SS Kaiser Wilhelm II Collection

Kaiser Wilhelm II (1889) North German Lloyd

SS Kaiser Wilhelm II (1889) of the Norddeutscher Lloyd Bremen, ca 1890. Detroit Publishing Company Photochrome. Library of Congress LC # 2002708351. GGA Image ID # 1d7245814d

Built by "Vulkan", Stettin, Germany. Tonnage: 4,773. Dimensions: 449' x 51'. Single-screw, 16 knots. Triple expansion engines. Four masts and two funnels. Launched: April 23, 1889. Passengers: 120 first, 80 second, 1,000 third. Sank at pier in Genoa, June 5, 1893. Refloated, reconditioned and altered to two masts. Tonnage increased to 6,990. Renamed: Hohenzollern (1901). Fate: Wrecked in 1908.

 

Kaiser Wilhelm II (1903) North German Lloyd

SS Kaiser Wilhelm II Twin-Screw Express Mail Steamer (1903) of the Norddeutscher Lloyd. Illustration by Themistokles von Eckenbrecher (1842-1921). GGA Image ID # 1d730b5883

Built by "Vulkan", Stettin, Germany. Tonnage: 19,361. Dimensions: 684' x 72' (706' o.l.). Twin-screw, 23 1/2 knots. Quadruple expansion engines; 42,000 I.H.P. Three masts and four funnels. Note: Largest express liner in the world built to date. Dining room was 108 feet by 69 feet wide. Height from keel to roof of smoking room was 72 feet high. Records: Won the trans-Atlantic speed record in 1903. Her best days' run being 564 nautical miles. Passengers: 775 first, 343 second. 770 third. Maiden voyage: Bremen-Southampton-New York, April 14, 1903. Renamed: (a) Agamemnon (1917), b) Monticello (1927) United States Government. Fate: Scrapped at Baltimore in 1940. Running mates: Kronprinzessin Cecilie (identical), Kronprinz Wilhelm and Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse.

 

SS Kaiser Wilhelm II Content Links

• Passenger Lists
• Postcards
• Route Maps, Track Charts, Abstract of Logs
• Sailing Schedules
• Other Ephemera
• Photographs
• Books

 

Passenger Lists

 

 

1900-12-18 SS Kaiser Wilhelm II Passenger List

Cabin Passenger list for the SS Kaiser Wilhelm II of the North German Lloyd, Departing Tuesday, 18 December 1900 from New York for Genoa via Gibraltar and Naples, Commanded by Captain D. Hoegemann.

 

 

1903-10-06 SS Kaiser Wilhelm II Passenger List

Cabin Passenger List for the SS Kaiser Wilhelm II of the North German Lloyd, Departing Tuesday, 6 October 1903 from Bremen to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg, Commanded by Captain D. Högemann.

 

Postcards

 

Color Postcard of the SS Kaiser Wilhelm II in New York Harbor, Postally Used 19 June 1905. GGA Image ID # 1dc0b87318

 

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Route Maps, Track Charts, Abstract of Logs

 

Abstract of Log, Twin-Screw Express Steamer SS Kaiser Wilhelm II, Commanded by Captain O. Cüppers Covering the 6-9 of April, 1911. Ocean Gazette, 9 April 1911. GGA Image ID # 1dc22a6260

 

Abstract of Log, Twin-Screw Express Steamer SS Kaiser Wilhelm II, Covering the 28-30 May 1912. Ocean Gazette, 30 May 1912. GGA Image ID # 1dc24638ed

 

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Sailing Schedules

 

Proposed Sailings, Europe-New York, from 21 January 1908 to 23 June 1908, and Mediterranean Sailings from 23 January to 10 October 1908. Ships Included the Barbarossa, Bremen, Buelow, Friedrich der Gross, Grosser Kurfürst, Kaiser Wilhelm der Gross, Kaiser Wilhelm II, Knoenig Albert, Koenigin Luise, Kronprinz Wilhelm, Kronprinzessin Cecilie, Luetzow, Main, Necktar, Prinzess Irene, Rhein, Roon, and Scharnhorst. North German Lloyd Bulletin, February 1908. GGA Image ID # 1dde6667a4. Click to View Larger Image.

