A Frohe Weihnachten from everyone at KB41 Collection!
Part of The KB41 Collection On This Day Series
The Postcard here shows a black and white cartoon with a Maritime theme for the Weinhachten (Chrirstmas) period, with a hand-cancel of Kiel 24-12-28. This crisp postcard shows postal history from the Weimar Republic era of Germany. This piece of postal history being sent exactly 94 years ago today, on Christmas Eve sharing a heartfelt message to a loved one at Christmas.
The Weihnachten Naval themed postcard depicts the cartoon images of Reichsmarine Matrosen in what appears to be a room, likely a mess area onboard a boat. The mess shows details of a boat with portholes seen on the right and the ships supports and foundations. The mess, with a Christmas tree in the corner, seen detailed with decorations and candles standing upon a table as presents are scattered beneath it. Some of the presents having further details of numbers and "Fröhliche Weihnachten" also detailed on, a Merry Christmas message. These Christmas presents belonging to the Matrosen depicted in the cartoon sketch, likely sent from their families much like ones many received from home whilst in active service. Next to the presents there is a Matrose sitting on a box as he smokes from a pipe as he paints a banner with the word "Fröhliche Weihnachten!" (Translating to Merry Christmas in English). The banner likely would go beneath the large centre piece seen on the wall. The centre piece and focus of this postcard is a framed photo of the Linienschiff Hessen, also commonly referred to as the SMS Hessen. The frame being decorated with decorations of Tinsel and parts Christmas forming a decorated border, as the Matrosen seen standing on ladders fix it to the frame and add detailed decorations. The Linienschiff Hessen seen detailed by the plaque in the middle of the frame shows a detailed image of the ship out at sea, with smoke bellowing from its funnels and naval guns on show. There is a strong sense of pride in showcasing this ship on front of this postcard.
The Linienschiff Hessen, to which the cartoon frames in the centre of the mess was a third of five pre-dreadnought battleships that was constructed in 1902. It would later become commishend on 19th September 1905 as part of Braunschweig class in Kaiserliche Marine. The Linienschiff Hessen was involved in the First World War at first as a guard ship for the mouth of the Elbe, patrolling Danish straits and even supportive attacks on the British coastline. The notable of these attacks on Britain being raids on Scarborough, Hartlepool and Whitby in the December of 1914 with later engagements at Yarmouth and Lowestoft in April 1916. After this the Hessen was also involved in the largest naval battle of the war on 31st May 1916 known as The Battle of Jutland. From this battle The Hessen and other pre-dreadnought covered the retreat of German Battlecruisers as they retreated from attacking British Battlecruisers.
After the First World War the Kaiserliche was reorganised as the Reichsmarine, this was in accordance with the harsh sanctions issued to German with the Treaty of Versailles. The Treaty of Versailles limited the new Reichsmarine to eight Pre-dreadnought battleships under Article 181, two of which were to server as costal defence. The Hessen was one which would be retained and used in reserve. The Linienschiff Hessen was also refitted and rearmed in this period and giving it a slight modernisation before its return to service on 5th January 1925. Just one year prior to this postcard being sent, possibly in celebration of the great ship this vessel is. The Hessen would go on to serve in supporting roles, it saw supportive roles such as clearing paths for merchant vessels across the iced-over Baltic in additions to visits to locations such as Libau in Latbia and Reval in Estonia, later visits to Spain, Canary Islands and Cape Verde. Before becoming the first German warship with a T190 Torpedo boat to visit Neufahrwasser, Danzig since Germany lost control of this region of Poland after the end of World War One. The Hessen went on to be supportive vessel to Spain again with the chief of the Reichsmarine Hanz Zenker onboard with another trip to Spain in 18th April to 9th May 1929, before later departing to Stockholm, Sweden on 30th August and staying there until the 5th of September. After this the Linienschiff Hessen would continue its service in the Reichsmarine as a supportive vessel and continue this in 1935 when it was reserved to be upgraded again as apart of the Kriegsmarine. Once upgraded after 1st April 1937 the Linienschiff Hessen would serve as a training vessel for Kreigsmarine Matrosen until its supportive role in 1940. The Linienschiff Hessen unfortunatly was withdrawn from the German Navy as a result of the recommission by the Post World War Two authorities of the Soviet union where it was renamed and later scrapped after its use by the Soviet Union in 1960. The unfortunate loss of a Ship with superb career and history, seeing service in two World Wars and light duties in the Inter-War period.
The reverse as attached shows the detailed message sent from Joachim to a female significant other. possibly his girlfriend/wife or possibly family or a friend. Joachim sends this postcard with the words (As sectioned off neatly by a line drawn by Joachim)- "Ein fröhliches Weihnachten und ein glückliches neues Jahr wünscht Dir Joachim" This translates in English to "Joachim wishes you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year". This stunning and neat handwriting details the heartfelt message that Joachim is sending to Fräulein Marie Matzen. Marie Matzen resides in Büdelsdorf, a Town in Northern Germany situated on the Kiel Canal. Kiel being known for its infamous maritime history that can still be visited today, it is no surprise that this maritime Weihnachten postcard was sent so close to a hub for some of the greatest maritime constructions of the century. Specifically "Neu Dorfstrasse 4" which is the street and house number of "New Street 4" with Büdelsdorf.
Above the address there is a detailed postage mark that has the slogan "Vergiss nicht strasse und Hausnummer Angeben" is a message urging the public of Germany to "Don't forget to include the street and house number" which was a common mistake made by people of the period (Still occurring today) that leads to mail being lost or unable to reach its destination. The stamps seen with the hand-cancel of "Kiel 24-12-28", with the lower number of "10-11". This denoting its journey from Kiel on 24th December (Christmas eve) in 1928 cancelled between the 10 and 11th hours of the day. The postage stamp used is a Grün (Green) postage stamp of "Deutsche Reichspost" costing 8 pfennig's depicting the profile of the Politician and first president of Germany's Republic, Friedrich Ebert. Freidrich Ebert was president from the 11th February 1919 until his death in 28th February 1925. Ebert was the elected leader of the Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands aka the SPD. The SPD was the Social Democratic party of Germany after the former leaders death in 1913. Whilst this postcard was posted in 1928, the memory of Friedrich Ebert is remembered in the stamp seen here as apart of a set released in 1928 that saw use until 1932. Friedrich Ebert faced political uncertainty all be it for a brief period until his death, Ebert was tasked with dealing with the Treaty of Versailles in addition to keeping a political and social balance among Germany with the rise of Communism and the clashes among apposing political and paramilitary forces.
This postcard is a stunning example of Weimar period history showing the reuse of a pre-dreadnought ship that can be seen detailed on the front of the postcard. The maritime history of Kiel to which the postcard was hand-cancelled in and lastly the philatelic history seen from Friedrich Ebert. All of this being enclosed with the seasonal wishes and traditions of Weinhachten, with details of the Matrosen making decorations and enjoying the festive period. The same Matrosen who would be enjoying and celebrating Weinhachten in service in the Reichsmarine, to which Joachim was likely a Matrose of. A crisp and heartfelt piece of postal history in the form of a postcard sent on Christmas Eve.
A special thank you to Tamara Markmann for her translation of this and many posts this year thank you !
Also Many thanks to Jack Preuveneers of Prueveneers Philately for his help in this post and other this year"