Journal of Wolfgang Schewe (Kriegsmarine)
subject: The journal of someone who served on a German U-Boat. The journal describes his time in training and the photos seem to show him during active duty. Most of the entries are during 1941, and the final date written near the logo for U-929 being in 1945 just 5 days before VE Day. The passenger/cargo motor vessel CARIBIA (12,049 GRT / 5480 tdw) was laid down in 1931, and launched on 1 March 1932 by the Blohm & Voss shipyard, Hamburg-Steinwärder, yard number 493. Completed on 5 Febr 1933 for the Hamburg-America Line (HAPAG) for their West Indies-Central America service. As a twin-screw vessel, Caribia was powered by two 8-cyl. MAN diesel engines with a total power of 11,500 HP, giving a service speed of 15 kn, maximum speed 17 kn. She could accommodate 447 passengers in three classes and had a crew of 198. Caribia begun her maiden voyage from Hamburg in March 1933, remaining on the West Indies route until 1939 before the outbreak of World War II. After 1 Sept 1939 the ship was first laid up and in 1940 requisitioned by the German Navy (Kriegsmarine) for the use as an accommodation ship in Flensburg-Mürwik, close to the Naval Academy. Caribia was painted overall gray and was armed with some AA-guns, remained in her role as a floating barrack throughout the whole war without any notable incident. German submarine U-929 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 2 April 1942, and was laid down on 20 March 1943, at Neptun Werft AG, Rostock, as yard number 516. She was commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Werner Schulz on 6 September 1944. German Type VIIC/41 submarines were preceded by the heavier Type VIIC submarines. U-929 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged. She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), an overall beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 i…
description: Watch and Duty Small Watch Groups Watch Officer: Lieutenant Fraszezak Engineer Officer: Lieutenant Thielmann Chief Engineer: Senior Engineer Hegmann Helmsman: Petty Officer Meissner Division Commander: Captain z. See Gumprich The Training Period from 7 January to 31 May 1941 My Introduction to Active Service On January 7, 1941, around 6 p.m., I traveled with the 13th platoon from Berlin to the port of Stralsund. We arrived there at about 6 a.m., after a journey of several hours. Upon our arrival, we were assigned to the accommodation in the barracks and soon went to the naval training company. There was a lot of hustle and bustle! We were met by our commanding officers. “Gentlemen! You are now part of the submarine service!” We were given a short speech. Slowly, I began to feel proud to belong to such a company. Everything here was new and exciting. In the afternoon, we were assigned to our platoons and groups. I came to the 4th company for further training and was placed in the 3rd platoon, 9th group. Basic training began immediately afterward. ________________________________________ 3 Months of Basic Training Introduction Finally, the long-awaited day of basic training had come. For a long time, I had been preparing myself to fulfill the duties of a German sailor to the best of my ability. Although I already had an idea of what awaited me — the hardships and difficulties of a sailor’s life — I was still determined to give my best. We were now to learn everything that belonged to the foundation of military service: discipline, obedience, and physical endurance. The last days were spent with intensified exercises, and we were tested in the use of rifles and hand grenades. The training lasted four weeks. Training – Basic Exercises The Basic Training The first days of service were quite tough. In addition to the regular duties, we began with basic training. That meant: “Introduction to basic exercises!” The instructors were strict. The commands had to be carried out …
source: Purchased from Don Kochi and part of the Tom Long collection. Translation provided by ChatGPT. Information on the Caribia and Cordillera taken from ShipsNostalgia.com. Information on U-929 taken from Wikipedia.
date: January 7, 1941 - May 3, 1945

Two Japanese Soldiers in Etchu Fundoshi
subject: This is a photo of two Japanese soldiers Etchu Fundoshi (loincloth underwear) wearing their helmets and carrying their Type 38 rifles with backpacks hanging off of the ends. They are also wearing their leather cartridge belts across their upper torsos like a bandolier. In the background there are some other soldiers and possible a mule near a body of water.
