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  GERMANY – FLAG – BATTLESHIP (LINIENSCHIFF) S. M. S. BRANDENBURG

  SKU: 25-99

  $2,195.00 $1,700.00

  The S. M. S. Brandenburg was a battleship in the Kaiserliche Marine. Generally, Imperial German battleships were named after royal personages, states within the reich, or other geographic places of special interest. The S. M. S. Brandenburg served as the German Navy’s historical turning point in its efforts to modernize and attain status quo with the Great Britain’s Royal Navy…..

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  Width: 39in
  Length: 33.25in

  The S. M. S. Brandenburg was a battleship in the Kaiserliche Marine. Generally, Imperial German battleships were named after royal personages, states within the reich, or other geographic places of special interest. The S. M. S. Brandenburg served as the German Navy’s historical turning point in its efforts to modernize and attain status quo with the Great Britain’s Royal Navy. First, we must remember that Kaiser Wilhelm II (1859-1941) ascended to Germany’s throne in 1888. (It took place less than one-hundred days after his grandfather’s, Kaiser Wilhelm I, then his father’s, Kaiser Friedrich III’s deaths). Wilhelm II was eager to put his “brand” on Germany and secure his place in history. By 1890, he had dismissed the great “Iron Chancellor,” Otto von Bismarck, and had begun his efforts to upgrade and modernize Germany’s Army and Navy. The old German Navy had been very old-fashioned and quite small. Through many building programs and with Admiral (later Großadmiral) Alfred von Tirpitz’s support, Kaiser Wilhelm II transformed the Kaiserliche Marine from a coastal defense unit into a force that projected Germany’s might as it sailed the world’s oceans.

  Germany built its first battleships in the early 1890’s. They were officially termed “Linienschiffs,” alluding to the Royal Navy’s Napoleonic-era term “Ships-of-the-Line.” The latter were the largest and most powerful battleships of their day, particularly in terms of their firepower. [Lord Admiral Horatio Nelson’s flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar, the H.M.S. Victory, was a Ship-of-the-Line. He led England to victory over Napoleon’s joint French and Spanish fleets in 1805, although Nelson did not survive to see the battle end. The H.M.S. Victory has survived to this day and is proudly displayed at Portsmouth].

  Wilhelm II wanted to show his grandmother, Queen Victoria, and his English cousins that Germany also was an international power. Germany already had the world’s best, most modern army, and Wilhelm wanted a navy to match it. Thus, in 1891, construction began on the S. M. S. Brandenburg, Germany’s first modern battleship. In fact, she was the first of a four-ship class that became known as the Brandenburg Class. She was commissioned in 1893. Kaiser Wilhelm II was aboard her for her first trials. She was fast (for her day), and had 28cm cannons mounted in her main armament. In 1900, she and her three sister ships from the I. Linienschiff Geschwader (1st Battleship Squadron) were dispatched to China to protect Germany’s interests during the Boxer Rebellion. After this event, she returned to Germany. The Brandenburg was decommissioned and re-commissioned several times during the following years as she was modernized and newer, bigger, and faster battleship classes were brought into service.

  When WW I began, it was clear she was no longer fit for front-line service. She was relegated to coastal defense, sailing both the Baltic and North Seas from 1915-1916 as a part of the II. Manouversquadron. From 1916 through 1918, she was used as a floating barracks at Lebau. [Today, Lebau serves as a museum and German Navy Memorial. It also hosts a special WW I and WW II U-Boot memorial]. After WW I ended, the S. M. S. Brandenburg was scrapped in 1920.

  This brings us to today’s offering. We have the ensign (flag) that flew aboard the S. M. S. Brandenburg. It was not its kriegsflagge (war flag), but rather a banner that indicated the ship’s ties to the German province of Brandenburg, for which the vessel was named. The ensign is made of a gray linen/cotton (it may have been white at one point). Imprinted on one side only is a Prussian Eagle in red, yellow and blue. In the center of the Eagle’s chest is a blue shield with what may be a torch in its center. The flag measures 33 1/4″ x 39.” Metal attachments for the halyard are present on the bunting. The ensign could be flown today, with the correct attachments. “Flg. Boot” and “S. M. S. Brandenburg” also are stenciled in black on the bunting.

  While its overall condition is surprisingly good for a flag that was produced well over one-hundred-years ago, areas of moth nips are scattered about the flag. While I cannot verify it beyond all doubt, it is quite possible this ensign flew above Kaiser Wilhelm II on that November 1893 day when the S. M. S. Brandenburg was launched as the pride of the Kaiserliche Marine. It is also possible it was flying when the S. M. S. Brandenburg arrived in China.

