A thread!
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A short #maritimeHistory thread, with a fun twist at the end.
In 1957, in Bremen, Germany, the Norddeutscher Lloyd shipping line was born.
They have access to the North Sea via a river and complex waterways, making it ideal for shipping, with a primary port on the sea at Bremerhaven.
Their very first ship was called "Bremen."
Shipping lines, often re-use ship names over decades as old ships are lost, retired, etc. Three more ships would inherit that name over the subsequent years.
1/?
The second Norddeutscher Lloyd ship named Bremen, after the first was sold off, ended up as war reparations and ceded to Britain after WWI.
A fourth ship named Bremen was built in 1928 as one of two (sister ship was ‘Europa’).
Bremen IV could do the NY run in five days, and in 1939 did a route to South America, being the largest ship to traverse the Panama Canal at the time.
I found this stylish travel poster for the shipping line and that particular boat. Apparently rather luxurious.
2/?
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The second Norddeutscher Lloyd ship named Bremen, after the first was sold off, ended up as war reparations and ceded to Britain after WWI.
A fourth ship named Bremen was built in 1928 as one of two (sister ship was ‘Europa’).
Bremen IV could do the NY run in five days, and in 1939 did a route to South America, being the largest ship to traverse the Panama Canal at the time.
I found this stylish travel poster for the shipping line and that particular boat. Apparently rather luxurious.
2/?
Later in 1939 the Bremen was en route to New York as Germany prepared to invade Poland, and was told along with all ships to return to port.
As they were only 2 days from NYC they decided to continue and disembark their 1770 passengers. The ship was detained but later released, with a destination of Murmansk.
The crew bought paint and repainted the ship in camo grey while sailing. From Murmansk they made a dangerous dash back to Bremerhaven, arriving Dec 1939.
3/?
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Later in 1939 the Bremen was en route to New York as Germany prepared to invade Poland, and was told along with all ships to return to port.
As they were only 2 days from NYC they decided to continue and disembark their 1770 passengers. The ship was detained but later released, with a destination of Murmansk.
The crew bought paint and repainted the ship in camo grey while sailing. From Murmansk they made a dangerous dash back to Bremerhaven, arriving Dec 1939.
3/?
The ship was spared a torpedoing by a British submarine – a crucial decision that changed the timing of the WWII sea war.
The ship met its end as a burned out shell in 1941 - apparently due to disgruntled crew member who set fire to the ship, rather than an act of war (but who knows?)
In 1942 the above-waterline steel was scavenged for munitions, and post war, the hulk was towed up the river and beached on a sandbar. The remnants still visible at low water.
So the relevance of all this?
4/?
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The ship was spared a torpedoing by a British submarine – a crucial decision that changed the timing of the WWII sea war.
The ship met its end as a burned out shell in 1941 - apparently due to disgruntled crew member who set fire to the ship, rather than an act of war (but who knows?)
In 1942 the above-waterline steel was scavenged for munitions, and post war, the hulk was towed up the river and beached on a sandbar. The remnants still visible at low water.
So the relevance of all this?
4/?
Yesterday, browsing the mugs at the local thrift shop, we found a pair of old-looking coffee mugs from the Hutschenreuther porcelain maker in Selb Germany.
Digging into the markings I unraveled the story just shared.
At the opening of the thrift shop this morning we went back and bought the two cups, and a little piece of history.
75cents each – though they had a 50% discount this weekend.
Here's a look at the nice little compact coffee cups.
5/5
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Yesterday, browsing the mugs at the local thrift shop, we found a pair of old-looking coffee mugs from the Hutschenreuther porcelain maker in Selb Germany.
Digging into the markings I unraveled the story just shared.
At the opening of the thrift shop this morning we went back and bought the two cups, and a little piece of history.
75cents each – though they had a 50% discount this weekend.
Here's a look at the nice little compact coffee cups.
5/5
@ottaross very cool
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Yesterday, browsing the mugs at the local thrift shop, we found a pair of old-looking coffee mugs from the Hutschenreuther porcelain maker in Selb Germany.
Digging into the markings I unraveled the story just shared.
At the opening of the thrift shop this morning we went back and bought the two cups, and a little piece of history.
75cents each – though they had a 50% discount this weekend.
Here's a look at the nice little compact coffee cups.
5/5
I haven't found much similar to these online, except a couple of condiment jars, and a cup-and-saucer pair, pics here.
When these came off the ship, I don't know. I'd imagine it may have been in that fateful final stop in NYC. Only a day's drive away from Ottawa, so the path to our thrift shop is plausible. I can imagine that with the sense of impending doom of WWII, the disembarking passengers may have taken some souvenirs.
6/5
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I haven't found much similar to these online, except a couple of condiment jars, and a cup-and-saucer pair, pics here.
When these came off the ship, I don't know. I'd imagine it may have been in that fateful final stop in NYC. Only a day's drive away from Ottawa, so the path to our thrift shop is plausible. I can imagine that with the sense of impending doom of WWII, the disembarking passengers may have taken some souvenirs.
6/5
Oh yes, the Norddeutscher Lloyd shipping company ultimately became the well-known Hagap-Lloyd in the 1960s. You see their name on shipping containers worldwide. Not doing much passenger stuff anymore I assume.
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Oh yes, the Norddeutscher Lloyd shipping company ultimately became the well-known Hagap-Lloyd in the 1960s. You see their name on shipping containers worldwide. Not doing much passenger stuff anymore I assume.
@ottaross Lots of passengers can fit in each container.....
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@ottaross very cool
@FoodieKenobi great fun to stumble across something with some deep history like that!
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@jbenjamint thanks, enjoyed sharing it.
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@ottaross Lots of passengers can fit in each container.....
@human3500 ugh, yeah - probably a somewhat proven fact.
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Oh yes, the Norddeutscher Lloyd shipping company ultimately became the well-known Hagap-Lloyd in the 1960s. You see their name on shipping containers worldwide. Not doing much passenger stuff anymore I assume.
@ottaross quite amazing to find these, I only knew Hapag-Lloyd
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A short #maritimeHistory thread, with a fun twist at the end.
In 1957, in Bremen, Germany, the Norddeutscher Lloyd shipping line was born.
They have access to the North Sea via a river and complex waterways, making it ideal for shipping, with a primary port on the sea at Bremerhaven.
Their very first ship was called "Bremen."
Shipping lines, often re-use ship names over decades as old ships are lost, retired, etc. Three more ships would inherit that name over the subsequent years.
1/?
@ottaross what a lovely story of the Bremen mugs! However, maybe you mean it was 1857, not 1957, when the Norddeutscher Lloyd line was born?
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R relay@relay.mycrowd.ca shared this topic