Attention is drawn to the fact that the steamers of the company running between GENOA and NEW YORK, which almost without exception touch at NAPLES, afford an opportunity of making the voyage from Genoa to Naples and vice versa. The steamers also touch at GIBRALTAR on the outward and homeward trips. Some weeks before starting, it can be determined whether there are berths vacant for the voyage to Naples or Gibraltar. The North German Lloyd is. However, in no way responsible if any of the steamers in question: do not start or if the departure is postponed. Potential passengers must likewise apply for passage on these steamers to Messrs. LEUPOLD FRATELLI, GENOA, 10 Piazza San Siro.

 

Bremen-New York Sailing Schedule from 11 March 1911 to 14 August 1911. Part A: Twin-Screw Express Mail Steamers Including SS Kaiser Wilhelm II, SS Kronprinzessin Cecilie, SS Kronprinz Wilhelm, and SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse. Part B: Twin-Screw Mail Steamers of the Barbarossa Class and Mail Steamers. The Steamers of the Barbarossa Class Sail from Bremen via Boulogne-sur-Mer or Southampton and Cherbourg; from New York via Plymouth and Cherbourg. The Mail Steamers Sail Direct to and from New York. Ocean Gazette, 9 April 1911. GGA Image ID # 1dc229a68e

 

Proposed Sailings, Bremen-New York and New York-Mediterranean Services, from 10 November 1911 to 13 September 1912. Ships Included the Baarbarossa, Berlin, Bremen, Breslau, Chemnitz, George Washington, Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse, Kaiser Wilhelm II, Koenig Albert, Koenigin Luise, Kronprinz Wilhelm, Main, Neckar, Prinz Friedrich Wilhelm, Prinzess Irene, and Rhein. North German Lloyd Bulletin, December 1911. GGA Image ID # 1e304c62cd. Click to View Larger Image.

 

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Other Ephemera

 

Auf der Elbe. "Weisst Du, Erna, warum der grosse Lloyd Dampfer, 'Kaiser Wilhelm' hesst?"--"Warum denn?" "Weil er immer unterwegs ist." || On the Elbe. "Do you know, Erna, why the big Lloyd steamer is called 'Kaiser Wilhelm'?"--"Why?" "Because he's always on the go." Artist: Adolf Münzer, 1905.

 

Section Through Engine Room of the Kaiser Wilhelm II Showing Inner Bottom Carried Up Sides of Ship to Form Double Skin. The Unsinkable Titanic (1912) p. 176. GGA Image ID # 107d53622c

 

Back Cover, North German Lloyd SS Kaiser Wilhelm II Cabin Class Passenger List - 6 October 1903. GGA Image ID # 13fbf0bb8b

 

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Photographs

 

Passengers Boarding the SS Kaiser Wilhelm II in New York, circa 1910. Photo by Bain News Service. Library of Congress LCN 2014680544. GGA Image ID # 1dc352349b

 

Express Steamer SS Kaiser Wilhelm II. Guide Through North and Central America, April 1898. GGA Image ID # 1dc008e85f

 

Testing of the Lifeboats at Hoboken -- SS Kaiser Wilhelm II. The Independent, 2 May 1912. GGA Image ID # 1dc080d1e2

 

The SS Kaiser Wilhelm II at the Landing Stage in Bremen. People are Gathered on the Landing Stage Shown on the Left. The Syren and Shipping, 2 January 1907. GGA Image ID # 1dc0837a9e

 

A View of the Launching of the SS Kaiser Wilhelm II. The World's Work, January 1907. GGA Image ID # 1dc0c39ceb

 

The North German Llloyd Express Steamer SS Kaiser Wilhelm II. NDL Guidebook, 1898. GGA Image ID # 1dc0cdb2b7

 

"The Steerage" a 1907 Photogravure by Alfred Stieglitz taken on board the Kaiser Wilhelm II. Camera Work No 36, October 1911. GGA Image ID # 147a072566

 

The North German Lloyd Steamer SS Kaiser Wilhelm II. Ocean Steamships, 1891. GGA Image ID # 1dc0f071ac

 

The SS Kaiser Wilhelm II of the Norddeutscher Lloyd. Steamships and Their Story, 1910. GGA Image ID # 1dc1224ed4

 

The SS Kaiser Wilhelm II Departs from Her New York Pier. North German Lloyd Bulletin, February 1905. GGA Image ID # 1dc14c084c

 

Carl Baum, Chief Engineer on the SS Kaiser Wilhelm II. North German Lloyd Bulletin, June 1905. GGA Image ID # 1dc161a413

 

Russian Peace Commissioner and Staff Playing Deck Game on the SS Kaiser Wilhelm II. North German Lloyd Bulletin, November 1905. GGA Image ID # 1dc1ac490c

 

