The “Deutschland” was a blockade-breaking German cargo submarine used during World War I. It was developed with private
funds and operated by the North German Lloyd Line. It was one of the first UA-class boats built but was unarmed, with a wide
beam to provide space for cargo. The capacity was 700 tons, relatively small compared to surface ships. The boat was 213 feet
long with a top speed of 15 knots on the surface and 7 knots while submerged. The crew consisted of four officers and twenty-
five men. The commanding officer was Paul Koenig who had previously been a captain of North German Lloyd liners.
The “Deutschland” was used for high-value trans-Atlantic commerce, submerging to avoid British patrols. On its first trip, the
submarine carried dyes, medicinals (e.g. arsphenamines) and gemstones to the U.S. The payload was worth $1.5 million. It
arrived in Baltimore harbor July 9, 1916 after four weeks at sea. It returned to Germany with strategic war materials including
nickel, tin and rubber, much of it stored outside the pressure hull.
funds and operated by the North German Lloyd Line. It was one of the first UA-class boats built but was unarmed, with a wide
beam to provide space for cargo. The capacity was 700 tons, relatively small compared to surface ships. The boat was 213 feet
long with a top speed of 15 knots on the surface and 7 knots while submerged. The crew consisted of four officers and twenty-
five men. The commanding officer was Paul Koenig who had previously been a captain of North German Lloyd liners.
The “Deutschland” was used for high-value trans-Atlantic commerce, submerging to avoid British patrols. On its first trip, the
submarine carried dyes, medicinals (e.g. arsphenamines) and gemstones to the U.S. The payload was worth $1.5 million. It
arrived in Baltimore harbor July 9, 1916 after four weeks at sea. It returned to Germany with strategic war materials including
nickel, tin and rubber, much of it stored outside the pressure hull.
| "Deutschland" in Baltimore Harbor-July 1916 Steam Tug "Baltimore" on Left-Click Here for Information |
| Interior of "Deutschland"-ca. 1916 Click to Enlarge |
| Paul Koenig, Captain of "Deutschland" Photo: FirstWorldWar.Com His Announcement to America-July 9, 1916 |
| "Deutschland" Docked at New London-1916 Photo: Nova. Click to Enlarge |
Reproduction of Article “The Cargo of the Submarine Deutschland", Journal of the Society of Chemical Industry, Vol. XXXV,
No. 23, December 15, 1916, p. 1202:
No. 23, December 15, 1916, p. 1202:
"On July 10th the mercantile submarine “Deutschland” arrived in Baltimore with 750 tons of medicinal and coal-tar dye
products. It appears that the weight of dyes in the consignment was 125 tons, and that they consisted mainly of
Anthraquinone and Alizarine derivatives, which are patented in Germany and have not yet been prepared in the United States.
A circular prepared by the Badische Company of New York states that theses dyes have been prepared in a highly
concentrated form, in a few cases twelve times their normal strength. They are offered in America at the following prices,
per lb. f.o.b. New York:--
Euchrysin G.X., $8.50; Rhodamine B. extra (1 lb. = 5 lb. B.), Safranine T, extra conc. (80 lb. = 100 lb. T.K.), $7.35; Diamond Green
G.K., $8.50; Anthraquinone Green, G.X.H.O., patented (2 lb. = 3 lb. G.X.N.), $9.50; Anthraquinone Violet, $11; Anthraquinone Blue
Green, B.X.O., patented (2 lb. = 3 lb. B.X.), $9.50; Cyanathrol R.B.X., patented (7 lb. = 10 lb. R.B.), $16.50; Indanthrene Blue R.S.
Powder, triple, $10.50; Indanthrene Blue, G.C.D. Powder, patented (8.33 lb. = 100 lb. paste), $56; Indanthrene Violet R.R., extra,
Powder, patented (12.5 lb. = 100 lb. paste), $70; Indanthrene Black B.B. Powder, patented (12.5 lb. = 100 lb. paste), $28;
Anthracene Blue S.W.G. Powder, $15; Anthracene Blue S.W.G.G. extra Powder, $16.50; Alizarine Blue S. Powder, $8.75;
Anthracene Blue S.W.R. Powder, $15; Oxamine Blue A. extra (2 lb. = 5 lb A.), $5.15; Indigo White 50 %, $4.50."
products. It appears that the weight of dyes in the consignment was 125 tons, and that they consisted mainly of
Anthraquinone and Alizarine derivatives, which are patented in Germany and have not yet been prepared in the United States.
