Mowe; S.M.S. Schneewittchen; S.M.S. Natter; S.M.S. Mucke; Art.-Schulschiff Mars[/li]
  • Set 18: 8 ships S.M.S. Marie; S.M.S. Habicht, Kanonenboot; S.M.S. Hay, Tender; S.M.S. Hay; S.M.S. Hansa, Panzerfregatte; S.M.S. Jagd; S.M.S. Tsingtau; S.M.S. Nautilus[/li]


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

WWI German Navy Postcard Collection Index Page

Please feel free to comment!
 
I just finished up a postcard collection browser that will allow you to sort, filter, and search the collection. It may not always contain the most recent scans, though, because I'll be waiting for translations and transcriptions before I add them to the postcard browser.

Postcard Collection Browser

Enjoy! As always, comments welcome!
 
Two more sets below. I keep getting these little pictures when I post because I'm separating the card names with semicolons. The most recent one is this usa; from typing M-e-d-u-s-a-; :lol: I like that one a lot better than burg; b-u-r-g-; :D

  • Set 19: 8 ships S.M.S. Planet; S.M. Minenschiff Pelikan; S.M.S. Otter; S.M.S. Meteor; S.M. Kl. Kreuzer Medusa ; S.M. Kanonenboot Iltis; S.M.S. Pfeil; S.M.S. Siegfried
  • Set 20: 8 ships S.M. Kanonenboot Eber; S.M. Linienschiff Schwaben; S.M.S. Kaiseradler; S.M. Linienschiff Kaiser Karl der Grosse; S.M.S. Moltke; S.M.S. Luchs; S.M.S. Hagen; S.M.S. Hildebrand
To see all postcard sets (including those previously posted), visit the index page here:

WWI German Navy Postcard Collection Index Page

Please feel free to comment!
 
Here are four more sets that I just finished adding (32 more cards, front and back), plus the transcriptions and translations for the previous two sets. The total is now 192 :)

  • Set 21: 8 ships S.M.S. Prinz Heinrich; S.M.S. Heimdall; S.M.S. Irene; S.M. Kanonenboot Jaguar; S.M.S. Kaiser; S.M.S. Nautilus; S.M.S. Niobe; S.M. Kleiner Kreuzer Nymphe
  • Set 22: 8 ships S.M.S. Oldenburg ; S.M.S. Odin; S.M.S. Olga; S.M. Kanonenboot Panther; S.M. Kl. gesch. Kreuzer Mainz; S.M. Kl. gesch. Kreuzer Nürnberg; S.M.S. Karlsruhe; S.M. Panzerkreuzer Roon
  • Set 23: 8 ships S.M.S. Undine, Schiffsjungen-Brigg; S.M.S. Hela, Schiffsjungen-Brigg; S.M.S. Renown, Art.-Schulschiff; S.M.S. Hertha, Fregatte; S.M.S. Elissabeth, Fregatte; S.M.S. Gefion, Segelfregatte; S.M.S. Gazelle, Korvette; S.M.S. Loreley, Stationsyacht
  • Set 24: 7 ships, 1 scene Torpedoboot "Scharf"; S.M.S. Vaterland, Flusskanonenboot; S.M.S. Leipzig, Kreuzer-Frigatte; S.M.S. Pommerania, Radaviso; Schlachtflotte in Kieler Hafen; Königliches Schloß mit S.M.S. Carmen; Kriegsflotte; S.M.S. Prinz Adalbert, Kreuzer-Fregatte
To see all postcard sets (including those previously posted), visit the index page. Or if you want to search, filter, sort and browse the collection, you can use the collection browser tool below. (Note that that this tool may not contain the most recent updates. Visit the Index Page for the most recent additions. )

WWI German Navy Postcard Collection Index Page
Postcard Collection Browser

Please enjoy and feel free to comment!
icon_smile.gif
 
Based on some feedback I received from some other visitors, I updated all the images so they're about twice the size. You may need to do a "hard" refresh (Ctrl-F5) if your browser has already cached the images.
 
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Four more sets: (256 total now!)

