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October 12, 2023 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Hessians

Britain possessed a professional army and the world’s greatest navy.  Furthermore, the colonists had virtually no history of cooperating with one another, even in the face of danger.

By the start of the American Revolution, the British military was spread thinly across their global empire. In 1775, in America, the total size of the British army, excluding militia, consisted of 48,647 soldiers. Of these soldiers about 39,294 were infantry, 6,869 were cavalry and 2,484 were artillery. (History of Massachusetts)

By European standards the British Army was extremely small – the French maintained a force nearly four times larger – but many in Britain did not see the need for a large army.

As the war in America dragged on the British Army expanded rapidly. At least 50,000 soldiers fought in America, with many more serving in the West Indies, Europe, and India. Britain struggled to meet these manpower needs with volunteer enlistments and soon turned to other means.

Despite having tens of thousands of troops in America throughout the war, it was still necessary to supplement their numbers by hiring foreign troops.

Landgrave (Prince) Fredrick II of Hesse-Cassel was the son in law of King George II, giving him a valuable family tie to the Hanovers.  The Landgrave’s ancestors had been involved in every major conflict Great Britain found itself in with its roots going back to the Nine Years War (1688-97).

It is also worth noting that the British brought in soldiers from other parts of the Holy Roman Empire as well, those being the principalities of Brunswick, Anspach-Bayreuth, Waldeck, and Anhalt-Zerbst, as well as Hesse-Hanau.

However, because of the Landgrave’s peacetime buildup of troops, political ties, and reputation, Hesse-Cassel was the main source of troops, hence the colonists donning them with the broad nickname ‘Hessians.’    (Journal)

Hesse-Cassel was Europe’s most militarized state, that includes Prussia, the military giant to the north. Men were trained from adolescence and continued their training well through adulthood until they were deemed unfit or too old to serve.

Much like America’s National Guard, they would take a few weeks out of every summer to drill.

The Landgrave was so enthralled with this way of life he drilled soldiers himself every day no matter the weather, and added his own ideas to a system that copied the famous Prussian military.

Two centuries of warfare had created a true military society. Most politicians, including high ranking nobles such as the Prince, had either served themselves or had sons who were officers that bolstered their families’ positions. Unique among European armies, even commoners could become officers through merit.

By 1776 thousands of Hessian soldiers were pouring into New York (although soldiers from other German states also saw action in America).  They were from the culturally and religiously diverse regions of what is now southwest Germany. Research into these soldiers contracted to fight in the war gives us an enlightening history that shows just how global a war the American Revolution really was. (Journal)

Hiring a foreign army was not unusual in the eighteenth century. For Hesse-Cassel, soldiers were a major export. By renting its army to the British, Hesse-Cassel took in an amount equal to about thirteen years’ worth of tax revenue.

This allowed the state’s prince, the Landgraf Friedrich II, to keep taxes low and public spending high. A man of the Enlightenment, Friedrich oversaw public works projects, administered a public welfare system, and encouraged education.

Even so, military needs dominated the country. When boys turned seven they were registered for military service, and each year men ages sixteen to thirty had to present themselves to an official for possible induction.

Some men were exempted because their occupations were considered vital to the state. But others, such as school dropouts, bankrupts, servants without masters, idlers, and the unemployed, were deemed “expendable people” and could be forced into service at any time.

Life in the Hessian Army was harsh. The system aimed to instill iron discipline and the punishments could be brutal.

Still, morale was generally high. Officers were well-educated, promotion was by merit, and soldiers took pride in serving their prince and their people.

Furthermore, military service provided economic benefits. The families of soldiers were exempt from certain taxes, wages were higher than in farm work, and there was the promise of booty (money earned through the sale of captured military property) and plunder (property taken from civilians).

Officially plunder was verboten (forbidden), but officers, who also had a taste for looted goods, often looked the other way.

The German soldiers who came to fight were established soldiers in their national armies who were required by their country to serve; the Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel himself pocketed the money.