   

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  U-BOOT UC 14 KRIEGSTAGBUCH (WAR DIARY) – OBERLEUTNANT zur SEE FRANZ BECKER COMMANDING

  SKU: 13-856

  $595.00

  The UC 14 was a UC I Class Boat. She was commissioned on 5 June 1915. Her career ended when she sank on 3 October 1917, after striking a mine at the Zeebrugge Harbor entrance. All hands were lost. During her career, she sank a total of fourteen Allied ships, plus two warships. Her submarine class consisted of mine layers that carried no deck guns or torpedoes. From 5 Jun. 1915 until 9 Oct. 1916, she served in the Pola Flotilla. From 11 Jan. 1917 until 3 Oct. 1917, she served in the Flandern Flotilla.
  Her first commander, from 5 June 1915 through 6 January 1916, was Oberleutnant zur Zee Cäsar Bauer (1886-1916). Bauer was later killed while commanding the UB 46. He was relieved on 7 January 1916 by Oberleutnant zur See Franz Becker (1888-1980), who served through 30 June 1916. Becker later commanded other U-Boots, sinking forty-two ships and damaging five. Becker eventually won the 1914 Iron Crosses 1st and 2nd Class, and the Knight’s Cross with Swords of the Hohenzollern House Order.
  Today we are offering the UC 14’s Kriegstagbuch (war diary/combat patrol document) from 12 April through 20 April 1916 under Oberleutnant zur See Franz Becker’s command. The report is typewritten, with a total of five typewritten sheets (as well as one blank page). This is all bound together with a string. The document measures 8 1/4″ x 13.” The daily observations and results are noted, including daily positions, etc. Each daily report is signed “Becker.” The last entry bears his full signature and rank. The entire document is well-organized, extremely neat, and displays Becker’s signature.

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  The UC 14 was a UC I Class Boat. She was commissioned on 5 June 1915. Her career ended when she sank on 3 October 1917, after striking a mine at the Zeebrugge Harbor entrance. All hands were lost. During her career, she sank a total of fourteen Allied ships, plus two warships. Her submarine class consisted of mine layers that carried no deck guns or torpedoes. From 5 Jun. 1915 until 9 Oct. 1916, she served in the Pola Flotilla. From 11 Jan. 1917 until 3 Oct. 1917, she served in the Flandern Flotilla.
  Her first commander, from 5 June 1915 through 6 January 1916, was Oberleutnant zur Zee Cäsar Bauer (1886-1916). Bauer was later killed while commanding the UB 46. He was relieved on 7 January 1916 by Oberleutnant zur See Franz Becker (1888-1980), who served through 30 June 1916. Becker later commanded other U-Boots, sinking forty-two ships and damaging five. Becker eventually won the 1914 Iron Crosses 1st and 2nd Class, and the Knight’s Cross with Swords of the Hohenzollern House Order.
  Today we are offering the UC 14’s Kriegstagbuch (war diary/combat patrol document) from 12 April through 20 April 1916 under Oberleutnant zur See Franz Becker’s command. The report is typewritten, with a total of five typewritten sheets (as well as one blank page). This is all bound together with a string. The document measures 8 1/4″ x 13.” The daily observations and results are noted, including daily positions, etc. Each daily report is signed “Becker.” The last entry bears his full signature and rank. The entire document is well-organized, extremely neat, and displays Becker’s signature.

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  GERMANY – MEMORIAL MEDAL – S.M.S. MOLTKE

  SKU: 13-792

  $125.00

  This is a memorial medal that was issued to honor the S. M. S. Moltke. I am not sure when the medal was issued, but an interesting story about it exists. The decoration is bronze-toned and measures 1 1/4″ in diameter. The obverse displays a profile image of Helmuth Karl Bernhard Graf von Moltke, the Prussian Army’s Chief of the General Staff. (After the Empire was created in 1871, he became the Chief of Staff for all of Germany’s armies). Von Moltke became a military legend in Germany. Under his control the Prussian Army was modernized with better training, better tactics, superior weapons, and a rail transportation system that moved troops quickly to where they were needed…

   

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  GERMANY – MEMORIAL MEDAL – S.M.S. MOLTKE

  This is a memorial medal that was issued to honor the S. M. S. Moltke. I am not sure when the medal was issued, but an interesting story about it exists. The decoration is bronze-toned and measures 1 1/4″ in diameter. The obverse displays a profile image of Helmuth Karl Bernhard Graf von Moltke, the Prussian Army’s Chief of the General Staff. (After the Empire was created in 1871, he became the Chief of Staff for all of Germany’s armies). Von Moltke became a military legend in Germany. Under his control the Prussian Army was modernized with better training, better tactics, superior weapons, and a rail transportation system that moved troops quickly to where they were needed. His generals in the field were the best in Europe. During the 1866 Austro-Prussian War and the 1870-1871 Franco-Prussian War, his troops made short work of the enemy and the wars ended with all his objectives achieved. Ultimately, he became known after his death as “von Moltke the elder,” while his nephew, who became Chief of the General Staff early in WW I, was known as “Moltke the younger.” To illustrate the extent of the German public’s admiration for him, postcards (from before and after his death, and particularly during WW I) showed von Moltke, von Bismarck, and Kaiser Wilhelm I as the team that led had Germany to greatness.

  I acquired a small horde of these commemorative medals from a collector in Hamburg. They were originally manufactured by the Hamburg firm of M. Fleck & Söhne. Each medal comes inside the original packet in which it was purchased. (I have little information about M. Fleck & Söhne, other than it was a military effects store serving the needs of military personnel from 1882). The paper packets measure 5 1/4″ x 2 3/4.” While all the medals come in the packet as described, some come with a ribbon and some do not. We are offering a small number of these very special decorations. The medals are priced at $150.00 WITH the packet and a ribbon. We are offering them for $125.00 in the packet and WITHOUT a ribbon. [If you would like more than one of these handsome decorations, we can offer even better pricing].

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