  • Set 29: 5 submarines, 3 other Die Unterseeboote U 16, U 17, U 18 und 19 in der Schlense; Unterseeboot U 21 versente am 5.9.1914 den englischen Kreuzer "Pathfinder"; Unterseeboot U 26 vernichtete am 11.10.1914 den russischen Panzer-Kreuzer "Paffada"; Unterseeboot U. 25; Abschuk eines Torpedos; Mit einem solchen Torpedoschuß wurden dei drei englischen Panserkreuzer "Aboukir", "Hogue" und "Cressy" in den Grund geschossen.; Torpedoboot S. 148 in der Nordsee bei Windstärke 12 (Orkan); Torpedoboot S. 146 in Sturm; Unterseeboot U. 23
  • Set 30: 4 submarines, 4 yachts Unterseeboot "U 12" auf hoher See, am 11. März 1915 gesunken; Unterseeboot U. 15 am 5.9.1914 gesunken; Unterseeboot: "U.9." brachte am 22.9.14. nordwestlich von "Hoek van Holland" die 3 engl. Panderkreuzer "Aboukir," "Hogue" und "Cressey" zum Sinken; Blick in den Motorenraum eines Unterseebootes.; Orion; I.M. Yacht Iduna.; S.M. Yacht Meteor.; Die Neue Kaiseryacht "Meteor"
  • Set 31: 7 ships, 1 yacht Margherita.; S.M.S. Hyäne. Vermessungsschiff.; S.M.S. Moltke, schwere Heckgeschütze; S.M.S. Nassau.; S.M.S. Friedrich der Grosse, Backbordseite.; S.M.S. Prinzregent Luitpold. Schwere Heckgeschütze; S.M.S. Goeben Bugansicht; S.M.S. Prinzregent Luitpold. Schwere Heckgeschütze (duplicate)
  • Set 32: 8 ships S.M.S. Nassau.; S.M.S. Victoria Luise. Grosser geschützter Kreuzer.; S.M.S. Kaiser, Linienschiff; S.M.S. Hertha. Grosser geschützter Kreuzer.; S.M. Yacht Hohenzollern,; S.M.S. Hansa. Grosser geschützter Kreuzer.; S.M.S. Prinzregent Luitpold. Linienschiff.; S.M.S. "Markgraf"
To see all postcard sets (including those previously posted), visit the index page here:

Please feel free to comment!
 
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Four more sets:

  • 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!
 
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Yet another four sets -- almost finished! Maybe a eight more sets left after these!

  • Set 37: 8 scenes Der deutsche Seekrieg 1914: Die deutschen Kreuzer "Stralsund" und "Straßburg" vernichten ein englisches Unterseeboot; Der deutsche Seekrieg 1914: Beschießung des russischen Kriegshafens Liebau durch S.M.S. "Augsburg" Gefecht mit einem russischen Kreuzer; Der deutsche Seekrieg 1914: S.M.S. "Goeben" und "Breslau" beschießen algerische Hafenplätze; Der deutsche Seekrieg 1914: Die Todesfahrt "Königin Luise". Untergang des englischen Kreuzers "Amphion"; Der deutsche Seekrieg 1914: S.M.S. "Königsberg" in Kampfe mid dem englischen Kreuzer "Pegasus" for Sansibar.; Der deutsche Seekrieg 1914: Das Deutsche meergeschwader S.M.S. "Goeben" und "Breslau" durchbrechen das vor dem Hafen von Mes??nd auf der Lauer liegende englische und französosche ?eschwader; Landungsmanöver der Helgoland-Besatzung.; 1 und 2 Geschwader und kleine Kreuzer im Keiler Hafen.
  • Set 38: 5 ships, 3 submarines Salut S.M.S. Hertha u. Wittelsbach vor Vangenaes in Norwegen Zur Einweihung des Frithjof-Denkmals.; S.M. Unterseeboot 22.; S.M. Unterseeboot 20.; S.M. "Unterseeboot 24" vernichtete am 1. Januar 1915 das englische Linienschiff "Formitable" vor Plymouth.; S.M.S. Scharnhorst; S.M.S. Schlesien; S.M.S. Rheinland; S.M.S. Undine
  • Set 39: 8 ships S.M.S. Hessen; S.M.S. Moltke; S.M.S. Kolberg; S.M.S. Königsberg; S.M.S. Rostock.; S.M.S. Magdeburg.; S.M.S. Gneisenau; S.M.S. Zaehringen
  • Set 40: 5 people, 3 drawings Kapitanleutnant von Berckheim; Graf Haeseler der älteste General der deutschen Armee.; ?? Tirpitz (?); ?? Zeppelin (?); ??? (Portrait of Prinz Heinrich von Preussen); Vas bischt? -- Artillrischt! Was machscht? -- Kartusch bum bum!; Auf dem Schleifstein; Kick, door kommt min Soon, wenn ik blood bie dei Ehrenbetügung nich rinnfall'n dou!

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!
 
Here are four more sets. My next post will (in all likelihood) complete the entire collection of 380 postcards!

