Author: Sammi Fahnestock

This booklet was prepared in 1904 for those emigrating from Germany and other
Central European nations through the port of Hamburg. In addition to an outline
of the facilities, there is also a chart listing the yearly number of persons traveling
with the ships of this company between 1831 and 1903 as well as the number of
trips made by the ships of the Hamburg-Amerika Line each year. On average
between 700 and 1,000 ships departed for America each year in the latter half of
the 19th century, with the number of passengers reaching yearly highs of 141,000
in 1891 and 144,000 in 1903.

The facilities in the Waiting Halls included cafeterias, a medical station, two
hotels, baths, disinfection stations, as well as a Catholic chapel, an Evangelical
Lutheran chapel and a Jewish synagogue.

Picture 1: Quarters in Paris.
The German force advances victorious in all
And on the far horizon, the towers of Paris call.
But the French have forts that ring the city; they’re there at every pass
Their fire slows our way ahead, but we take them all at last.
In Paris we find a place to stay, as nice as can be found,
And rest, and play, write letters home that tell of our renown.

Picture 2: Paris.
And when the forts were taken, we stood upon their heights
We saw with awe the magnificence of Paris big and bright.
There it lies with all its towers, that proud and glorious name,
We looked for hours upon it and will never be the same.
Hans hears his heart beat stronger, he senses the goal is near.
He waves his helmet above him and lets out a joyous cheer.

Picture 3: Good Camaraderie.
But on the way to Paris there’s fighting all the way
And many a young man with his life does pay.
Even Hans is sorely wounded and sinks then to the ground
But a rider pulls him from the field and makes him safe and sound.
When the wound is partly healed, Hans will wait no more.
He takes his gun and hurries back to fight in this glorious war.

Picture 4: Christmastime Before Paris
The fighting never seems to end, as Christmastime is near.
But then a pause and quiet reigns, which now we hold quite dear.
In enemy land Hans will celebrate the Yuletide
With a little tree and all his comrades at his side.
When he looks at the twinkling lights, he feels a bit of sorrow
And thinks of home where he wishes he were tomorrow.
Picture 5: Fighting the Partisans.

But the war continues its bloody and goes on far and wide
And worst of all, new enemies appear on every side.
Even the farmers in some locales take part in the fight
They shoot at us most cowardly while hiding out of sight.
And sometimes Hans is the target of their play,
But he fears them not and always can chase them away.

Picture 6: Bloody Payback.
Hans was once attacked by such a band and to them a lesson he did teach.
He fought bravely and beat every one of them within his reach.
Despite their numbers he chased them away
And takes their leader captive, taking him to the general.
He’s then taken to the camp where justice is met
And the cowardly murderer meets his end.

Picture 1: On Reconnaissance.
Hans and his comrades go farther and farther in enemy lands,
But in face of the Germans the French do not stand.
Hans tries to find them and hurries ahead
Through forest, towns and houses he treads.
Then finally near Spichern in the early morning light
He finds the French entrenched and ready for a fight.

Picture 2: Storming the Spicherer Hills.
He tells his commander what he has found,
The troops rejoice, great joy abounds,And soon the Germans will the French engage
In Spichern where they’ll show their rage.
They bravely cut a path uphill
With their guns and with their iron will
At the front of the fight little Hans we can see
Leading the troops to victory!

Picture 3: A Glorious Victory.
High atop the Spichern hills the fighting rages on
With bayonet and rifle butt until the fight is won.
The Germans’ blows are hard and cause the French to flee
They run downhill and seek to hide below among the trees.
The Germans fire after them, then fire once again,
“The battle is won! Victory is ours!” proclaim the German men.

Picture 4: Requisitioning in the Villages.
The fleeing enemy is pursued, the victors are close behind,
And on the way of their pursuit an empty town they find.
And then since food is running low they search throughout the town
But usually, despite their work, no foodstuffs can be found.
Our Hans, however, knows the hunt and looks in the right places.
He returns to camp with more supplies to all the happy faces.

Picture 5: Pursuing the Fleeing Enemy.
And so the march continues, the French are still in flight
And though supplies run short, pursuit through day and night.
We chase the red-pants Frenchmen, like hunters stalk their deer,
So far and so relentless, till Paris is quite near.
Hans is now quite happy, the goal is now not far,
He laughs and jokes with his comrades throughout the tiring march.

Picture 6: Bring the Mail to the Troops.
The soldiers are most happy, when the mail from home arrives.
The letters and gifts from home are the passed out to all the smiles.
But since the foe would also like to commandeer these things,
A military escort must accompany all the things we bring.
So Hans must sit there on the wagon, rifle in his hand
And sees to it that the post arrives within the foeman’s land.

Picture 1: During Peacetime.
It’s eighteen hundred seventy, a very stormy year,
And all the signs are pointing that war is drawing near.
And here are two young people, sitting happy as can be,
Within the shaded garden, enjoying a life so free.
It’s little Hans and Trudy, they live in Cologne along the Rhine,
They like to share hot chocolate, they drink it all the time.

Picture 2: Mobilization for War.
When all at once a messenger before them comes and stands,
And gives to little Hansel a pressing telegram.
With wonder Hansel scans the lines and right away he knows
He’s being drafted, that is clear, to the army he must go.
He cries for joy “So now it starts!” Come here, my Trudy, see!
It’s war with France and we will soon be marching to Paris.”

Picture 3: Taking His Leave.
But Trudy can’t help feeling sad, and thinks about the threat
To her dear Hans, she can’t let go, and cries her eyes deep red.
Now, Hans looks forward to the war and packs his things real fast,
Bids Trudy then a fond farewell and hurries off at last.
And when he leaves his love behind, her heart begins to pound,
She prays with eyes both full of tears that he stays safe and sound.

Picture 4: The Troops March Off to War.
Hans makes it to his regiment with many of his friends
He shakes their hand and is happy to see them once again.
In his lieutenant’s uniform he’s really quite a sight,
And ready now, both proud and bold, to move off to the fight.
The soldiers then begin their march with shouts of joy and praise
And all along the marching route in song their voices raise.

Picture 5: Crossing the Border.
As the troops depart their homeland, accompanied by the drums,
They leave behind the ones they love and their beloved homes.
In the sun’s warm rays, on this sunny day, they march across the Rhine
And intone the poem “The Watch on the Rhine” with voices loud and fine.
They soon will cross the border and enter the Frenchman’s land,
And each man holds his rifle a little tighter in his hand.

Picture 6: Standing Guard.
Here in the land of enemies there’s danger all around,
And so we must protect ourselves from traps that do abound.
The guard provides this service and calls out the alarm
When e’er he sees approaching those who could do harm.
Our Hans must guard as others do and does his job right well,
But thinks of Trudy and his home, whereby his heart does swell.

This is an album of trade cards centered around the theme of “Young Germany” or “Germany’s Youth”. It was issued in 1915, after the war had started, but shows many aspects of the prewar youth movement in Germany.

Among the themes shown in the following images are:

– The Boys Scouts
– The Girls Scouts
– The “Wandervogel” Movement