Autographed Sanke Card Nr 550 - Kapitänleutnant Günther Plüschow, Kaiserliche Marine

Günther Plüschow, although not a prominent ace of World War I, led a life filled with adventure and remarkable achievements. Born in 1886 in Munich, Plüschow joined the Kaiserliche Marine before the war, and was stationed in China, where he served at Tsingtau, the base of the German East Asian fleet under Vizeadmiral Graf von Spee.

Plüschow was among the few aviators who made history with limited resources. The German forces in China had two single-seat Rumpler aircraft, which were dispatched in crates and assembled upon arrival. During the breakout of World War I, Plüschow reportedly downed a Japanese aircraft using only a pistol—an extraordinary feat considering the circumstances and equipment available at the time.

As the situation in Tsingtau worsened under pressure from British and Japanese forces, the decision was made to evacuate. Unlike the harsh treatment of POWs during World War II, most personnel at Tsingtau who surrendered to the Japanese were treated well. Meanwhile, the East Asian Squadron, commanded by von Spee, set out with hopes of returning to Germany, only to meet their fate at the Battle of the Falklands in December 1914.

Plüschow’s escape from Tsingtau marked the beginning of an incredible journey back to Germany. After his Taube aircraft crashed, he navigated through China, eventually reaching Shanghai and securing passage to the United States. With the assistance of German sympathizers who provided false documents, he traveled across the United States to New York, where he boarded a ship to Gibraltar. Captured by the British, Plüschow was sent to a POW camp in England. However, he became the only German to escape from a British POW camp during both World Wars, returning to Germany as a hero.

Following the war, Plüschow left the Reichsmarine and pursued a career as an explorer, conducting extensive expeditions in South America, particularly in Patagonia. Unfortunately, his life was cut short in 1931 when he died in an air crash during an exploration mission.

This Sanke Card Nr 550 captures Plüschow in his officer uniform, displaying his highest award, the Knights Cross with Swords of the Hohenzollern House Order (KCSHHO), prominently draped from the second buttonhole on the right side of his tunic. His left breast is adorned with the 1914 Iron Cross 1st Class, Navy Seaplane Pilot Badge, and a ribbon bar. The card is believed to have been taken shortly after he received the KCSHHO and returned to Germany, as the decoration is not yet relegated to a ribbon bar.

The card is in excellent condition, although there are signs on the reverse indicating it was once mounted in a photo album. Importantly, this mounting caused no damage to the obverse of the card or Plüschow's bold and impressive signature, which is beautifully preserved in black ink.

This card is a remarkable piece, offering a glimpse into the extraordinary life of an aviator who defied the odds and left an indelible mark on history. The authenticity of the signature has been carefully examined, and it is consistent with known examples of Plüschow's autograph. The card is a must-have for serious collectors of World War I memorabilia and those interested in the lesser-known yet equally heroic figures of the era.