This was a widely unpopular move. American Patriots and sympathizers in Europe quickly turned this against the British government.  (Journal)

The colonists had been primed: News reports described the mercenaries as blood-thirsty butchers coming to kill them. So, when their troop transport ships weighed anchor, the Continental Congress implored the colonists to “step forth” in defense of “everything they hold dear.”

Many answered the call to repel these foreign invader – and the Hessians’ presence became an accelerant that sped the transformation of the conflict in the colonies into a full-scale war to defend the homeland and secure American independence. (Smithsonian)

Thomas Jefferson included in the Declaration of Independence’s list of grievances that King George III had dispatched “foreign troops” from the German states to help the British fight the colonists.

The Declaration of Independence condemned the king for, “transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.”

Washington Crosses the Delaware to Attack Hessians at Trenton

Hessians pushed General Washington to the shores of the Delaware and looted and destroyed many of the beautiful homes that dotted New Jersey.

What many Americans identify as the most memorable moment of the American Revolution is the image of General George Washington – standing with one knee bent at the front of a ship, leading his troops to a surprise attack after crossing the Delaware River.

Washington attacked the Hessian military base (belonging to hired German soldiers who fought for the British) in Trenton, New Jersey, on Christmas Day 1776, inspiring new hope for the cause of the Patriot Army.

Provisions were low, as was morale, during this period. Washington feared more troubles were ahead for the Continental Army. As losses mounted for the Americans, it became more difficult to recruit and retain soldiers, with many choosing to desert rather than face a cold winter of battle with limited supplies.

Washington understood the importance of a much-needed victory before the year let out, and a concentration of around 1,300 – 1,500 hired Hessians at Trenton became his target. Washington and his men (around 2,400, including future president James Monroe) were part of a larger plan that included two other crossings, but only his was successful in reaching the Hessians.

Still, they arrived in Trenton with plenty of artillery and support from Col. Henry Knox, who would be stationed with men at the top of the town. Sailing on cargo vessels that ranged from 40 to 60 feet in length across the frigid icy waters of the Delaware, Washington and his soldiers were hit with a harsh rain that turned to a snow-sleet mix by midnight.

Traveling with heavy artillery, horses, and more men behind him, Washington had support from experienced seamen under the command of Col. John Glover at the crossing site. (National Geographic)

The Hessians were somewhat aware an attack was coming, thanks to the work of British spies and American deserters. Although they did not fully expect Washington to attack, they were on alert that it was at least possible.

Constant false alarms coupled with bad weather conditions gave Washington the surprise opening he and his men needed to launch a successful attack, even if it took more time than anticipated.

Once the Continental Army arrived onshore, the Hessians surrendered before morning and the Americans sustained few causalities. Stories of this bold, overwhelming American victory grew in legend as it reached other colonists who supported rebellion against the British crown.  (National Geographic)

The loss of Colonel Rall and 918 Hessians at Trenton and later hundreds more at Bennington and Saratoga were major defeats for the British during the war.  Without these Germans who intimidated the colonists and operated effectively on the field, the Revolution would have been dramatically different.  (Journal)

In total, nearly 30,000 German soldiers fought for the British in North America. Once there, they discovered a thriving German-American community of almost 200,000 people.

For many Hessians, the possibilities in this rich, new land with its growing German population was a great enticement to desertion – a fact that Americans worked hard to promote with promises of free land for Hessians willing to switch sides. An estimated 5,000 Germans stayed in this country, when their fellow countrymen returned home.  (PBS)

Click the following link to a general summary about the Hessians:

Click to access Hessians.pdf

© 2023 Hoʻokuleana LLC

Filed Under: American Revolution Tagged With: Germans, American Revolution, American Revolutionary War, Hessian, America250

September 21, 2019 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Germans

The first Oktoberfest, held from October 12–October 17, 1810 in Munich, was to celebrate the occasion of the wedding of Prince Ludwig I of Bavaria and Princess Therese of Sachsen-Hildburghausen.

Because of its success, it was repeated annually, later also with an agricultural fair, dance, music and amusement rides. The Germans call it “die Wiesn.”