Next I plan to scan the photos in a large photo album from a 1910-11 cruise to the Far East on Gneisenau. Do you all have an interest in that project as well? :confused:


  • Set 41: 8 cartoons Das Päckchen!; "Blauen Heinrich!"; "Erbsen mit Speck."; Der Walfisch. Kleine Augen, grosse Fresse und immer in Tran; Der Englishman. Das Suchen nach deutschen Unterseebooten macht mich viel Wasser saufen.; Ich jeh nach Handern zu die andern!; Alarm! -- und wo ist meine Mütze?; Das Marinefluchzeug
  • Set 42: 4 ships, 2 cartoons, 2 drawings Das Schälen bekannter Südfrüchte; Windstärke 10; :Der Decksbauer: :Der Smutt: :Die Munner 1:; Das Unterseeboot, uns'rer Feinde Schrecken, Ist für das schärfste Rohr kaum zu entdecken. Doch wird ihm selbst als helles Spiegelbild In weitem Umkreis jedes Schiff enthüllt; S.M. Panzerkreuzer Gneisenau; S.M.S. Tiger; S.M.S. Sachsen; S.M.S. Deutschland
  • Set 43: 6 paintings, 2 drawings Kiel. Kriegshafen mit dem I. u. II. Geschwader; (art); (art); (art); Küstenwacht; Küstenwacht; Getauchtes Unterseeboot in englischen Gewässern.; "Kiautschou mit der Außenreede und dem Hafen - Kapitän z. See Meyer-Waldeck, Gouverneur von Kiautschou-Tsingtau. - "Einstehe für Pflichterfüllung bis aufs Äußerste"
  • Set 44: 5 ships, 3 scenes Kiel. S.M.S. Victoria Louise under der Hochbrücke bei Levensau; Kiel - Kriegshafen; Die ehemalige schleswig-holsteinsche Flottille in Kieler Hafen; S.M. Minenschulschiff Rhein; S.M.S. Neptun.; S.M.S. Preußen, Panzerfregatte; (Schulschiff "Ulan" 1876); S.M.S. Bayern, Panzer


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.)

Comments welcome!
 
First -- here are some faces to go with all the writing on the postcards!

This is Ernst close to the time of the postcards. (It says "before and after the operation" -- referring to the removal of the facial hair. :lol:) He was the one sending the postcards.

vorundnach.jpg

And also here's one of Lotte from around the same time. (She was a nurse.) She was the one collecting the postcards.
lotte.jpg
 
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These are the last four sets of the collection -- 380 postcards total!!

Does anyone have an interest in the photos (180 or so) of the 1910-1911 cruise of Gneisenau to the Far East? :confused: Let me know if you do and I will post updates here as well.


  • Set 45: 4 ships, 4 other Hochseetorpedoboot; S.M.S. Weißenburg in forcierter Fahrt; Torpedoboot G 110 nach der Havarie.; S.M.S. Schleswig-Holstein Bugansicht; Unsere Marine - Auf der Dampfpinasse; Unsere Marine - Auf Posten; Unsere Marine - Beim Baden; Die Benagelte des wehrmals backbordseite in Kiel.
  • Set 46: 7 art, 1 scene Seemine explodierend.; Der letzte Mann.; Deutscher Schulverein 1880 - Wer nicht liebt und Gesang; der bleibt ein Narr sein Lebelang; Deutscher Schulverein 1880 - Noch ist die blühende, goldene Zeit.; Deutscher Schulverein 1880 - Das schwarz-braune Bier; Am Brunnen vor dem Tore; Muß i denn, muß i denn zum Stadtele (?); Was hab ich denn meinem Feinsliebchen getan?
  • Set 47: 8 art Deutscher Sommer. (Haystacks in field.); Deutscher Sommer. (Couple moving hay.); Deutscher Sommer. (Haystacks and windmill.); Deutscher Sommer. (Family moving hay.); Deutscher Sommer. (Cutting hay.); Deutscher Sommer. (Kids swimming.); Deutscher Sommer. (Pond an house.); Deutscher Sommer. (Pasture.)
  • Set 48: 4 art Deutscher Sommer. (Fields.); Deutscher Sommer. (Family moving hay #2.); Deutscher Sommer. (Man cutting hay.); Deutscher Sommer. (Haystacks in field.)


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!
 
First let me say that your project is fascinating and the work you have put into it is worthy of praise.
Thank you for sharing the information, it makes sites such as this much more appealing when people contribute such works.

Just a small point though, do you own the copyright of all the postcards/images?
I only ask because you have placed a copyright notice on the attached image of Torpedoboot G. 169? I would have thought that the photography would be well passed any copyright after all the years that have past. There must have been hundreds of postcards like this one posted around the world.
I suppose, and rightly so given you have put the work into it that you are simply making your mark on the work in case anybody decided to use it elsewhere?

Just a friendly observation, dont think you could get in a trouble for claiming copyright (not sure though)

KaiserlicheMarine003a.jpg

Thanks again for sharing this work the translations really bring the story to life
 
Must have taken you ages to compete all that work.
Excellent effort Alex and thank you for sharing.

First -- here are some faces to go with all the writing on the postcards!

here's one of Lotte from around the same time. (She was a nurse.) She was the one collecting the postcards.
View attachment 1173

Nice to see the face of the person who saved all these wonderful postcards too :)
 
Not looked through all the postcards but a defo for me to do when time allows. Well done Alex
 

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