WW1 Copper Submarine Ashtray Commemorating German U-Boat U-155 DEUTSCHLAND

Here on offer is a scarce circular copper ash tray that depicts an embossed stylised image of WW1 German U-Boat, U-155 also known as DEUTSCHLAND.

U-155 was broken up by Robert Smith & Sons, Birkenhead, at Rock Ferry in 1922 and some of the copper was made into souvenirs, such as this ashtray, that were sold to help support War Aid charities.

The ashtray is in great condition with some light stain marks, light dents and some surface scratches, that I think will polish out. This is actually only the second example I have been lucky enough to own whilst collecting over the last 50+ years.

Some history about U-155 DEUTSCHLAND

The DEUTSCHLAND was a blockade-breaking German merchant submarine used during WW1. It was developed with private funds and operated by the North German Lloyd Line. She was the first of seven U-151-class U-boats built and one of only two used as unarmed cargo submarines.

After making two voyages as an unarmed merchantman, she was taken over by the German Imperial Navy on 19th February 1917 and converted into U-155, armed with six torpedo tubes and two deck guns. As U-155, she began a raiding career in June 1917 that was to last until October 1918, sinking 120,434 GRT of shipping and damaging a further 9,080 GRT of shipping.

U-155 returned to Germany from her final cruise on 12th November 1918 and was surrendered to the Allies at Harwich on the 24th November 1918 with other submarines as part of the terms of the Armistice. She was exhibited at St Katharine's Dock, London, in December 1918, and then at Liverpool, before being laid up at Rosyth. There, she was sold on 3rd March 1919 to James Dredging Co. for £3,500, and then rapidly sold-on to Noel Pemberton Billing for £17,000 and then to John Bull Ltd (£15,000), a vehicle for Horatio Bottomley, who demilitarised the U-boat and embarked on a commercial tour that began at Great Yarmouth in September 1919, with the vessel re-christened DEUTSCHLAND. At the end of the tour, in June 1921 she was taken into dock for stripping at Clover, Clayton Birkenhead, where, on 17th September 1921, an explosion in the engine room killed five apprentices. The hulk was sold to Robert Smith & Son, Birkenhead, for £200 in June 1922, and broken up at Rock Ferry.

The ashtray measures 5.5” (14cm) dimeter and is about 0.5” (1.5cm) high.

It weighs 82g.

Please see my pictures for the details of the condition, which complement this description.

Please see my TERMS OF BUSINESS regarding Deliver Charges and Insurance regarding additional insurance cover, should you require it, BEFORE the item is dispatched.

The responsibility lies with the customer to check with your Customs restrictions that this item can be imported into your country.

Code: 51774