Description
PRUSSIA – PHOTO ALBUM – KAISER WILHELM II AND KAISERIN AUGUSTA VIKTORIA ONBOARD VARIOUS NAVY SHIPS INCLUDING S.M.Y. HOHENZOLLERN, S.M.S. KAISER WILHELM II, AND S.M.Y. IDUNA
This simply astonishing photo album covers a wide variety of topics, although most concern the Kaiserliche Marine. [The Imperial German Navy and its High Seas Fleet was Kaiser Wilhelm II’s pride and joy. Throughout his early reign as Kaiser, Wilhelm pushed Germany’s Navy to become the second most modern and powerful naval force after England’s Royal Navy. Although the Kaiser continually “upped the ante,” Germany was never able to beat England’s ability to produce more ships]. The photo album contains a total of twenty-seven original photographs. Seven of them are large-format photographs that measure 7″ x 9,” while the other twenty are smaller photos that measure 3 3/4″ x 6 ½.” For the most part, the photographs are captioned, generally including the photograph’s subject and date. The large photographs include some of the topics listed below.
1) The Kaiser’s Racing Sloop, S.M.Y. Iduna. The sloop appears offshore in the midst of a regatta containing many sailboats.
2) 1904’s Fleet Maneuvers. The High Seas Fleet participated in annual fleet maneuvers. The photograph shows three warships steaming in line during 1904’s event.
3) The King of England Disembarking from the S.M.Y. Hohenzollern. The photograph shows the King of England’s departure from a visit onboard Germany’s royal yacht. He is stepping down the S. M. Y. Hohenzollern’s stairs to board his own royal launch, which is flying the Union Jack. Several German officers look down from the Hohenzollern as the King departs. Such visits entailed a plethora of pomp and circumstance!
4) 1904 Fleet Maneuvers Off Helgoland Island Aboard S.M.S. Kaiser Wilhelm II. This is a very interesting photograph depicting a large number of officers on the S.M.S. Kaiser Wilhelm II’s deck. The Kaiser is readily apparent as part of a small group. At least thirty-to-fifty officers appear to be on the deck. The action took place during the 1904 Fleet Maneuvers. As all of the officers are wearing their white-topped schirmützen, the event took place during summertime, 1904.
5) Kaiser and Kaiserin Observing Küraßier-Regiment Königin (Pommersches) Nr 2 on Parade. This fascinating photograph shows Küraßier-Regiment KÖNIGIN (Pommersches) Nr 2’s officers and enlisted men drawn up during a parade in Altona (a modern-day Hamburg suburb. The royal pair are mounted. The Kaiser is in uniform, while the Kaiserin wears her unofficial regiment uniform. [Although one cannot see it due to the photo’s angle, the Kaiserin would have been wearing her modified regimental officer’s gorget. We currently have this amazing piece of history on offer, click here to see].
- The small-format photographs concern some of the subjects listed below.
- Kaiserin Augusta Viktoria reviewing Küraßier-Regiment Nr 2’s troops.
- Kaiser Wilhelm II reviewing various regiments’ troops.
- The Kaiser’s 1904 visits to Messina, Mount Etna, and Malta.
- Kaiser Wilhelm II and his son, Prinz Adalbert, walking together.
- Photos of Saxony’s König Albert, and the King of Spain aboard the S.M.Y. Hohenzollern.
- Kaiser Wilhelm II aboard the S.M.Y. Hohenzollern, with several senior officers and his beloved Daschunds.
The elaborate photo album sports reproduction crocodile hide covers on its front and back. It was produced by a Kiel firm.