description: The remnants of stickers at the corners of the photo indicate that this was taken from a larger photo album. Without the larger album for context, the soldiers names, unit, and location are difficult to determine. The grass seems more China or Manchuria than a pacific island, but this is only a guess. They might be getting ready to swim or bathe in the river.
source: Purchased from Vintage Productions at the Pomona Fairgrounds show.
date: 1937-1945

Bekanntmachung
subject: An announcement regarding an attack by Dutch Resistance fighters on a Wehrmacht soldier and the reprisals measures that will be taken by German authorities. This announcement issued by Johann Baptist Albin Rauter (4 February 1895 – 24 March 1949) was a high-ranking Austrian-born SS functionary and war criminal during the Nazi era. He was the Higher SS and Police Leader in the occupied Netherlands and therefore the leading security and police officer there during the period of 1940–1945. Rauter reported directly to the Nazi SS chief, Heinrich Himmler, and also to the Nazi Reichskommissar of the Netherlands, Arthur Seyss-Inquart. After World War II, Rauter was convicted in the Netherlands of crimes against humanity and executed by firing squad. In May 1940, he was appointed Generalkommissar für das Sicherheitswesen (General Commissioner for Security) and Höherer SS-und Polizeiführer (Higher SS and Police leader) for the occupied Netherlands. In his position as police commander and highest ranking SS leader in the Netherlands, Rauter was responsible for the deportation of 110,000 Dutch Jews to the Nazi concentration camps (6,000 survived) and the repression of the Dutch resistance. He had 300,000 Dutchmen deported to Germany for forced labour. His first victims to die were those killed during the armed break up of the February strike on 26 February 1941, accounting for 9 dead that day: he also immediately declared a state of emergency and ordered summary executions. He was the chief promoter of terror through summary arrests and internment in the Netherlands. The SS set up a concentration camp named Herzogenbusch after the city of 's-Hertogenbosch, but located in the neighboring town of Vught that gave the camp its name: Kamp Vught. In total this camp detained 31,000 people, of whom some 735 were killed. Also, his SS manned a so-called polizeiliches Durchgangslager or police transit camp near Amersfoort, known as Kamp Amersfoort, in fact also a concentration camp, wher…
description: ANNOUNCEMENT On January 30, 1943, a member of the German Wehrmacht was shot in the back in the municipality of Haarlem. As a reprisal for this attack, the curfew in the municipalities of Haarlem, Bloemendaal, and Heemstede is immediately moved forward from 24:00 (midnight) to 19:00 (7:00 p.m.) until further notice. Furthermore, the mayors of the aforementioned municipalities are instructed to immediately assign residents of the communities to a yet-to-be-determined patrol duty. Further measures will follow. The Hague, January 31, 1943 The Higher SS and Police Leader and Reich Commissioner for Security Affairs, RAUTER, SS-Gruppenführer
source: Purchased from Antiekcentrum Amsterdam, Netherlands. Translation provided by ChatGPT and additional information taken from Wikipedia.