Transhipping Stacks of Sacks Containing American Mail to the SS Kaiser Wilhelm II at Plymouth, England. North German Lloyd Bulletin, January 1906. GGA Image ID # 1dc1ca2daf

 

The Senators Corner on the Deck of the SS Kaiser Wilhelm II. From Left to Right: U. S. Senator Nixon, of Nevada, U. S. Senator Guggenheim, of Colorado, former U. S. SenatorBeveridge of Indiana, Hon. Richard Barthold, Member of Congress from Missouri. North German Lloyd Bulletin, December 1911. GGA Image ID # 1dc1e8a9bb

 

Winners of International Balloon Race. Lieut. Hans Gericke (On Right), Pilot of the German Balloon "Berlin II," Winner of the James Gordon Bennett Race from Kansas City, October 5, and J. Otto Duncker, Who Accompanied Him. Photo Taken on S.S. Kaiser Wilhelm II. North German Lloyd Bulletin, December 1911. GGA Image ID # 1dc26deff2

 

First Class Salon/Parlor on the SS Kaiser Wilhelm II of the Norddeutscher Lloyd Bremen, 1903. The neo-baroque interior was created by the then well-known Bremen architect Johann Georg Poppe. GGA Image ID # 1d7302ef19

 

The SS Kaiser Wilhelm II Entering Bremenhafen. A Large Crowd Has Assembled at the Pier to Greet the Ship. Handbook of Travel, 1910. GGA Image ID # 1dbff845cb

 

Express Steamer SS Kaiser Wilhelm II about to Leave Bremerhaven. Norddeutscher Lloyd History and Organization, 1908. GGA Image ID # 1ddaadca39

 

Express Steamer SS Kaiser Wilhelm II Ready for Departure. Passengers Shown on Left Arriving by Special Trains. Norddeutscher Lloyd History and Organization, 1908. GGA Image ID # 1ddaec598d

 

The Express Steamer SS Kaiser Wilhelm II in Dry Dock. Norddeutscher Lloyd History and Organization, 1908. GGA Image ID # 1ddb43ad75

 

First Class Dining Room and Lightwell on the Express Steamer SS Kaiser Wilhelm II. Norddeutscher Lloyd History and Organization, 1908. GGA Image ID # 1ddcb9fd2d

 

Office of the Head Steward on an NDL Express Steamer Such As the SS Kaiser Wilhelm II. Norddeutscher Lloyd History and Organization, 1908. GGA Image ID # 1ddce9fdd0

 

Express Steamer SS Kaiser Wilhelm II Leaving New York. Norddeutscher Lloyd History and Organization, 1908. GGA Image ID # 1ddd271c31

 

Express Mail Steamship SS Kaiser Wilhelm II. Norddeutscher Lloyd History and Organization, 1908. GGA Image ID # 1ddd2aeefe

 

Port Side View of the Bridge of the SS Kaiser Wilhelm II. Norddeutscher Lloyd History and Organization, 1908. GGA Image ID # 1dddd11c7d

Express Steamer SS Kaiser Wilhelm II. Guide Through North and Central America, April 1898. GGA Image ID # 1ddf907e5f

 

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Books

 

 

Norddeutscher Lloyd Bremen 1857-1970, Volume One, History -- Fleet -- Ship Mails

"The first volume of Edwwin Drechsel's definitive and valuable work on the Norddeutscher Lloyd is informative in the true sense of the word, It goes into valuable details, such as naming ships and captains of new services, and their exploits. It has some remarkable pictures never seen elsewhere. Even a few of them are worth the price fo the book"

 

 

Norddeutscher Lloyd Bremen 1857-1970, Volume Two, History -- Fleet -- Ship Mails

The second volume begins with the years after World War One, The Great War, and the recovery after the war, starting from scratch to rebuild their steamship line. Although Norddeutscher Lloyd would again win the Blue Riband of the North Atlantic in 1929, the depression of the 1930s affected NDL as yet another crisis in ship ownership and management to which commercial shipping interests had always been prone. The ranks of transatlantic passenger carriers thinned out as large and small concerns went out of business.

 

 

North German Lloyd Guide Through North America - 1898

In presenting our book to the public, we beg to say, that our aim is to furnish a concise work of reference for the use of travelers in the United States, containing hints and directions, which, we trust, may prove serviceable to persons, whose time is limited; the more so, as all the hotels, linns etc., mentioned in our Guide, are perfectly reliable. This book includes the history of the North German Lloyd (Lavishly illustrated with numerious photographs).

 

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