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PHOTO ALBUM OF CREWMAN ABOARD DOOMED U-74

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:300.00 USD Estimated At:600.00 - 800.00 USD
PHOTO ALBUM OF CREWMAN ABOARD DOOMED U-74
PHOTO ALBUM OF CREWMAN ABOARD DOOMED U-74
Excellent seaman's photo album containing about 190 photographs documenting a U-boat sailor's training, service at sea, and family gatherings, with many images showing various U-boats, U-74 at sea and at times in heavy weather, fellow crewmen, etc. The 12 1/2" x 9" album bears a Kriegsmarine flag on the cover and opens with a photo of Hitler which the sailor labels: "Mein Fuhrer". A postwar note within identifies the owner as "George Haust", although this cannot be confirmed otherwise. There follows photos of the young man training at a U-boat academy and in the field, including marching, guard duty, rowing, swimming, etc. Finally at sea, we see training ships and U-boats, including the training sub U-25 which would be sunk later in the war. Gunther Prien appears in one candid image, likely at the academy, and there are many images of the Ruhleben Barracks at Plon. At some point, the seaman is sent aboard U-74, and included are over 30 images of the vessel at sea, including some showing the conning tower and rails covered in ice, men on watch, the vessel shipping water in the North Atlantic, tonnage pennants flying above the joyful crew, etc. Photos further document the vessel stationed in Norway, followed by her transfer to France where the young man adds tourist photos to his album showing his new "home". The album closes in Bremen on an unknown date. Fine condition. U-74 conducted eight patrols and was present at the sinking of the Bismarck, where she rescued three sailors. U-74 would sink seven vessels during her brief career: she was detected and sunk by British destroyers off Cartagena on May 2, 1942. Provenance: TIME-LIFE Collection, The War Museum.