Letterstime - HERR SUMPFHÜHN'S WAR

"These days at sea were hours upon hours of virtual boredom, relieved only by the latent terror that the next lookout's call would be something like 'the Grand Fleet, dead ahead!'"

- I Survived Hurricane von Hoban, Kaiser Wilhelm Presse 1967

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Letterstime: Herr Sumpfhühn's War

Matrosen-Stabsgefreiter Johannes Sumpfhühn stood at the rail of the Kaiser's battlecruiser Moltke as she slid through the North Atlantic swell. Taking advantage of a rare off-duty moment, he had come topside for a few minutes to enjoy the fresh aire, and to think.

A large, dark bird slid silently past to starboard. "Schmarotzerraubmöwe" Sumpfhühn muttered, watching the skua as it swooped down and dive-bombed an unsuspecting flotilla of auks. The observation of birds was one of his few hobbies; while the lookout's binoculars he wore were capable of giving superb views, unfortunatly when aboard ship the collection of specimens for a definite identification was fairly well out of the question. (NOTE 1)

He returned his gaze forwards and scanned the horizon. No smoke was visible, and he nearly sighed with relief as he wondered, yet again, exactly how it was that he found himself in the middle of the frigid North Atlantic on a battlecruiser with a hole in it, with the Royal Navy somewhere ahead and Lieutenant Bornholdt all too close astern...

*

In 1906, at the age of 16, Johannes Sumpfhühn had enlisted in the Kaiserliche Marine. He had been enthralled by all things naval since the age of eight, when his father had had business to conduct in Danzig, and during the visit his mother had taken him to the port to see the ships. The Großer Kreuzer Fürst Bismarck had been in port that day, and upon seeing her the young Johannes had declared that one day he would be her captian.

During the years leading up to the war, he had served in a variety of roles on Undine, Berlin (briefly) and Stuttgartand while nothing particulary exciting had occured during that time, he had worked diligently, learning whatever he could whenever he could.

One of his hobbies, which he also saw as a potential advantage in his job, was swords. Whenever he found himself in Kiel, he paid a visit to the local fencing club, where he polished his skills (which were not inconsiderable, if he did admit to this himself) and, on occasion, helping others with their technique. During the couse of one such visit in late 1913, he had been mildly surprised to discover that one of those present was a young woman. While this was not entirely unusual, her lithe figure and flaming red hair had caught his eye, and after taking some time to work up the courage, he had introduced himself, and he and Karin had quickly become fast friends.

Upon the outbreak of the war, Matrosen-Haupgefreiter Sumpfhühn had found himself assigned to Fürst Bismarck, as the KM sought to recommission her as a coast defense vessel. At first he saw this as a dream assignment, being assigned to the ship that had inspired him to join the Navy (although he had not, so far, seen much of the world other than the Nordsee), however reality had quickly sunk in as the old cruiser's age and, sad to say, distinct lack of preventitive maintience had left her unfit for combat service, and beyond economic restoration to same.

This found him relegated to shore duty, although that was not completly bad. His relationship with Karin was blossoming, and while her parents were not entirely enthralled with the idea of their daughter being involved with a Navy seaman, they did not discourage them.

Then came the Battle of Dogger Bank, and Johannes found himself with orders aboard Blücher, as part of the shuffle to replace those who had been lost in tbe battle. And then came Die Kaiserschlacht, with Blücher being involved in the thick of the fighting under the control of a seemingly insane Commodore. After the battle, as she limped back to port, many of the old cruiser's crew were referring to that officer as "Mad Max" von Hoban.

Following that experience, Sumpfhühn was plesantly surprised to recieve a promotion to Matrosen-Stabsgefreiter, and decided that with Blücher in the yards for extensive, and extended, repairs, it was time to take care of some personal business. After a stop at a jeweler's and a long discussion with her parents, he asked Karin for her hand in marriage. She joyously accepted, and the couple began planning for a wedding in late August.

However the very next morning, new orders arrived. Matrosen-Stabsgefreiter Johannes Sumpfhühn was "requested and required" to report aboard Blücher "as rapidly as possible". At first he attempted to protest the assignment, but when the grizzled Oberfeldwebel at the personnel office had mentioned that it was "some crazy scheme of the Baron's", he had decided to go along. After all, it couldn't possibly be worse than Die Kaiserschlacht, right? It was only then that he learned that a certain Commodore would be along...

*

Sumpfhühn checked his pocket watch, a gift from his father, and sighed; he couldn't stay up here much longer. He had hoped to go ashore in New York and purchase a gift for Karin, however the battlecruisers had remained at sea the entire time they were off the United States. Then they had hurried off and "attacked" some nearly-frozen French fishing islands, for what purpose? True they had been able to coal unmolested, but still...

He took another scan of the horizon, pausing briefly (with a barely suppressed shudder) upon the ship carrying a certain Lieutenant, and headed belowdecks.

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NOTE 1: Although even at this time there were some who believed it was possible to identify birds without using a shotgun, it would not become truly practical until 1934 with the first edition of the famous Field Guide to the Birds of Roger Tory Peterson.

by Speedyg