date: January 31, 1943

Postcard by Steamer Mail
subject: This is a formal business communication likely tied to shipping or travel between Japan and Japanese Colonial Korea (noted in the printed schedule). The sender, likely someone named 信宣 (Nobunori), is replying to Mr. Tanabe confirming receipt of instructions, acknowledging understanding, and indicating that further communication will be given in person when the ship departs and arrives. The tone is very respectful, using older formal Japanese, common in Meiji-Taisho period business or official correspondence. Written in September 1940 it is unclear how exactly these two men were involved in Japan's colonial occupation in Korea. This could be military or related to a commercial business enterprise. Over five million Koreans were conscripted for labour beginning in 1939, and tens of thousands of men were forced into Japan's military. Nearly 400,000 Korean labourers died. Approximately 200,000 girls and women, mostly from China and Korea, were forced into sexual slavery for the Japanese military. Traditional Korean culture suffered heavy losses, as numerous Korean cultural artefacts were destroyed or taken to Japan. To this day, valuable Korean artefacts can often be found in Japanese museums or among private collections. One investigation by the South Korean government identified 75,311 cultural assets that were taken from Korea, 34,369 in Japan and 17,803 in the United States. However, experts estimate that over 100,000 artefacts actually remain in Japan. There is also the possibility that one or both of the correspondents is actually Korean since during the Japanese annexation, the Korean language was suppressed in an effort to eradicate Korean national identity. Koreans were forced to take Japanese surnames, known as Sōshi-kaimei. However, it is also possible that one or both of the correspondents are Japanese colonial settlers. There was significant emigration to the overseas territories of the Empire of Japan during the Japanese occupation period, including Korea.…
description: Front of Postcard: Image Description (Bottom text under the ship): Japanese (vertical, right to left): 關釜連絡汽船 関釜連絡汽船 (Kankō Renraku Kisen) → Kanpu Ferry Line 船名: 景福丸・九州丸・廣徳丸・八幡丸 → Ship names: Keifuku-maru, Kyūshū-maru, Kōtoku-maru, Yahata-maru 速度: 20ノット (knots) → Speed: 20 knots 所要時間: 約六時間二十分 → Required time: Approximately 6 hours and 20 minutes Handwritten & Stamped Text (Right-hand side): 関釜 (Kampu) – Shimonoseki–Busan route 鈴木 (Suzuki) 黒田 (Kuroda) 桑野 (Kuwano) 桑井 (Kuwai) 吉田 (Yoshida) 豊田 (Toyoda) 天保 (Tenpō) The stamps are Japanese "Chop Marks" from officials likely involved in processing, delivering, or screening the letter. Back of Postcard: きかは便郵 (Kikaha binyuu): "Postcard by steamer mail" (likely referring to a shipboard or naval mail service). Recipient (Right side, written vertically): This is the recipient's address and name, written in traditional Japanese order (right to left, top to bottom): 三重縣 津市 (Mie-ken Tsu-shi) – Tsu City, Mie Prefecture 西橋詰通 (Nishihashizume-dōri) – Nishihashizume Street 津協同会社 (Tsu Kyōdō Kaisha) – Tsu Cooperative Company 田辺康兵様 (Tanabe Kōhei-sama) – Mr. Tanabe Kōhei This tells us that the postcard was intended for a man named Kōhei Tanabe, working or residing at the Tsu Cooperative Company in Mie Prefecture. Bottom Chart: This table details shipping schedules between Kanmon (Shimonoseki) and Pusan (Busan): Departure from Shimonoseki Arrival at Pusan 10:30 AM and 11:00 PM 6:30 PM and 8:10 AM next day Departure from Pusan Arrival at Shimonoseki 10:40 AM and 9:30 PM 6:30 PM and 7:00 AM next day 拝復 貴信之通り 了解致候 尤も當方出發之節 汽船着之節に於て 口頭申上候 先便申上度候 甚而不一筆申上候 下関信宣 Respectful reply, In accordance with your esteemed message, I fully understand. At the time of our departure, and upon the ship’s arrival, I will report to you verbally. I wished to inform you sooner, but was unable to write until now. With regards from Shimonoseki, — Nobunori (信宣)
source: Purchased from Don Kochi and part of the Tom Long collection. Translation provided by Yuske Tamura and ChatGPT. Additional information taken from Wikipedia.
date: September 4, 1940

Berichtkaart
subject: This card is a WWII-era conscription notice requiring a Dutch individual to perform guard duties for the Germans, with a veiled threat regarding hostages taken from the local population. This is a notification card addressed to a man named J.J. Poppe, born January 14, 1903, living at Vondelkade 40, in Zwolle. The number "7" at the top likely refers to a conscription or duty group number.
