U Boats
Geburtsstatte des U-Bootes [Birthplace of the Submarine], a presentation album of photographs depicting the history of German U-Boats made at the Friederich Krupp Germania Werft located in Kiel-Gaarden. The album was produced to commemorate the visit of the Nazi politician, Dr Robert Ley, to the shipyard on 24th April 1940,
approx 43 b/w photographs, various sizes, commencing with the Midget submarine 'Forelle' built in 1902, the U1, built in 1906 and other pre WW1 and WW1 U-boats, progressing to 'Wiederaufbau der Deutschen Kriegsmarine seit 1933' [Rebuilding the German Navy since 1933]. This second part contains some interesting views of various WWII U-boats and their crews, including Capt. Prien and the crew of U47 after their success at Scapa Flow. The album ends with images from Ley's visit to the shipyard. A pamphlet celebrating the 'Victors of Scapa Flow' together with one on the history of the shipyard are loosely mounted within the album. Morocco gilt binding, 200mm x 275mm.
[Friederich Krupp Germania Werft - founded in 1867, the German shipyard had built a number of battleships before moving to the production of U-boats. It produced 84 U-boats during WW1 and 131 U-boats during WWII]
[Dr Robert Ley (1890-1945) - organisational leader of the National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP) and Head of the German Labour Front. Consistently loyal to Hitler, and a close confidant, he was indicted in the Nuremburg Trials and committed suicide]