Description
This is a postcard of Admiral Eduard von Capelle (1855-1931). Von Capelle joined the German Navy in the 1870’s. Much of his time was spent in the Kaiserliche Marine’s administrative end. In fact, he became Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz’s deputy and was promoted to full Admiral (equal to an Army Generaloberst) in 1913. Von Tirpitz was pushed out of office for political reasons, and von Capelle replaced him. Von Capelle was considered weak and inefficient or ineffective. He was replaced in 1918 by Reinhard Scheer (1863-1928), who had led the High Seas Fleet at the 1916 Battle of Jutland (Skagerrak). Von Capelle was awarded the Orden Pour le Mérite by the Kaiser himself.
The postcard shows von Capelle in his daily dress uniform. The postcard was mailed in what appears to be 1916. A personal message appears on the reverse in black ink.