Largely due to coincidence, the festival now generally starts in September and ends on or near October 3. Since the reunification of Germany on October 3, 1990, the day has been recognized as the Day of German Unity and is a German public holiday.

While I suspect Germans and others in Hawaiʻi celebrated the annual beer-based parties in the past, I have not yet found references to them (I am still looking.)

However, I’ll use this occasion (between my sips of lager) to relate some history of Germans in Hawaiʻi.

Three Germans were among the sailors and crew aboard Captain James Cook first visit to the islands in 1778. Johann Heinrich Zimmermann sailed on HMS Discovery and subsequently wrote an account of the voyage (his journals were published 3-years before Cook’s.)

A few years later, on a voyage to China in October 1796, Captain Henry Barber, from Bremen, Germany, sailing the English ship, Arthur, ran aground at Kalaeloa on Oʻahu. Captain Barber and his crew of 22 men took to the life boats. Six drowned.

Today, we refer to the location of where the survivors landed as “Barber’s Point,” however, the traditional name, Kalaeloa, is coming back into more common use.

In 1815, German scholar, Adelbert von Chamisso, was aboard the Russian brig Rurik, which Captain Otto von Kotzebue sailed to Hawaiʻi. He was one of the first western scholars interested in the Hawaiian language, and reportedly wrote one of the first Hawaiian grammar books.

In a summary of his visit to the Islands, Chamisso noted, “’Arocha’ (Aloha) is the friendly greeting with which each man salutes the other and which is answered by a like expression. Upon each occasion that one is greeted with ‘Arocha’ one answers ‘Arocha’ and goes ones way without turning around.”

Around this same time, a notorious German, Georg Anton Schäffer, representing the Russian-American Company of Alaska, arrived in Hawaiʻi to recover the cargo of a Russian trading ship wrecked at Waimea, Kauaʻi.

After first attempting to build a fort in Honolulu, he sailed to Kaua‘i and gained the confidence of King Kaumuali‘i. Kaumuali‘i also used the engineering skills of Schäffer to lay out a plan for a fort (commonly referred to as Fort Elizabeth) which Kaumualiʻi had constructed next to his own residence.

The Russian flag was raised over his fort. Hearing this, Kamehameha sent Captain Alexander Adams, a Scotsman who served in the navy of the Kingdom of Hawai‘i to gain control of the fort. Schäffer was forced to leave Hawaii and Adams raised the Kingdom of Hawai‘i flag over the fort in October 1817.

German-born Paul Isenberg came to Kauaʻi in the 1850s to work at Līhuʻe Plantation on Kauaʻi. He married Hannah Maria Rice, daughter of missionary-turned sugar-plantation owner William Harrison Rice.

Isenberg became manager of Līhuʻe Plantation in 1862. Along with his brothers, Isenberg played a prominent role in developing sugar plantations on Kauaʻi’s west side.

In 1881, Isenberg became a business partner with earlier German merchant Heinrich Hackfeld. Through his business H. Hackfeld & Company, Hackfeld is one of the most prominent, and prosperous, Germans to Hawaiʻi.

His company would become American Factors, shortened to Amfac, one of Hawaiʻi’s “Big 5” companies (with interests in sugar plantations, shipping and other entities.) This included the Liberty House department store, originally called “B. F. Ehlers”, after Hackfeld’s nephew.

World War I proved catastrophic for the Germans in Hawai’i who with the entry of the United States into the war had become enemy aliens overnight; the Isenbergs and Hackfields lost control of their company during World War I.

Dr. William Hillebrand, a German researcher, played an important role in public health. He was the founding physician of Queen’s Hospital in Honolulu during the 1860s. Hillebrand was an avid collector of plants; his property eventually became Foster Botanical Garden.

Claus Spreckels (1828–1908) was perhaps the most successful German-American immigrant entrepreneur of the late-nineteenth century; he was one of the ten richest Americans of his time.

The first industry in which Spreckels succeeded was quite typical for German immigrants: beer brewing. Though profitable, he sold his beer operation in 1863 and switched to a new field that would make him rich: sugar.

