Germany Navy Post Card of Otto Weddigen and the Crew of the U-9

Otto Weddigen (1882-1915) Was the first German Naval officer to receive the Orden Pour le Mérite. At the outbreak of WW I he was in command of the U-9. In one action his ship sank three older British cruisers. For this he received the 1914 Iron Cross 1st and 2nd Class. The rest of his small crew received the 1914 Iron Cross 2nd Class. At this stage of the war this was a major award. Shortly after this his ship sank another vessel and he was awarded the Knights Cross with Swords of the Hohenzollern House Order followed shortly by the PLM. He was transferred to the U-29 and this ship was rammed in March 1915 by the British battleship H.M.S. Dreadnaught and he and all hands were lost at sea.

This postcard shows Otto Weddigen and the entire crew of the U-9. It is entitled the “Die Helden des Unterseebotes U-9" which is the heroes of the U-9. This photo is before their award of the 1914 Iron Cross.

This postcard was mailed in October 1914 and by this time Weddigen had received the PLM. An interesting piece of history. 

This is a consignment item.