Kriegsmarine Book,Hilfskreuzer Komet

[Martin W]

I was lucky enough to pick up this very rare book yesterday.It is basically a photo essay of the cruise of the HSK Komet.It is nicely printed and contains dozens of images of the voyage.

It is a lot more scarce than the Atlanis book and did not go into printing for the public,as the Atlantis book did,later.

It was specifically printed for crewmember and their families.

I know of only three other other of these books in collections.

Regards,Martin.

[Martin W]

Komet P.1

[Martin W]

Komet P.2

[Martin W]

Komet P.3

[Guest Darrell]

Interesting. Thanks for showing Martin.

I assume this was a general publication and not a personal photo album (I think that's what you meant on the description).

[Martin W]

Hi Darrel,

yes,the book was made for general publication.Only a few hundred were printed for,as i mentioned,crewmen and their families.I beleive a crewman named Adolf Schmidt was the driving force behind it's publication.He also started the Komet Crew Association.

I will post more images of it's content later.

Here is the cover of the Atlantis book,a similar theme.The great thing about the original run on the Atlantis book is that it contains a complete crewlist in the reverse.Only 400 were originally printed.

When the Atlantis book was later reprinted for the public,the crewlist was ommited.

This one i have contains the crewlist.

Regards,Martin.

Edited January 11, 2010 by Martin W

[Guest Darrell]

Good stuff. I believe that saw that thread about the Atlantis book.

[Chris Boonzaier]

Nice!

About 10 years ago i had a pile of original newsletters that were printed onboard one of the HKs above... cannot remember which one unfortunately...

[Martin W]

Nice!

About 10 years ago i had a pile of original newsletters that were printed onboard one of the HKs above... cannot remember which one unfortunately...

Too bad Chris,

a pity you still do not have them.

Regards,Martin.

[Gordon Williamson]

Well done Martin, a rare piece indeed. I have only even seen one in hand and that was several years ago. There was one sold on E-Bay two or three years back. Can't remember what it made but it was a sizeable sum.

[nesredep]

Hello!

Martin

Amazing new find,congrats. :jumping:

All the best

Morten.

[storage133]

Hello Martin

Congratulation !

You own a wounderful (very rar) find.

Many thanks for sharing!

Best regards

Sto

[JSlavick]

Here is my copy. As stated it is a pretty scarce find. A friend of mine found one on eBay in an obscure category and got it for $15.00!

[JSlavick]

Like the Atlantis book, there is also a second version as well.

Joe

[JSlavick]

Chris:

Were these the Bordzeitung that you owned? Note Karsten's initials in the upper right corner.

Joe

[Martin W]

I am fortunate to be able to obtain another copy of the Atlantis book.

Again,this is a first edition in great condition that contains the complete crewlist.

[Martin W]

However,this one is very special.

It came as part of a small grouping that belonged to Erich Kuhn,the 1st Officer on the Atlantis.

What is so special about this book is that it has a written dedication by the Atlantis Commander,Bernhard Rogge to his 1st Officer,Kuhn in the front of the book.

Edited August 13, 2010 by Martin W

[Martin W]

Also,as part of the group was this Atlantis traditions hat/lapel pin.

I have wanted one of these for a long time.

Regards,Martin.

[Gordon Williamson]

Super additions to your Hilfskreuzer collection Martin. Congratulations !

[Martin W]

Thanks Gordon,

the traditions pin is postwar,but was worn by the crewmen at their ship reunions.

I hope to add Kuhn's Hilfskreuzer award and his Imperial EK1 with 1939 spange to this group at a later date.

Regards,Martin.

[Erik Krogh]

Thanks Gordon,

the traditions pin is postwar,but was worn by the crewmen at their ship reunions.

I hope to add Kuhn's Hilfskreuzer award and his Imperial EK1 with 1939 spange to this group at a later date.

Regards,Martin.

Martin,

Great to see your HK acquisitions and good luck reuniting more of Kuhn's items.

Erik

[Norm F]

Hi Martin,

Very very nice. I think you are amassing a Museum quality collection. Wouldn't it be great to walk through a reconstruction of the Atlantis with your collection displayed in it!

Best regards,

---Norm

[Martin W]

Thanks Norm.

Now you know why i have been selling off other items from my KM collection.It is so that i can obtain pieces/groups like this.

Oddly enough,i have more items from the Hilfskreizer's THOR and STIER than i do from the ATLANTIS.

I hope to be picking up an album and documents from the KOMET this weekend.

With the ATLANTIS book came this other book for the "Crew Grossdeutschland 1938".

Kuhn was an instructor on this vessel.

Cheers,Martin.

Edited August 16, 2010 by Martin W

[Martin W]

Kuhn was known as a hard but fair instructor with a lot of knowledge and well respected by his students.

The dedication in the front of the book is written to "Papa Kuhn" from his "gangser" crew.

Regards,Martin.

[JSlavick]

Martin:

Your cap badge is an absolute perfect example of what was "issued" at the early crew meetings for Atlantis (circa ~1955.) You'll see various pin set ups on the reverse. Yours has a reverse pin which is new to me, but I have no doubt to the "originality" of the badge. It is exactly like my examples.

Note that the nickname "Papa Kühn" stayed with him (among others) during his time on ATLANTIS too. Nice aquisition Martin.

Joe