Spreckels founded the Hawaiian Commercial Company, which quickly became the largest and best-equipped sugar plantation in the islands. The career of the “sugar king” of California, Hawaiʻi and the American West consisted of building and breaking monopolies in sugar, transport, gas, electricity, real estate, newspapers, banks and breweries.

In more cultural contributions, Captain Henri Berger of Berlin is well remembered in for his decades of conducting the Royal Hawaiian Band.

He was called “The Father of Hawaiian Music” by Queen Liliʻuokalani. Among others, he wrote music to lyrics by King Kalākaua for the state anthem “Hawaiʻi Ponoʻi.”

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Gates, installed in Walker Park, for Fort Street grey stone H Hackfield Co from 1902 until 1970 (later known as American Factors, Ltd.
Gates, installed in Walker Park, for Fort Street grey stone H Hackfield Co from 1902 until 1970 (later known as American Factors, Ltd.
Chamisso_Adelbert_von_1781-1838
Chamisso_Adelbert_von_1781-1838
Zimmerman_Journals_on_Captain_Cook_Voyage-1781
Zimmerman_Journals_on_Captain_Cook_Voyage-1781
American Factors Building-Corner of Fort and Queen
American Factors Building-Corner of Fort and Queen
Georg_Anton_Schäffer
Georg_Anton_Schäffer
Russian_Fort_Elizabeth-Fort_Survey-Map-Reg-1360 (1885)
Russian_Fort_Elizabeth-Fort_Survey-Map-Reg-1360 (1885)
Barbers-Point-Lighthouse
Barbers-Point-Lighthouse
Honolulu-Barbers_Point_to_Diamond_Head-Malden-Reg437-431 (1825)
Honolulu-Barbers_Point_to_Diamond_Head-Malden-Reg437-431 (1825)
Claus_Spreckels
Claus_Spreckels
Royal Hawaiian Band on the steps of Iolani Palace with Henry Berger, 1916
Royal Hawaiian Band on the steps of Iolani Palace with Henry Berger, 1916
Paul_Isenberg_(1837-1903)
Paul_Isenberg_(1837-1903)
Paul Isenberg Monument-Lihue
Paul Isenberg Monument-Lihue
The original Queen’s Hospital, shortly after being built, was sparsely surrounded in 1860
The original Queen’s Hospital, shortly after being built, was sparsely surrounded in 1860
William Hillebrand (1821–1886) was a German physician.
William Hillebrand (1821–1886) was a German physician.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: Zimmermann, Isenberg, Oktoberfest, Amfac, Liberty House, Ehlers, Spreckels, Berger, Hilldebrand, Schaffer, Germans, Hawaii, Chamisso, Hackfeld

February 9, 2018 by Peter T Young 1 Comment

Emden

The swastika was used at least 5,000 years before Adolf Hitler designed the Nazi flag. The word swastika comes from the Sanskrit svastika, which means “good fortune” or “well-being.”

Archeologist Heinrich Schliemann discovered the hooked cross on the site of ancient Troy. He connected it with similar shapes found on pottery in Germany and speculated that it was a “significant religious symbol of our remote ancestors.”

In the beginning of the twentieth century the swastika was widely used in Europe. However, the work of Schliemann soon was taken up by völkisch movements, for whom the swastika was a symbol of “Aryan identity” and German nationalist pride

This conjecture of Aryan cultural descent of the German people is likely one of the main reasons why the Nazi party formally adopted the swastika or Hakenkreuz (Ger., hooked cross) as its symbol in 1920.

After World War I, a number of far-right nationalist movements adopted the swastika. As a symbol, it became associated with the idea of a racially “pure” state. By the time the Nazis gained control of Germany, the connotations of the swastika had forever changed.

In Mein Kampf, Adolf Hitler wrote: “I myself, meanwhile, after innumerable attempts, had laid down a final form; a flag with a red background, a white disk, and a black swastika in the middle. After long trials I also found a definite proportion between the size of the flag and the size of the white disk, as well as the shape and thickness of the swastika.”

