Ahoy - Mac's Web Log

Dear Mr. Gregory,

Terry Kearns suggested I get in touch with you -- I'm just now finishing a book about the human history of the Galapagos Islands. Count von Luckner visited some German settlers there in 1937, and I will be mentioning this in the book. And so I'd like to clear up two items of interest:

1. There's a story that he presented one of the settlers with a photo of Hitler. I think there are two possibilities about this: either the story is false, or he did indeed present the portrait, because in 1937 he was not yet opposed to Hitler. I don't image anyone will know the details about the photo, but I wonder if there is any information available about von Luckner's relationship with Hitler and/or the Nazi party in 1937. That would help to establish his sympathies, etc., at that time.

2. The von Luckner website states that he was suggested for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1956. I have written to both the von Luckner Society, and to the Nobel Peace Committee, asking for background details, but both requests have been ignored. Therefore, I'm still looking for information about this. It's possible that someone just thought it would be nice if he were
considered, and the suggestion was not even considered by the Nobel people. But perhaps it went further than that. So, whatever the actual details, it would be helpful to know more about this.

If you have any suggestions about where I might look for information about
the above, I'd be delighted to hear from you.

With thanks in advance,

John Woram

Q1. Before the Count left on his 1937/1939 world trip in Seeteufel, he certainly had both conceptual and financial support from the German Propaganda Minister Goebbels, let me quote you from James N. Bade's Germanica Pacifica published by Peter Lang in Frankfurt am Main 2004, at page 142. This quote was in response to a question to Goebbels from the German Foreign Office and Goebbels Memo is dated 20 July 1938.

"In response to your letter of 5 July 1938 I inform you that Count Felix von Luckner's world trip was at the time to a large extent supported conceptually and financially by me."

The propaganda purpose was not supposed to be too blatant though, the voyage was intended to give the appearance of being a " private pleasure trip" on the part of the Count and Countess.

But there is little doubt as far as the Nazi authorities were concerned the 2 year voyage by the Count was to assist with "German Propaganda" and to " elicit understanding for National Socialism."

John, given the above it would seem at that time in his life, the Count was prepared to accept the Nazi Party money to help defray costs of his world cruise, and he may well have distributed Hitler's photograph to those he met along the way, and he might then be deemed to also sympathise with the German cause. However, I am not able to unearth any definitive evidence in that regard. It is possible the Count did give out Hitler's photo, but I have no facts to confirm that.
 
Whilst the von Luckner Society in Halle Germany indicate that McDonald of Zenith Radio Corporation ( he was an explorer himself, and a US Navy Commander) supported a suggestion that the Count be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize ( no doubt for his work in saving the German city of Halle from destruction by the US Army in their onwards rush to the east in 1945 ) I cannot document that claim in any way.

I am in touch with the US author Blaine Pardoe who has just published his new book on the Count, "The Cruise of the Sea Eagle," to seek his advice on your posed questions, and also James Bade asking him if he can help.

I will be in touch again when they respond.

Best regards, 
Mac. Gregory.

Hello Mac,

The book is doing very well - thank you.  I have some answers to your questions.

1.  What we know is that Von Luckner had a load of "propaganda materials" aboard the ship.  I have never seen reference to photos of Hitler - but I wouldn't rule that out.  His honor court trial referenced that he was accused of tossing the materials overboard when in America -- but that was later proven false. So, we know he had materials, I was never able to lay hands on an inventory of what was there.

The Count was not big fan of Hitler, but it was more neutral than dislike. His wife, however, was as different story.  The Countess, from what I gathered, saw the Australia trip as a way for her husband to secure a significant post with the government.

2.  This Nobel Peace Prize thing has been circulating for some time.  I contacted the Nobel Committee and confirmed that he was never nominated. Just part of the myth I'm afraid.  He did receive The Cross of St. George from the Pope - I confirmed that with a newspaper article.  That occurred between WWI and WWII.  I think over time that award got confused with the more popularly known Nobel Prize.