description: 7 NOTICE CARD To Mr. J. J. Poppe, 14-1-03 (January 14, 1903) Vondelkade 40, 10 ZWOLLE The Ortskommandant has instructed me to ensure that, in support of the German guard for important Wehrmacht objects, a total of 25 Dutch guards are added. This is related to the fact that in some places in our country, attacks have likely been carried out on depots, etc., of the Wehrmacht. In this context, I assign you to perform duty for 24 hours, including 16 hours of rest, on Thursday, 2 March '44, and you are to report at 12:45 p.m. to Bureau Krenge, located behind the second platform of the Dutch Railways station (reachable via the bridge over the tracks next to the station). Further information about this can be obtained at the Riding School (Manège), Praubstraat, between 5 and 6 p.m. (Not on Sundays). I emphasize that compliance with this obligation imposed on you must be considered to be in the interest of the hostages who have been taken from the population of Zwolle and surroundings. In case of illness, a medical certificate stating how long the patient is unable to stand guard must be delivered to the riding school (manège), Praubstraat, as soon as possible. BRING THIS CARD WITH YOU. K. 2662 ZWOLLE, the 25th of February The Mayor of Zwolle, (signature)
source: Purchased from Antiekcentrum Amsterdam, Netherlands. Translation provided by ChatGPT.
date: March 2, 1944

Rickshaw Driver Letters
subject: A series of letters written by a rickshaw driver in WWII Era Japan towards the end of the war discussing a Mr. Yasuda.
description: Pg1 この安田一殿の、人情がたぶりある自々のペン先でも一日も早くしやいせきと、解決をつけてオ店へ 出勤をしたい、それに引き換え係長がありながらもいくちも休んでも尋ねには来ない人情がなさすぎ る 成りあがり者ほど下者を見下げて、したものをやたらに使う、すべての人は、いくら小生が、手紙を、 出しても車夫見下げて、返事をくれぬが安田一殿は偉い方 Mr. Yasuda has so much compassion in his writing, he quickly wants to solve this issue and head to the store to work. On the other hand, the chief has no compassion at all, despite his position he takes days off without permission. Those who have risen to power tend to look down on those below them and use their power excessively. Everyone, no matter how many letters I send, looks down on me as a porter and won't even bother to reply. But Mr. Yasuda is truly a great person. Pg2 昭和20年七月十七日（火）午前十時に着す小雪が時々降り。 この方に免じて小生は何事も我慢を、して御国と安田の為に御奉公をする者なる 七、七日八九十十一十二十三十四十五十六十七日を休日 この方はあくまでも身分を、見下げつ小生にありがたき返事をくれた、この人が、眞との人なり人情 あつき人である、それに引き換え永年の車夫、不用であるからいらぬともす人もある、人力車も今は 重大の、役割をはたす、とおときがすりんの代用を、はたす人力車夫なり July 17th, 1945 (Tuesday) 10 am, light snow was falling from time to time. For the sake of him, I endure everything and am a servant for the sake of the country and Yasuda. July, 7th, 8th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, and 17th are days off. This person gave me a grateful response without looking down on my status. He is a truly kind-hearted person who values human relationships. On the other hand, there are those who may say they don't need the eternal rickshaw puller, but the rickshaw still plays a significant role today. Rickshaw puller doing the job of the long lost gasoline.
source: Purchased from Kaiser Bill's Military Emporium in Pomona, CA U.S.A. Translation provided by Yuske Tamura.
