Imperial Portrait Signed Photo Felix Von Luckner – Item 113311

Large Imperial German portrait photo of Count Luckner. The famous German nobleman and Naval Officer who was commonly known as “The Sea Devil” and the crew he commanded “The Emperors Pirates”. Photo measures 21 x 26 cm. Good clear ink signature of Von Luckner. Photo shows him in full Naval uniform wearing his awards.

Felix Von Luckner was hero of Germany during WWI. He was renowned around the world for this seamanship and chivalrous conduct during the war. Born in Dresden Germany and great grandson of Nicholas Luckner, Marshal of France. His early years were spent onboard a Russian ship and in other places around the world, involving many unusual jobs. This being his not wanting to conform to his fathers wishes of a Cavalry career.

Back in Germany at the age of 20 he got his Naval commission and served on the Gun Board SMS Panther. In WWI he saw action at the Battle of Heligoland Bight. At the Battle of Jutland he commanded a gun turret onboard the Battleship Crown Prince William.

As he was only one of the German officers in the Navy with extensive experience he went on to command the Sea Eagle sailing ship. He slipped through the British blockade and took much action against various ships. He captured nearly 300 prisoners. The Royal Navy eventually set a trap for his ship but failed to capture him. He then turned his attention to American shipping as America had now entered the war where he sunk the 529 tonnes A B Johnson and the next day the Schooner Manila. Towards the end of WWI the boat he was on hit un charted rocks off Easter Island and he was interned by the Chileans for the remainder of the war. He refused to accept the was was over for him and whilst a prisoner of war he faked setting up a Christmas play with his men and planned his escape and seized the vessel Pearl. He made a handmade sextant and a map and sailed for the Kermadec islands. A pursuing ship guessed his destination and caught up with him and he spent the remainder of the war in various POW camps in New Zealand. After the war he wrote a book on his adventures which became a best seller.

During the inter war years he went to America and met Henry Ford who presented him with a car and San Francisco made him an Honorary Citzen.

This is just a small part of his Naval Career which is great reading.

During WWII Adolf Hitler tried to exploit Lukner for propaganda purposes. In 1943 he saved the life of a German Jewish woman and provided her with a passport he found on a bomb site which allowed her to escape to the USA. Towards the end of the war he was living in Halle where he was placed under guard but again escaped and after hearing that the local Nazis planned to execute him without trial.  After the war he moved to Sweden until his death aged 84 in 1966. His body was returned to Germany and buried in Hamburg.