The swastika (or Hakenkreuz (Ger., hooked cross)) would become the most recognizable icon of Nazi propaganda, appearing on the flag referred to by Hitler in Mein Kampf as well as on election posters, arm bands, medallions, and badges for military and other organizations. (Holocaust Memorial Museum)

On September 15, 1935, the Nazi government introduced the Nuremberg Laws, legislation which defined German society and state in fascist and racial terms, and strengthened the legal oppression of Jews. (Telegraph)

The swastika came to Hawai‘i in 1936 – it flew aboard the Emden.

On January 7, 1925 the light cruiser Emden, the first significant warship built after the First World War, was launched at Wilhelmshaven and refitted as a training ship.

On October 23, 1935, the Emden embarked on a cruise through the Atlantic, Caribbean and Pacific – Azores, Caribbean, Venezuela, Panama Canal, Oregon, Honolulu, Panama Canal, Baltimore, Montreal and Pontevedra (Spain).

Karl Dönitz commanded the 1935 training cruise of the Emden. (He later became commander of submarines and eventually grand admiral. He was also Hitler’s successor and leader of the short-lived Flensburg government (1945)).

They arrived in Honolulu on February 8, 1936. The Royal Hawaiian Band greeted them and played music at Honolulu Harbor. The German crew band broke into music on board.

“In the evening (was a) big reception with dancing. … The next day on the trip to Kailua Beach is better. Here and in the following days in the Waikiki Beach – we experience so much vaunted Hawaii in every respect. With every day it becomes more beautiful.”

“Car and swimming trips alternate with family invitations. Whether German, Hawaiian, American, Military, Japanese or Chinese, we are soon good friends with them.”

“Willingly we are shown the paradisiacal beauty of the island. Who gets to see a hula hula dance, what can add special beauty to his memories.”

“The number of our friends is so great that it is impossible to invite them all to a board fixed, so the commander puts on two afternoons board hard, so we are able to guarantee granted us hospitality to thank all our friends and girlfriends.”

“Again, we are all endowed very rich goodbye. Hours earlier, everything gathered in front of the ship, listening to the … Military band. Then plays and then sing again the Royal Hawaiian band.”

“Each of our friends hanged a wreath of flowers around, pushes us again the hand and says: Aloha! This word of Hawaiians expresses all the feelings of his friends.”

“It is a farewell to one of us probably no one forgets. Even our brave ship carries an Aloha wreath at the bow. Always quieter Aloha calls, nor do we see the Aloha Tower, then the Diamond Head, and then we throw the wreaths – as required by the custom – overboard, the dream of Hawaii is over! – Aloha oe!!” (Witnesses Report; Norderstedter Zeitzeugen)

The Emden left the Islands on February 17, 1936.

Emden spent the majority of her career as a training ship; at the outbreak of war, she laid minefields off the German coast and was damaged by a British bomber that crashed into her. (WorthPoint)

During WWII the Emden was used as a training ship but participated also in several combat operations until 1944. In January 1945, “she took on board the mortal remains of General Field Marshal Hindenburg and his wife, which had been disinterred” to prevent them from falling into the hands of the enemy hands. (Williamson) (Paul von Hindenburg was German President before Hitler.)

Badly damaged by British bombers on April 10, 1945 at Kiel, she was blown up on May 3rd in the Heikendorfer Bay. The remains were broken up for scrap in 1949. (Ships Nostalgia)

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Emden in Honolulu Harbor
Emden in Honolulu Harbor
Emden Crew with lei
Emden Crew with lei
Emden Crew and Boat with lei
Emden Crew and Boat with lei
Emden-Light_Cruiser_Emden_off_the_US_West_Coast_1930
Emden-Light_Cruiser_Emden_off_the_US_West_Coast_1930
Emden-Light_Cruiser_Emden-in Honolulu Harbor-1936
Emden-Light_Cruiser_Emden-in Honolulu Harbor-1936
Emden landing at Honolulu Harbor
Emden landing at Honolulu Harbor
Royal Hawaiian Band welcoming the Emden
Royal Hawaiian Band welcoming the Emden
Route of the cruise of the Emden-1935-36
Route of the cruise of the Emden-1935-36

Filed Under: Sailing, Shipping & Shipwrecks Tagged With: Emden, Hawaii, Germans, Swastika

October 15, 2016 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Geier

When World War I broke out in August 1914, the German gunboat Geier was enroute from Tanganyika to Tsingtao to join Adm. von Spee’s Far Eastern Squadron. Since British, French and Japanese warships threatened further progress toward her destination, she commenced elusive tactics.