date: July 17th, 1945

H.M.S. Eagle
subject: A photo of a British Aircraft Carrier H.M.S. Eagle taken as an official admiralty photograph on March 20th 1942. HMS Eagle was an early aircraft carrier of the Royal Navy. Ordered by Chile during the South American dreadnought race as the Almirante Latorre-class battleship Almirante Cochrane, she was laid down before World War I. In early 1918 she was purchased by Britain for conversion to an aircraft carrier; this work was finished in 1924. Her completion was delayed by labour troubles and the possibility that she might be repurchased by Chile for reconversion into a battleship, as well as the need for comparative trials to determine the optimum layout for aircraft carriers. The ship was initially assigned to the Mediterranean Fleet and then later to the China Station, spending very little time in home waters other than for periodic refits. Eagle spent the first nine months of World War II in the Indian Ocean searching for German commerce raiders. During the early part of the war, the Fleet Air Arm was desperately short of fighters and Eagle was equipped solely with Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers until late 1940. She was transferred to the Mediterranean in May 1940, where she escorted convoys to Malta and Greece and attacked Italian shipping, naval units and bases in the Eastern Mediterranean. The ship also participated in the Battle of Calabria in July but her aircraft failed to score any hits when they attempted to torpedo Italian cruisers during the battle. Whenever Eagle was not at sea, her aircraft were disembarked and used ashore. The ship was relieved by a more modern carrier in March 1941 and ordered to hunt for Axis shipping in the Indian Ocean and the South Atlantic. Her aircraft sank a German blockade runner and disabled a German oil tanker in mid-1941 but did not find any other Axis ships before the ship was ordered home for a refit in October. After completing an extensive refit in early 1942, the ship made trips delivering fighter aircraft to Malta …
description: British Official Photograph No, A:7506 Admiralty Photograph. Crown Copyright Reserved The British Fleet on War Service: H.M.S. "Eagle" The British sircrat carrier H.M.S. "Eagle" (22,600) tons Armament: nine 6" 50 cal guns, four 4" anti-aircraft guns, 22 smaller. Officially carries 21 aircraft. Speed 24 kts. Dimensions: 667 X 105.1/6 X 27 Complement 740. Picture shows: The British aircraft carrier H.M.S. "Eagle" 20/3/42 Photographic News Agencies Ltd 30, Fleet Street E C 4
source: Photo purchased from The War Store in Johannesburg, South Africa. Additional information pulled from Wikipedia.

H.M.S. Nestor
subject: A photo of a British Destroyer H.M.S. Nestor taken as an official admiralty photograph. No specific ship name, location, or date given. HMAS Nestor (G02) was an N-class destroyer of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Built in Scotland, Nestor was commissioned in February 1941; although manned by Australians and commissioned as an Australian warship, she remained the property of the Royal Navy. Entering service in 1941, Nestor spent most of her career as a patrol and escort vessel in the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean, and the Far East. In December 1941, the destroyer located and sank the German submarine U-127. In June 1942, Nestor sailed as part of the Operation Vigorous escort force, protecting a supply convoy to Malta. On the evening of 15 June, the ship was heavily damaged by air attack. Despite attempts to tow the ship to base, Nestor was abandoned and scuttled off Crete the next morning. Nestor is the only ship of the RAN that never operated in Australian waters. The N-class destroyer had a displacement of 1,773 tons at standard load, and 2,550 tons at full load. Nestor was 356 feet 6 inches (108.66 m) long overall and 229 feet 6 inches (69.95 m) long between perpendiculars, had a beam of 35 feet 8 inches (10.87 m), and a maximum draught of 16 feet 4 inches (4.98 m). Propulsion was provided by Admiralty 3-drum boilers connected to Parsons geared steam turbines, which provided 40,000 shaft horsepower (30,000 kW) to the ship's two propellers. Nestor was capable of reaching 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph). The ship's company consisted of 249 officers and sailors at the time she was sunk. The ship's armament consisted of six 4.7-inch QF Mark XII guns in three twin mounts, a single 4-inch QF Mark V gun, a 2-pounder 4-barrel "pom pom", four 0.5-inch machine guns, four 20 mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft guns, four .303 Lewis machine guns, two Pentad torpedo launcher tube sets (with 10 torpedoes carried), two depth-charge throwers and one depth-charge chute (with 45 charges car…
description: British Official Photograph No A.4679. (Admiralty Photograph. Crown Copyright Reserved). The British Destroyer H.M.S. "Nestor" H.M.S. "Nestor" is of 1,690 tons displacement and carriers a complement of 183. Her dimensions are 348 x 35 x 9 and she is armed with six 4.7 inch and six smaller guns, with ten 21 inch torpedo tubes. She is here seen bringing secret orders for the Captain of another vessel.
source: Photo purchased from The War Store in Johannesburg, South Africa. Additional information pulled from Wikipedia.
