Königsberg / Möwe Provisionals

On 5 June 1914, the German light cruiser SMS Königsberg, under Fregattenkapitän Max Looff, arrived in German East Africa as part of a regularly scheduled two-year deployment to the German Navy's East Africa Station. In that assignment, her mission was to protect German interests in East Africa.


SMS Königsberg

At the outbreak of World War I, the Königsberg initially conducted commerce raiding off the coast of East Africa. With the British blockading Dar-es-Salaam, however, she quickly ran short of supplies, fuel, and parts. So in September 1914, she withdrew to the delta of the Rufiji River, where she could hide from roving British ships while awaiting resupply. The Germans launched several attempts to resupply the ship, but most were unsuccessful. As supplies ran out, the British Navy closed in, using shallow-draft vessels to get within artillery range.

Finally, on 11 July 1915, after 9 months of British attempts to destroy Königsberg (collectively known as the Battle of Rifiji Delta), Looff ordered her scuttled in the Rufiji River. Her main guns were salvaged, and went on to see service as coastal guns and artillery pieces of General Paul Emil von Lettow-Vorbeck's German army during the East African campaign.


Scuttled SMS Königsberg

Also in German East Africa at the outbreak of war was the German survey ship SMS Möwe. Trapped in Dar-es-Salaam by the British blockade, she was scuttled on 20 September 1914.


SMS Möwe

So what do these two ships of the German Navy have to do with philately, you ask? Well...

In addition to salvaging the guns off these vessels, the Germans salvaged their supply of German postage -- specifically, 6 values of the Germania issues of 1905/06 (Michel 84I, 85I, 86I, 87I, 91I, 94AI). This was done primarily due to shortages of German East Africa postage caused by the British blockade.



On 20 December 1915, the stamps were distributed to 8 post offices in German East Africa.



Because they had been submerged in the scuttled ships, they had no gum, and had to be affixed with glue.


Mi IIa (Bagamojo)

The post offices were under orders to use the stamps only on official parcel post cards. The stamps were not to be sold to, or used on mail addressed to, private parties. And yet...

The cover shown below is addressed to the Catholic Bishop in Bagamojo. It originated at the Catholic mission in Bahi, which was near Dodoma, and the 3 Pf Germania stamps are likely from Dodoma's stock of 100. It was cancelled on a train of the Mittellandbahn (Central Railway), which ran through Dodoma. This is likely a unique (as in one-of-a-kind) item, as it contains both a rare private use of the provisional stamps, and a railway cancel, which would not be normal with the proper official use of these stamps.


Mi IIa (x2) on cover with Mittellandbahn cancel


Michel IIb (Mohorro)


Michel IIc (unknown cancel)


Michel IId (Mombo)

The 50 Pf value (Michel IIe) comes up for auction infrequently (one a year or so). I'll post one of those when I get one!

Only one copy of the 1 M value (Mi IIf) has ever been found. It was cancelled at Mombo on 4 January 1916. Unfortunately, it has not been seen since WWII, and is believed to have been lost or destroyed during the war.

Lovely exhibit! Thanks!

How interesting! Thanks for sharing your expertise!

Postmaster: thanks also from me for sharing this. It was 2012; I think; that there was a fascinating exhibit at the annual Rocky Mountain Stamp Show regarding the life of Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck. The whole East African campaign makes for an interesting read. Lettow-Vorbeck's forces were the only German colonial force still in the field on Armistice Day in 1918. He is considered by many to be the father of modern guerrilla warfare in the 20th century because of his use of hit & run tactics.

Lettow-Vorbeck and his officers enjoyed strong support from their native askaris because they slept on the same hard ground and ate the same crappy food as their soldiers. As late as the 1980s, the then-West German government still paid pensions to surviving native soldiers and widows in Tanzania.

Finally got my hands on a copy of MiNr II e!



One of only 288 originally distributed (and much fewer number to have survived), this was from Korogwe's stock of 48 stamps. Canceled at Korogwe on 31 December 1915.

Not only does it have the desired cancellation, it appears to be a VF/XF copy to boot! Very nice find. Thank you for the history lesson!

Brian

Postmaster - you have demonstrated that you can rightfully use your alias 'Postmaster'! Absolutely an excellent lesson on very fascinating postal history!

Finally got these mounted on new album pages. The images link to higher-res versions.

I've been on the lookout for these guys ever since you originally posted this excellent thread.

Thanks for the history lesson.

Robert

Lovely display Postmaster! These are the key issues of the collapse of German East Africa, and are pretty tough to get; jealous? moi?? I only have the 5m duty, with Dodoma CDs.

Well done, and thanks for sharing these juicy rarities with us.