On the afternoon of 23 August, 1916 a German submarine, like many before her, made the trip up the Weser River to the port of Bremen. Hardly an outstanding occurrence one would think, but it was. The submarine was the DEUTSCHLAND and she had just completed a 'world's first' for a submarine and Germany.

There was however, something unique about this particular submarine. She was not a unit of the German Navy, but a ship of the German Merchant Navy. Berthing shortly after noon in Bremen to the strains of DEUTSCHLAND UBER ALLES, the submarine was immediately invaded by a swarm of dignitaries, which included Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin, the inventor and builder of the airships. Supporting the visitors was just about the entire population of the port.

Why would the arrival of one submarine, and not a naval one at that, create so much interest and joy? To answer this, our story must start at the Hotel Adlon in Bremen during October, 1915. Things were hardly satisfactory for Germany. The country's Merchant Navy had virtually been swept from the high seas by units of the British Empire's Navy, thereby denying Germany American currency for her goods. This currency was desperately needed to import much needed war material such as rubber and special metals. The situation demanded revolutionary and immediate attention.

Enter Captain Paul Konig of the German Merchant Navy.

Kapitan Paul Konig in 1916

Konig had paid off the North German Lloyd steamer SCHLESWIG early in October, 1915 and was in Berlin when the company contacted him with instructions to proceed to the Hotel Adlon in Bremen where he was to meet a Herr Lohmann.

(HARRY's NOTE - that was Alfred Lohmann, the man who inspired the DEUTSCHLAND project)

Paul Konig had met the gentleman before in Sydney, when his firm was acting as agent for the German shipping company. Try as he might, he could not fathom why this old acquaintance should want to see him. It could hardly be to offer him a command. After all, the British blockade effectively prevented German ships from sailing. What else then could it be? In his wildest dreams he could never have guessed what was in store for him.

Lohmann was waiting and very quickly explained the purpose of the meeting. His first remarks were what any forced dry-land seaman would want to hear. "How would you like to undertake a long sea voyage again in command of a ship?"

Without hesitation, Konig answered in the affirmative. To say what followed could be classed in the realm of fantasy was no understatement. Lohmann did not want to insult the intelligence of his guest by detailing the seriousness of Germany's position in not being able to sell her manufactured goods to America, and in return, bring back much needed raw materials.

He came straight to the point. He explained that he was about to start a shipping line of merchant submarine traders in an attempt to beat the British blockade. He went on to say that the first submarine was already being planned and asked his astounded listener if he would accept command of the first of his fleet. Konig's reaction was to first question why a Merchant Navy commander was chosen. Surely, a submarine was a specialist field and demanded a commissioned officer of the German Navy trained in the command of the undersea vessel. No, was the reply. We must have a Merchant Navy captain and crew that can stand any investigation endeavouring to link them with the German Navy. He enlarged on this by saying that America was neutral and as such, could not permit any fighting unit, or a unit manned by naval personnel, to enter their waters let alone leave with cargo. No, the cargo submarine would have to to manned by Merchant Navy officers and crew. Konig, on his departure, told Lohmann that he would certainly accept the challenge but to command a submarine may prove difficult to one used to sailing on the sea, not under it.

Hardly two months had elapsed before the would-be submariner received a telegram ordering him to Bremen for important discussions. At the time, Konig still had doubts but after being shown sketches, constructional drawings and other innovations for the submarine merchant ship, he became enthusiastic about the whole concept. Lohmann had certainly not been idle. He had first approached A.G. Weser, shipbuilder on Bremen, with his plans. They were very interested and proceeded to draw up plans for a vessel of 500 tons carrying capacity.

At the same time, the Germania docks at Kiel, a subsidiary of the famous Friedrich Krupp and Sons, drew up plans for the same submarine, but with a carrying capacity of 700 tons. To add weight to their tender, they were prepared to build two submarines in the short space of six months. The first, DEUTSCHLAND, was to be delivered during April, 1916. By this time, a commercial name for the unique shipping company was decided upon - The German Ocean Shipping Federation. The actual registration of the name took place on 8 November, 1915, a fortnight after the contract had been signed for the construction of two cargo-carrying submarines with the Germania Docks in Kiel.

Once building commenced, Konig divided his time between training in submarine operations and visiting his rapidly developing command. As he saw the mass of valves, cocks, buoyancy equipment and conglomeration of levers and equipment so foreign to him. doubts of his ability to command such a revolutionary sea-going ship began to surface. If anything, it spurred him on to greater efforts to master the undersea craft. The man must surely had his reservations. The normal progression for a submariner was to be trained then serve in the various junior officer capacities prior to being given command. Konig on the other hand, had seven months to master the submarine then assume command without any apprenticeship being served under a capable commander.

When DEUTSCHLAND was launched in February, 1916 she was very nearly complete. This gave her captain the first real opportunity to tread her decks. He found many things unusual. Instead of a spacious bridge, there was a very cramped conning tower. Missing were the derricks to load and discharge cargo. Accommodations for both himself and his crew was very cramped. But the main thing that struck him was that every possible space was taken up with instruments, valves and other gadgetry. Still, by now, he was beginning to understand their purpose.

More Kriegsmarine First Cargo-Submarine, Deutschland

Part 1: Design and Construction
Part 2: First Voyage
Part 3: Reaching America and Return to Germany