date: 1939 - 1945

H.M.S. Seagull
subject: A photo of the minesweeper H.M.S. Seagull taken as an official admiralty photograph. No specific ship name, location, or date given. HMS Seagull was a Halcyon-class minesweeper, and the first all-welded Royal Navy ship, built entirely without rivets. The design was ahead of its time, using longitudinal framing and flush butt joints in the hull plating. This gave a substantial improvement in costs and build time, the comparison being the half-sister ship built using rivetted construction on another slipway in the same dockyard. She was designed by Rowland Baker, the influential naval architect who worked on many naval vessels used in World War 2 and into the cold war. She was completed on 30 March 1938. She was adopted by the civil community of Christchurch, Hampshire after a successful Warship Week National Savings campaign in February 1942 During the Second World War she helped escort 21 Arctic convoys, and participated in Operation Neptune. She was also involved in the accidental sinking of the Polish submarine ORP Jastrząb, along with HNoMS St Albans, during the passage of Arctic Convoy PQ 15. Five crewmen were killed. A court of Enquiry found that Jastrząb was 100 nmi (190 km; 120 mi) out of position, in an area where U-boats were expected to operate, and no blame could be attached to either commander. Other sources maintain the convoy changed course and entered Jastrząb's patrol sector. Also that the Allied ships ignored identification marks, while on the surface and that Seagull's commander was later found guilty by the Admiralty. These accounts are not reconcilable. In late 1945 she was converted in Rotterdam to a Survey Ship. Until 1950 she operated in home waters, after which she was paid off into the reserve. She became the naval drill ship at Leith in 1955 before being scrapped by Demmelweek and Redding in Plymouth in 1956.
description: British Official Photograph No. A. 6091 Admiralty Photograph. Crown Copyright Reserved. H.M.S. Seagull - a minesweeper.
source: Photo purchased from The War Store in Johannesburg, South Africa. Additional information pulled from Wikipedia.
date: 1939 - 1945

A British Kent Class Cruiser
subject: A photo of a British Kent Class Cruiser taken as an official admiralty photograph. No specific ship name, location, or date given. Originally planned as a programme of 17 Royal Navy vessels, the numbers were cut back significantly following the formation of the first Labour Government after the election of December 1923. Of the eight ships planned to begin construction in 1924, only five were approved, with a further two ordered later by the Royal Australian Navy. These initial seven ships – Berwick, Cornwall, Cumberland, Kent, and Suffolk, built for the Royal Navy, and Australia and Canberra for the Royal Australian Navy – formed the Kent class. All were ordered in 1924 and commissioned in 1928. It was quickly found necessary to heighten the funnels by some 15 feet (4.6 m) to clear the flue gasses from the aft superstructure. The Australian ships, Australia and Canberra had them raised a further 3 feet (0.91 m). Between 1930 and 1933 the aircraft and catapult were added, as was a high-angle HACS director for the 4-inch guns. Kent received an additional pair of 4-inch guns in 1934, and she, Berwick and Cornwall each received a pair of QF 0.5-inch Vickers machine guns added abreast the fore funnel. By the mid-1930s, the British Kents were due for modernization. However, there was little surplus weight for the designers to work with while remaining within the Treaty requirements; they were between 150 and 250 tons under the treaty limits and it was estimated that a further 200-odd tons could be gained through various savings. A 6-foot-deep (1.8 m) armoured belt, 4.5-inch (110 mm) thick, was added amidships, extending down from the armoured deck to 1 foot below the waterline. Cumberland and Suffolk had the aft superstructure razed and replaced by a large hangar for two aircraft and a fixed athwartships catapult. A crane was fitted on either side of the after funnel, and the rear gunnery, navigation and control positions were relocated to the hangar roof. The single 2-p…
description: British Official Photograph No. A.6178 Admiralty Photograph. Crown Copyright Reserved. Micellaneous. A cruiser of the Kent class.
source: Photo purchased from The War Store in Johannesburg, South Africa. Additional information pulled from Wikipedia.
date: 1939-1945