A circular prepared by the Badische Company of New York states that theses dyes have been prepared in a highly
concentrated form, in a few cases twelve times their normal strength. They are offered in America at the following prices,
per lb. f.o.b. New York:--
Euchrysin G.X., $8.50; Rhodamine B. extra (1 lb. = 5 lb. B.), Safranine T, extra conc. (80 lb. = 100 lb. T.K.), $7.35; Diamond Green
G.K., $8.50; Anthraquinone Green, G.X.H.O., patented (2 lb. = 3 lb. G.X.N.), $9.50; Anthraquinone Violet, $11; Anthraquinone Blue
Green, B.X.O., patented (2 lb. = 3 lb. B.X.), $9.50; Cyanathrol R.B.X., patented (7 lb. = 10 lb. R.B.), $16.50; Indanthrene Blue R.S.
Powder, triple, $10.50; Indanthrene Blue, G.C.D. Powder, patented (8.33 lb. = 100 lb. paste), $56; Indanthrene Violet R.R., extra,
Powder, patented (12.5 lb. = 100 lb. paste), $70; Indanthrene Black B.B. Powder, patented (12.5 lb. = 100 lb. paste), $28;
Anthracene Blue S.W.G. Powder, $15; Anthracene Blue S.W.G.G. extra Powder, $16.50; Alizarine Blue S. Powder, $8.75;
Anthracene Blue S.W.R. Powder, $15; Oxamine Blue A. extra (2 lb. = 5 lb A.), $5.15; Indigo White 50 %, $4.50."
The dyes delivered by the "Deutschland" were extremely expensive, reflecting both their high concentration and the demand by the
U.S. textile industry. Using the inflation factor of $1.00 in 1916 equal to $17.92 in 2005, the Indanthrene Violet R.R. would sell
today for $1,254 per pound.
The “Deutschland” made another round trip in November 1916 to New London, Connecticut, with a $10 million cargo including
gems, securities, and medicinals. By that time, the combatant submarine U-53 had also crossed the Atlantic to visit Newport,
Rhode Island – and then sank five Allied freighters just outside the territorial limits before returning home.
In the early part of 1917, as German relations with the United States deteriorated, the "Deutschland" was converted for war duty
as U-155. It made three war cruises, sinking 43 ships. On December 2, 1918 the "Deutschland" was taken to England and
displayed as a war trophy. It was scrapped in 1921. Five workers were killed when an explosion ripped the ship apart during the
dismantling.
U.S. textile industry. Using the inflation factor of $1.00 in 1916 equal to $17.92 in 2005, the Indanthrene Violet R.R. would sell
today for $1,254 per pound.
The “Deutschland” made another round trip in November 1916 to New London, Connecticut, with a $10 million cargo including
gems, securities, and medicinals. By that time, the combatant submarine U-53 had also crossed the Atlantic to visit Newport,
Rhode Island – and then sank five Allied freighters just outside the territorial limits before returning home.
In the early part of 1917, as German relations with the United States deteriorated, the "Deutschland" was converted for war duty
as U-155. It made three war cruises, sinking 43 ships. On December 2, 1918 the "Deutschland" was taken to England and
displayed as a war trophy. It was scrapped in 1921. Five workers were killed when an explosion ripped the ship apart during the
dismantling.
References:
1) "The Deutschland Eluded Foe with $10,000,000 Cargo", The New York Times, November 2, 1916
2) FirstWorldWar.Com., www.firstworldwar.com/source/deutschland1.htm
3) SubmarineHistory.Com., www.submarine-history.com/NOVAthree.htm
1) "The Deutschland Eluded Foe with $10,000,000 Cargo", The New York Times, November 2, 1916
2) FirstWorldWar.Com., www.firstworldwar.com/source/deutschland1.htm
3) SubmarineHistory.Com., www.submarine-history.com/NOVAthree.htm
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The Submarine "Deutschland"
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