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Station Wilhelmshaven. Property item circa 1910. The tunic made of dark blue cloth with white stand collar, white cuff flaps and blue collar patches, yellow lace trim on the collar and patches, the lace on the patches with blue interwoven stripes, a single row of eight brass buttons, on the shoulders sewn-in white shoulder straps with hand-embroidered imperial crowns and crossed anchors in yellow with battalion number “II”. On the right shoulder the marksmanship lanyard 1st class. Interior with black silk lining. Two small moth holes on the back, the collar interior with more substantial moth damage. Condition 2.

Circa 1916. The field blouse of fine field-gray cloth with concealed button placket with horn buttons, sewn-down turnover collar and two side pockets, model without cuff slits and rear vent in the skirt, on the shoulders sewn-in shoulder straps for a Lieutenant of the Marine Infantry with large Imperial crowns, on the left breast sewn-in ribbon bar for the “Iron Cross 1914”. Interior with olive-colored silk lining, on the left side with a period small repair, upper right sewn-in label with the name of the wearer “Lt. Hahne.”. The fabric with a few small moth holes. Condition 2.
Very rare

Lieutenant Hahne is found in the “Honor Roll of the Imperial German Navy 1914-18”. He was born on February 14, 1889 and entered the Imperial Navy in October 1907. He served as a Reserve Officer from August to December 1914 as Adjutant in the XI. Naval Battalion (=VI. Replacement Naval Battalion), then until May 1916 as Adjutant in the III. (Naval) Battalion of the 1st Marine Infantry Regiment and finally until October in the Coastal Battalion III.

Stationed at Tsingtau, China. Chamber piece circa 1900. Black patent leather shako with side ventilation holes with closures, complete with all fittings. Front plate features the “flying” Imperial Eagle with anchor, finely gilt. Flat scale chains attached to button 91, with unit insignia. Interior with reinforced leather lining, the crown inside with chamber stamp «III.S.B.», below which was a label that has been removed, beneath which the manufacturer's stamp is no longer legible, the rear visor with size stamp «56». The patent leather on the rear of the shako with two chips. Condition 2.

Only the III. Seebataillon was stationed in Tsingtau, therefore this shako is very rare.

Circa 1914. Elegant, lightweight patent leather shako with cloth covering, complete with all fittings in fire-gilt brass. On the front, the special eagle for the Naval Battalions, particularly finely crafted with polished edges. Flat scale chains on rosettes. Complete with the officer's field insignia in the “National Colors”. Interior with brown leather sweatband stamped “Qualite superieure” and brown silk grosgrain lining, the neck visor lined in green, the crown with handwritten size “57”. In very fine condition! Only a small moth hole in the cloth covering on the left side. Condition 2.+.

Circa 1915. Infantry Officer's Sword Model 1889 in the special version for officers of the Naval Battalions. Nickel-plated, straight and double-fullered blade on both sides, approximately 2.2 cm wide at the ricasso and approximately 81.5 cm long, no maker mark, engraved dedication on the blade spine “Gewidmet von seinem Freunde K. Scheele 1914-1915” (Dedicated by his friend K. Scheele 1914-1915). Finely chased and gilt brass hilt with the Prussian eagle in the guard, the thumb rest decorated with the fouled anchor and Imperial Crown (!), ray skin grip with intact wire wrapping and applied gilt cipher “WII”, the pommel cap with the initials “MD”. Attached naval officer's sword knot. Black lacquered steel scabbard with two ring mounts and movable suspension rings, lacquer approximately 90% intact. Condition 2.

Overall length 101 cm.

The donor is Naval Senior Assistant Surgeon of the Reserve Dr. Karl Scheele (*20.5.1884). He served until December 1915 as assistant physician on the hospital ship “Sierra Ventana” and thereafter until September 1918 as assistant physician on the battlecruiser “Goeben”.
The passenger ship “Sierra Ventana” was built in 1912 for Norddeutscher Lloyd and was requisitioned by the Imperial Navy as a hospital ship shortly after the outbreak of World War I in August 1914. During 1914 and 1915 it was stationed in the naval base at Wilhelmshaven, where it served as a floating hospital with modern specialized departments providing medical care to wounded soldiers.
Karl Scheele likely acquired the sword as a gift for a Marine Infantry officer before his transfer to Turkey at the end of 1915.