Paul König Explained

Paul Liebrecht König (March 20, 1867 – September 9, 1933) was a sailor and business executive. The son of a clergyman, married to an English wife from whom he separated for the duration of the war, he is most known for two visits he made to the United States in 1916 as captain of the merchant submarine U-Deutschland.^[1]

König was a captain in the German merchant navy. In 1916 during World War I, he became a reserve Kapitänleutnant in the Imperial German Navy.

Later in 1916, König became commanding officer of the merchant submarine . He took it on two voyages to the United States for commercial purposes. He arrived at Baltimore on the night of July 9, 1916 having been towed by the tug Thomas Timminns from the Virginia Capes.^[2] The cargo was dyestuffs. While in the United States he was interviewed by newspapermen, was even the recipient of vaudeville offers, was welcomed by mayor of Baltimore and officials. On August 2 he sailed on the return voyage, later making a second voyage and putting in at New London, Connecticut.

He received the Iron Cross 1st class the same year. Following his return after the second journey, König wrote a book called Voyage of the Deutschland, which was heavily publicized, as it was intended to be used as propaganda.^[3]

König then became commanding officer of a Sperrbrechergruppe (group of blockade runners; 1917), and later was an executive at Norddeutscher Lloyd (1919–1931). He died at Gnadau, on September 9, 1933, where he is buried.

Awards and decorations

• Iron Cross, 2nd class (1915) and 1st class (1916)
• Hohenzollern House Order (1916)
• Honorary Doctorate from the University of Halle (Saale), Dr.med.hc (1916)

References

• Web site: WWI U-boat commanders: Paul König. uboat.net. April 11, 2011.

External links

The New York Times

• The New York Times. Mass of machinery inside. July 11, 1916.
• The New York Times. Subsea perils bring joy to skipper. July 11, 1916.
• The New York Times. Inspected by officials. July 11, 1916.
• The New York Times. Navy experts say giant submarine is merchantman. July 12, 1916.
• The New York Times. Navy experts say giant submarine is merchantman (cont'd). July 12, 1916.
• The New York Times. Zeppelin here soon says Capt. Koenig. July 14, 1916.
• The New York Times. Submarine skipper defies sea patrols. July 15, 1916.
• The New York Times. Protects U-boat's papers. July 15, 1916.
• The New York Times. Subsea trader's dash for the sea only hours away. July 19, 1916.
• The New York Times. Cruisers spread a snare. July 20, 1916.
• The New York Times. Send fund for milk to Koenig. July 20, 1916.
• The New York Times. Subsea trader's dash is delayed; May carry gold. July 21, 1916.
• The New York Times. Boast of U-boat convoy. July 22, 1916.
• The New York Times. Submarine liner rigs up wireless. July 22, 1916.
• The New York Times. Final steps taken for dash of U-boat. July 23, 1916.
• The New York Times. Keeps watch for bremen. July 24, 1916.
• The New York Times. Bremen's delay holds up U-boat. July 24, 1916.
• The New York Times. Giant submarine makes final test. July 25, 1916.
• The New York Times. U-boat tied at pier, captain waits news. July 26, 1916.
• The New York Times. U-boat clears for dash to sea. July 27, 1916.
• The New York Times. Koenig at Mount Vernon. July 28, 1916.
• The New York Times. Capt. Koenig trying to outwit warships. July 29, 1916.
• The New York Times. Hears U-boat goes today. July 30, 1916.
• The New York Times. Way Cleared for the Deutschland. August 1, 1916.
• The New York Times. Deutschland off on dash to ocean as warships wait. August 2, 1916.
• The New York Times. Deutschland gets ovation at Bremen. August 26, 1916.
• The New York Times. Kaiser entertains Koenig. August 30, 1916.
• The New York Times. Deutschland coming again. October 14, 1916.
• The New York Times. Deutschland here on second trip. November 1, 1916.
• The New York Times. Admits Bremen was sunk. November 2, 1916.
• The New York Times. Submarine to take United States mails. November 2, 1916.
• The New York Times. U-boat to convoy the Deutschland. November 4, 1916.
• The New York Times. Patrol near Deutschland. November 4, 1916.
• The New York Times. Five men drown as Deutschland crashes into tug. November 18, 1916.
• The New York Times. Deutschland held by damage suits. November 19, 1916.
• The New York Times. Two freight U-boats coming to America?. January 18, 1917.

Notes and References

1. News: The German sailor, his English wife and WW1 voyage that won him the Iron Cross. https://web.archive.org/web/20140221205820/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/world-war-one/10612327/The-German-sailor-his-English-wife-and-WW1-voyage-that-won-him-the-Iron-Cross.html. dead. 21 February 2014. Jasper Copping. Daily Telegraph. 2 February 2014. 6 March 2014.
2. August 1916 . Story of the Submarine Freighter Deutschland . Motorship . 1 . 4 . 3–4 . Seattle, Washington . Miller Freeman . 26 October 2021.
3. http://www.pastfoundation.org/DeepWrecks/Directed%20Readings%20on%20the%20U-Boat%20War.pdf Directed Readings on the U-Boat War