Description
PRUSSIA – POSTCARD – KAPITÄNLEUTNANT OTTO WEDDIGEN – NAVY – PLM-WINNER – COMMANDER OF U-9 AND U-29.
Otto Weddigen (1892-1915) was a national hero of Imperial Germany. He was a Kapitänleutnant in the Kaiserliche Marine and served in the U-Boot Service early during WW I. On 22 September 1914, while commanding the U-9, he sank three British Cruisers in less than one hour. For this action he received the 1914 Iron Crosses 1st and 2nd Class. The rest of his crew received 1914 Iron Crosses 2nd Class.
The following month Weddigen sank another Cruiser and some merchant ships. For this he became the first junior naval officer to be awarded the Orden Pour le Mérite on 24 October 1914. He was also awarded top military awards from Bavaria, Saxony, and Württemberg. He then was reassigned to the U-29, which then was rammed by the H.M.S. Dreadnaught on 18 March 1915. Weddigen’s ship was lost with all hands.
This postcard is a mourning card. An oval image of Weddigen is draped in black. He is wearing his Pour le Mérite in this pen and ink image. The postcard has never been mailed and is in excellent condition.