In early September, she captured a British freighter, Southport, at Kusaie in the Eastern Carolines; disabled the merchantman’s engines; and steamed on. However, the freighter’s crew repaired the damage; and Southport sailed to Australia where she reported the German gunboat’s presence in the Carolines.

For another month, Geier eluded her hunters; then, in need of repairs and short on coal, she headed for neutral territory and headed to Hawai‘i. (US had not entered the war, yet.) (Navy)

The Geier entered Honolulu in an unseaworthy condition. She put into the port of Honolulu, and on October 15 the captain requested permission to make repairs to render the vessel seaworthy, and estimated the time for this work to be one week.

The naval constructor of the United States at the port of Honolulu examined the vessel on October 20 and recommended that the time be extended eight days from October 20, in order to place the boilers in a seaworthy condition. (Naval War College, International Law Situations, 1931)

The commanding officer reported the necessity of extensive repairs which would require an indefinite period for completion. The vessel was allowed the generous period of three weeks (to November 7) to make repairs and leave the port, or, failing to do so, to be interned.

A longer period would have been contrary to international practice, which does not permit a vessel to remain for a long time in a neutral port.

Shortly after the Geier entered the port of Honolulu the steamer Locksun arrived. It was found that this vessel had delivered coal to the Geier en route and had accompanied her toward Hawaii. She had thus constituted herself a tender or collier to the Geier she was accorded the same treatment and interned on November 7. (American Journal of International Law, 1922)

Both went beyond the November 7, 1914 deadline and both were interned (and the ships and most of their crews remained in the Islands for almost 3-years.)

Unbeknownst to many, “The Geier, although interned was using her wireless all the time … they caught practically all transpacific messages. Here is one entry showing successful wireless communication: December 22, 1914: ‘Telegram received from consulate: Geier will transmit messages to Connoran.’” (Star-Bulletin, December 13, 1917)

“(Individual pledges from the Captain and other officers of) “the Geier (were) handed over to the navy department immediately after internment. It is a promise to the American government to observe all its laws and respect its neutrality.” (Star-Bulletin, December 13, 1917)

The Geier crew was making friends in the Islands. “’Geier Night’ was a gala night at the YMCA last evening and for three solid hours more than 400 members of the German colony of Honolulu with the officers and crew of the Geier enjoyed themselves at every feature on the program.”

“One of the pleasing features of the meeting was the concert by the Geier band. As a musical organization the Geier band has won a leading place in the ranks of the bands in the city.” (Star-Bulletin, August 25, 1916)

Then, a fire, started February 4, 1917, aboard the Geier was evidence of a “concerted action taken by the commanders of the German merchant and naval vessels in port, to disable them completely in case they should fall into the hands of the United States.”

“Although the ship was fired in no other place than the engine room where the boilers were burned out and absolutely ruined the intense heat generated by the redhot metal spread to the steel deck over the engine-room which in turn set fire to a three-inch wooden deck which covered the steel.” (Star Bulletin, February 5, 1917)

“Later military officers in charge went on board and arrested the entire crew after Capt. Grasshof of the Geier had officially surrendered his ship to the United States, and then began the task of removing all the German officers and men and marching them to places of detention at the army posts under guard of regulars.”

“The actual interning of the Geier was performed … by Collector of the Port Malcolm A. Franklin, and the boat and crew were then turned over to the navy department. These paroles or pledges, therefore, were given to the navy’ department, Admiral Charles B. T. Moore, commandant.” (Star-Bulletin, December 13, 1917)

The “Navy took charge of crew and officers of Geier … and turned them over to the army for transfer of place of internment. The crews being divided between Schofield, Shafter and DeRussy.”

