Description:

GUNTHER PRIEN AND U-47 ORIGNAL PHOTOGRAPHS (7)
A fine group of seven original candid snapshots, most 3.5 x 2.5 in. b/w with one slightly smaller, showing German U-boat commander and Knight's Cross recipient GUNTHER PRIEN (1908-1941) and his boat, the U-47. The first image shows Prien in full uniform standing on the foredeck of his boat, in amiable conversation with three Luftwaffe men. Prien's Knight's Cross is clearly visible around his neck, indicating that the photo was taken shortly after his successful raid on the British anchorage at Scapa Flow and the sinking of the battleship HMS ROYAL OAK. Three additional photos show the U-47 itself, clearly identifiable by the ‘snorting bull' artwork on its conning tower. One view shows her crew standing at attention on her deck, with another showing several men lounging around her deck gun, and a third close view showing an officer and several men in the conning tower. An additional photo shows two U-boats in drydock, with another showing an unidentified boat underway, with the final image being a long view of a submarine in natural harbor, this last identified on the verso as showing an Italian submarine at Bardia in North Africa. The image of Prien and the men around the deck gun are printed on Agfa-Lupex photo paper and stamped ‘33' on the verso, with one view of an unidentified boat printed on the same paper and the remainder (excluding the Italian boat) printed on Velox paper. All but two show photo corner remnants on the verso, otherwise in very good condition overall. U-47 departed Lorient on her tenth and last patrol on 20 February 1941. She went missing on 7 March 1941 and was believed at the time to have been sunk by the British destroyer HMS Wolverine west of Ireland

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March 26, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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