Please pass this on to the author and have that person feel free to contact me directly.

Blaine Pardoe

Blaine,

Your "Cruise of the Sea Eagle" has only just made its way to Australia, and I was able to buy a copy from my bookseller today.

I was delighted to find your acknowledgement, for which I say thank you.

So, I will I am sure be able to both devour and enjoy your work.

Best wishes,
Mac.

TK,
 
As you can see I have just been able to get a copy of Blaine's account of Felix von Luckner, and he kindly put this entry amongst the acknowledgements: " Mackenzie J. Gregory, who runs Ahoy Mac Website, was instrumental in helping keep the von Luckner legend alive all of these years and was a great way to get to people whohad stories to tell of their encounters with the Count.

Very nice thought, but I would have liked to see your major role acknowledged too.

The UK magazine Armourer arrived by air today, with the Donitz Baton story in it, and a great colored picture of the Baton in the Shropshire Castle Museum.

Will scan and send it off to you.

Best wishes,
Mac.

John,

Here is James Bade's response to my questions about the Count and giving out a photo of Hitler, and the Nobel Peace Prize.

Do you want me to accept James E-Mail offer to you?

Please when convenient let me know your wishes in that regard.

Regards,

Mac.

Dear Mac,

Many thanks for your two questions re von Luckner.

With regard to the first, I would have to say that I have not seen any
reference to von Luckner giving out photos of Adolph Hitler at any stage
in his 1937-38 world tour. On p. 161 of my book I refer to a complaint
from crew member Oesterreich that von Luckner threw a lot of propaganda
material overboard at an early stage of the voyage. He did show a
propaganda film in Apia, and Gregor Riethmaier reports in Riethmaier's
unpublished memoirs (I've published extracts as an appendix in my book)
that every time Hitler appeared the audience applauded.

I can't find any reference to his being nominated for the Nobel Prize
either.  He was, however, awarded the German Federal Cross of Service
(Bundesverdienstkreuz) in 1953.

There are five pages on von Luckner's stay in the Galapagos Islands in
Gregor Riethmaier's autobiography.  I could photocopy these for your
enquirer if that would be helpful.

Kind regards,

James Bade

Mac,

Many thanks for forwarding James Bade's message, regarding my questions about the Hitler photo and the Nobel Prize.

Hitler photo: Since the Count did have propaganda materials on board, > suppose it's reasonable to assume there might have been such a photo in the collection, even if there's no hard proof. However, since my old friend Margret Wittmer (now deceased) stated that she received the photo from him, my guess is that there was indeed such a photo left at her home in Galapagos. But, this anecdote comes from Frances Conway--not from Margret herself. In Margret's own book, she simply states that von Luckner paid a  visit, and her husband went out to the ship for a drink. So, Conway may have "invented" the photo anecdote, although I think this is doubtful. I'll see Margret's son later this year, and ask if he has any recollections of
this. I doubt it--he was born in January 1933 and so was quite young at the time. And even if he does know something, he may not choose to remember it at this time. We shall see.

Nobel Peace Prize:
The suggestion that he be considered comes from the von Luckner Society website, and they don't respond to inquiries about it. I suppose the background for this legend is that someone made an informal remark that he'd be a good candidate for the Prize, and the story "grew"
into its present version. But even the website doesn't directly state he was under consideration BY the committee--it's just implied by the wording.

To James Bade: I'd be delighted to take you up on your offer for the five pages pertaining to the Galapagos visit from Gregor Riethmaier's autobiography. I imagine this is available in German only, but no doubt I could find someone here to do a translation. If it's convenient to send them by mail, my address is

John Woram
45 Lakeside Drive
Rockville Centre, NY 11570
USA

I imagine you know about the Wittmer and Conway books, but if not I'd be glad to return the favor by photcopying the pages. But there isn't much info in either source--just Margret Wittmer's brief comment about the Count's visit, and Frances Conway's telling of the photo anecdote.

Thanks again to both of you for the feedback on these items,

John

back to letters index