“It was stated today that all the Germans taken over by the army yesterday are in guardhouses and under guard. They will be allowed exercise every day, but in general their imprisonment will be close.” (Maui News)

“Virtually they are prisoners, though they were taken yesterday under the status of ‘interned aliens.’” (Star-Bulletin, February 5, 1917)

“The flag and pennant were left up and a small number of crew left on board In accordance with internment regulations. On going on board it was found that Geier machinery and half the boilers had been disabled.” (Star Bulletin, February 5, 1917)

On April 6, 1917, the US entered the war. Geier was seized and refitted for United States Navy service; renamed Schurz on June 9; and commissioned on 15 September 1917, Comdr. Arthur Crenshaw in command.

On October 31, Schurz stood out of Pearl Harbor to escort Submarine Division 3 to San Diego. Arriving on November 12, she continued on with the submarines, K-3, K-4, K-7, and K-8, in early December. At the end of the month, the convoy transited the Panama Canal, whence the gunboat and her charges moved northwest to Honduras.

Assigned to the American Patrol Detachment, Schurz departed Charleston toward the end of April and, for the next two months, conducted patrols and performed escort duty and towing missions along the east coast and in the Caribbean.

On June 19, she departed New York for Key West. At 0444 on the 21st, southwest of Cape Lookout lightship, she was rammed by the merchant ship, Florida. Florida hit Schurz on the starboard side, crumpling that wing of the bridge, penetrating the well and berth deck about 12 feet, and cutting through bunker no. 3 to the forward fire room.

One of Schurz’s crew was killed instantly; twelve others were injured. Schurz was abandoned. Three hours later, she sank. The name Schurz was struck from the Navy list on August 26, 1918. (Navy)

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Geier - Honolulu Harbor-PP-40-3-018
Geier – Honolulu Harbor-PP-40-3-018
SMS Geier in 1894
SMS Geier in 1894
USS Schurz - Geier
USS Schurz – Geier
SMS-Geier-WC-1894
SMS-Geier-WC-1894
S.M.S. Geier_-Interning_Sailors-Hawaii-1914
S.M.S. Geier_-Interning_Sailors-Hawaii-1914
Kaiser Wilhelm II visiting the German cruiser SMS Geier
Kaiser Wilhelm II visiting the German cruiser SMS Geier
Kaiser Wilhelm II inspecting the officers of the German cruiser SMS Geier
Kaiser Wilhelm II inspecting the officers of the German cruiser SMS Geier
Kaiser Wilhelm II inspecting the crew of the German cruiser SMS Geier
Kaiser Wilhelm II inspecting the crew of the German cruiser SMS Geier
Kaiser Wilhelm (center) aboard SMS Geier
Kaiser Wilhelm (center) aboard SMS Geier
German cruiser SMS Geier of the Imperial German Navy, circa 1894 to 1914
German cruiser SMS Geier of the Imperial German Navy, circa 1894 to 1914
Geier in Havana in 1898
Geier in Havana in 1898
USS Schurz - Geier
USS Schurz – Geier
Cruiser SMS Geier 1894
Cruiser SMS Geier 1894
Cruiser SMS Geier 1894
Cruiser SMS Geier 1894
Cruiser SMS Geier 1894
Cruiser SMS Geier 1894
Cruiser SMS Geier 1894
Cruiser SMS Geier 1894
Cruiser SMS Geier 1894
Cruiser SMS Geier 1894
Cruiser SMS Geier 1894
Cruiser SMS Geier 1894

Filed Under: Military Tagged With: Germans, WWI, Geier, Schurz

Images of Old Hawaiʻi

People, places, and events in Hawaiʻi’s past come alive through text and media in “Images of Old Hawaiʻi.” These posts are informal historic summaries presented for personal, non-commercial, and educational purposes.

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Hoʻokuleana LLC

Hoʻokuleana LLC is a Planning and Consulting firm assisting property owners with Land Use Planning efforts, including Environmental Review, Entitlement Process, Permitting, Community Outreach, etc. We are uniquely positioned to assist you in a variety of needs.

Info@Hookuleana.com

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