Front and back cover of inner envelope from Hamburg to Brazil cancelled January 13, 1917 and with Bremen cachet dated January 16, 1917. Return cachet type 2A. Censor mark not seen. On the back cover of the envelope, there is an explanatory cachet documenting refund of 2 Marks for the outer cover fee. The inner cover postage was not refunded.
Inner letter from Munich January 5, 1917 to New York with Bremen cachet dated January 13, 1917 with probable single ray censor mark partially seen at about 7:00 o’clock position on outer Bremen cachet ring. Type 2A return cachet. According to Hennig there are no known outer envelopes from Bavaria. Circular “562” stamp of unknown origin or significance. Hennig reports that the ascending order of frequency of recovered inner envelopes are from Germany (inner and outer envelopes known), Bavaria (only outer envelopes), Austria (inner and outer envelopes known), Hungary (inner and outer envelopes known) and possibly Turkey (no known outer or inner envelopes known to exist).
Inner letter from Berlin received at Bremen on January 15, 1917 with censor mark single ray (arrow) and type 2A return cachet. On the rear side, a rare manuscript explanatory refund cachet indicating the 2 Mark refund to the sender.
Inner letter dated January 13, 1917 from Vaihingen with 20 Pfg., Germania stamp, addressed to Ohio and received in Bremen January 18, 1917 with “Q” censor mark and type 2A return cachet. Manuscript explanatory refund note on back side.
Inner letter from Emmerich with 20 Pfg. Germania stamp cancelled January 15, 1917 to Buffalo, New York with Bremen cachet January 18, 1917. Type 2A return cachet and censor mark “&”. Additional cachet noting receipt at the post office in Emmerich. Manuscript refund cachet on left side of letter.
Inner letter from Lubbecke with two 10 Pfg., Germania stamps cancelled January 13, 1917. Addressed to Butte, Montana. Bremen cachet January 15, 1917, type 2A return cachet with censor mark “Q”. Rear of letter has a manuscript refund cachet with Lubbecke cancellation February 28, 1917. This indicates that it took about 6 weeks for the return letter to be received in Lubbecke and a refund of the 2 Marks issued.
Inner letter from Heilbruenn to New York cancellation date not clear. Bremen cachet dated January 16, 1917, censor mark “X” and type 2A return cachet.
Inner letter from Dresden cancelled January 2, 1917 with Bremen cachet dated January 15, 1917, type 2A return cachet. Addressed to New York. Censor mark double ray seen upper right of cover.
Inner letter from Baden to Argentina with Bremen cachet dated January 15, 1917 with censor mark asterisk above the name Schneider on cover. Type 2A return cachet. Manuscript refund of 2 Marks on back of cover.
The Bayern was planned as the third unarmed commercial submarine but it instead it was completed as an armed attack submarine. Deutsche Ozean-Rhederei designed a distinctive postmark to be used on the Bayern's inner envelopes. In Hennig’s monograph there is an example of this experimental cachet which is shown above.
This concludes my posting of threads concerning U-Deutschland and its success in penetrating the British naval blockade as it transported valuable documents and parcels, chemical dyes, medicines, gemstones and official government dispatches. On the second voyage, there were expanded plans to transport valuable cargo and letters requiring insurance by the German Insurance Bank, and for this Insurance certificates and adhesive stamps for additional fees were provided. Following the success of the second voyage of the U-Deutschland, plans were developed for transporting regular mail from the Central Power countries, but after all of these preparations, in late 1916 and early 1917, the third voyage was cancelled. This led to all of the matters of philatelic interest in the letters received at Bremen and the various special censor markings and cachets placed on these envelopes. If I receive addition materials I will make further postings. I would like to hear from any members with similar interests in this fascinating history. tbernard@knology.net
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