**SUPER
RARE**
Early-Design/
Artist's Rendering
Version |
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An
extremely rare postcard depicting an artist's rendering
of the then unfinished Gustloff.
The
postcard is cancelled May 25, 1937 - only twenty days
after the official launching of the ship. At a launching ceremony, a ship gets
"wet" for the first time and receives its
name. However its upper decks, funnel, etc. are
not complete or present at all. It is likely that
the artwork and specs on this postcard were completed well before the
actual launching.
On the
back, the estimated ship's specifications are close,
however the tonnage is quite understated at 22,000 (vs.
actual 25,484 GRT).
Interestingly,
this depiction closely resembles one used on a postage
stamp in 1937 (see near very bottom of this page).
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Exterior
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Astern the
Gustloff is the Cap Arcona, another
ship to experience a colossal tragedy in 1945.
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Once again
- the Gustloff and Cap Arcona.
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The Gustloff at
dusk with festive 'stringed' lights.
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The Gustloff at
night.
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Special
thanks to
Russ Willoughby for the following set of exterior views |
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Courtesy
of the Russ Willoughby Collection.
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Courtesy
of the Russ Willoughby Collection.
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Courtesy
of the Russ Willoughby Collection.
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Courtesy
of the Russ Willoughby Collection.
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Courtesy
of the Russ Willoughby Collection.
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Courtesy
of the Russ Willoughby Collection.
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Courtesy
of the Russ Willoughby Collection.
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Courtesy
of the Russ Willoughby Collection.
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Courtesy
of the Russ Willoughby Collection.
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Courtesy
of the Russ Willoughby Collection.
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Courtesy
of the Russ Willoughby Collection.
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Deck Views |
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The funnel
facing astern.
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The sun
sets over the bow.
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The Stuttgart
accompanies the Gustloff on a cruise.
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Lower
Promenade Deck
Unteres Promenadendeck
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Lower
Promenade Deck
Unteres Promenadendeck
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Upper
Promenade Deck
Oberes Promenadendeck
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Interior
Views |
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"Traditional
Costumes" Hall
Trachtenhall
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This looks
the same as the postcard above, but has a different
caption in the lower
right corner.
Middle Hall
Mittelhalle
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Smoking
Lounge
Rauchsalon
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Sundeck
Alcove/Lounge
Laube (Sonnendeck)
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Winter
Garden
Wintergarten
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Music Hall
Musikhalle
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The
notorious swimming pool (Schwimmbad). A luxury during cruise times,
but death trap on the night of the sinking after a
direct hit from a torpedo kills most members of the
Women's Naval Auxiliary.
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Germany
Hall / Great Hall
Deutschlandhalle/Grosse Halle
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Forward
Dining Hall (1)
Vorderer Speisesaal
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Forward
Dining Hall (2)
Vorderer Speisesaal
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Ballroom
Festsaal
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Ballroom
Festsaal
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Captain
Carl Lübbe
Signed
Postcard
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July 1936 Menu |
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Postcard
of the Gustloff's first captain - Carl Lübbe.
It is presumably autographed by him personally.
This is
believed to be from an earlier period (1936/37) -
photographed on the bridge of the Monte Sarmiento
- the ship he commanded prior to the Gustloff.
Lübbe
died of a heart attack near the beginning of the Gustloff's
first official cruise to Madeira.
Below
the signed item is a postcard-sized Speisenfolge
(menu) from the first day of the 30th KdF cruise
of the Monte Sarmiento - with Lübbe as
its captain.
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Postcard
with stamped cancellation commemorating a 1938 KdF
conference in Hamburg.
Obviously,
the Gustloff and its symbolism was a key
cornerstone for this conference. Postmark
is June 12, 1938.
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Postcard
of "The German House" from the Exposition
Internationale Paris 1937 (Paris Expo 1937).
Of note, the interior you see here was designed by the
same individual who created the interior design of the Wilhelm
Gustloff (Woldemar Brinkmann).
Featured
prominently is a "Model of a KdF (Strength through
Joy) Ship" - as quoted on the back. Although
various scale models of potential KdF Ships were
built at the time, this particular one appears to
resemble what would become the Robert Ley.
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A postcard
from the birthplace (and final resting place) of Swiss
Nazi Leader Wilhelm Gustloff. In the top centre, a
memorial for his death "Wilh. Gustloff
Stein" displays his carved name in gothic
letters and a single rune. Postcard is cancelled
April 13, 1939.
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A picture
postcard of Gotenhafen (Gdynia) from the early
1940's. Shows numerous scenes from around the port
town, including the main public pier. At the time
these photos were taken, the Gustloff was
anchored at nearby Oxhöft Pier.
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A
Russian postcard from 1976 (#23 in a series) that quite incorrectly
dramatizes the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff.
Some Russian text on the back and a line in English:
"THE SINKING OF THE FASCIST LINER WILHELM
GUSTLOFF".
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In 1937,
stamps were issued to support a Nazi Party "winter relief"
charity Winterhilfswerk.
The left stamp on this pair is of the Gustloff.
It has some inconsistencies because the ship was not
completed until March 1938. For example the funnel
is a solid colour (it had not been installed at the time
of launching in May 1937).
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More
will be added as they become available. If you
have any items (or images/scans of your items) you'd
like to have included in this gallery,
please click
here. |
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