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Krake ZK 14

Krake was a Dutch sailing ship with the identifier ZK 14. It was bought by the German progressive pedagogue, bard and writer Martin Luserke. The former fishery vessel was deployed as his floating poet's workshop.[2] It cruised the shallow coastal regions of The Netherlands, (Germany), Denmark, Southern Norway and Southern Sweden as well as channels and rivers between North Sea and Baltic Sea. In harbours it was visited by a larger quantity of mostly younger people who attended readings and taletellings. Krake became very well-known during 1934 and 1938 and still is a topic in German literature, scientific literature, local museums, libraries,[3] archives,[4] encyclopaedias,[5] and lectures.[6] One of its later well-known visitors was German pilot Beate Uhse.[7]

Krake, 1934–1938
History
miniDutch Republic (1911–1934)
NameEbenhaëzer
NamesakeEben-Ezer
OwnerBetto and Maarten Bolt
Operatordo.
Port of registryZoutkamp, Netherlands
RouteNorth Sea, Wadden Sea, Lauwersmeer
HomeportZoutkamp, Netherlands
IdentificationZK 14 (ex ZK 74)
Fatesold to Germany, 25 February 1934
Statuscommercial fishery vessel
(Germany) (1934–1935)
OwnerMartin Luserke
Operatordo.
Acquired25 February 1934
RenamedKrake
Refitrestoration, new superstructures (wheel house, elevated cabin roof on foredeck), new engine
HomeportJuist, (Germany) (until August 1934)
IdentificationZK 14, call signal DGJC
Statusfloating poet's workshop
Germany (1935–1944)
NameKrake
OwnerMartin Luserke
Operatordo.
HomeportEmden, Germany
IdentificationZK 14
Fatedestroyed by Allied bomb, 18 June 1944, Hamburg-Finkenwerder wharf
General characteristics
Class and typeWadden sailer
TypeBlazer [de; nl][1]
LengthLOD 11 m (36 ft), LOA approx. 16 m (52 ft)
Beam4 m (13 ft)
Height13 m (43 ft) at main mast
Draught0.5–0.8 m (1 ft 8 in – 2 ft 7 in)
Installed power2-cylinder Deutz MDO engine
Propulsion16–20 hp (12–15 kW) auxiliary engine
Sail plan80 m2 (860 sq ft) sail area
Speed6 kn = 11 km/h

History

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Ebenhaëzer ZK 14 (ex ZK 74)

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The Dutch fishery vessel Ebenhaëzer with the identifier ZK 14 (ex ZK 74) was formerly owned by Betto and Maarten Bolt of Zoutkamp, The Netherlands. The ship's original name referred to Eben-Ezer. Between 1911 and 1934 the open Blazer [nl] was used to trawl fish, especially mussels, plaice, prawn and some herring. The ship's early history is not documented in its port of registry or home port.[8] When Luserke bought the ship on 25 February 1934 it had reportedly been laid up for a long time.[9] Despite its construction of solid oak the ship was unkempt and already in a rather shabby condition. On its four-day-conversion tour to East Frisia in Northern Germany the cabin under deck broke down.[10]

Krake ZK 14

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Luserke renamed the ship Krake (= octopus), inspired by many stone jars (in old German language called Kruke) he found aboard. Similarly, the ship's pet parakeet's name was named Kraki, which is a diminutive of Krake, later modified to Karaki.[11]

On wharf in Oldersum, East Frisia, the Blazer ZK 14 was completely restored, renovated and newly developed with superstructures like a wheel house and an elevated cabin roof on its foredeck to gain a bit more headroom for its crew and guests under deck. The vessel also got a new 2-cylinder Deutz engine. The ship's former identifier ZK 14 was inherited on its gaff sail while the identification on both sides of its bow was overwritten by its new name Krake. The vessel was partly painted white but its flat floor plate was painted in black. Any metal panelling was silvery.[12]

On Sunday, 15 July 1934, the ship was ready for the maiden voyage with its all-new engine. Martin Luserke and his fifteen-year-old son Dieter (1918–2005) boarded in Oldersum and went back to their home on the island Juist, which is one of the sandbanks which delimit the Wadden Sea. Dieter had been sailing since the age of six, and already had basic sailing skills.[13] In September 1934 Luserke registered his ship in Emden, East Frisia, which became the ship's new home port. Its registration shows an incorrect typification as a Tjalk.[14] The reason for it might be the ship's modification with superstructures which a Blazer typically lacks. However, Blazer and Tjalk are still not identical.[15][16]

Martin Luserke was dedicated to the fine arts but also possessed a hands-on mentality. In 1906 he was co-founder of Freie Schulgemeinde Wickersdorf ("Free School Community of Wickersdorf") in Thuringia and in 1925 had founded Schule am Meer ("School by the Sea") on Juist Island, both progressive boarding schools, the latter with the motto education by sea.[17] He enabled his pupils to learn about sailing with the school's own sail boats (dinghy cruisers) or to signal using the flag alphabet. One of his educational goals was to encourage his pupils to develop earthiness, comradeship and a sense of team responsibility, leading to an autonomous personality. The latter turned out to be incompatible with Nazism. (See Volksgemeinschaft)

 
ZK 14 (left) in its former state, deployed by Dutch fishermen, in the harbour of Zoutkamp, The Netherlands

In spring 1934 Luserke's school had to close against the background of "Gleichschaltung" (Nazification) and Antisemitism. Martin's wife Annemarie had died in 1926, so he asked the youngest of his four children if he wanted to follow him at sea.[18] With a talented teacher as father his son Dieter felt he could easily quit school.[19]

To prepare, his son went aboard the 100-ton-sailship "Ostfriesland" (East Frisia) which anchored near Juist at that time, until July 1934. In 1931 his father had already completed a mate's certificate in Leer, East Frisia. Until August 1934 father and son both used Juist as their home port whilst school matters had to be cleared.

 
Luserkes 4th Denmark trip route in 1936 starting in Kiel-Holtenau circling Zealand (Copenhagen) and passing Hiddensee, Rügen, Stralsund harbour, Fehmarn, Heiligenhafen to its destination Kappeln

Later their trips with Krake went from the Dutch West Frisian Islands along the German East Frisian Islands and North Frisian Islands to Denmark, Norway, Sweden and the German islands in the Baltic Sea like Fehmarn, Hiddensee and Rügen, through Dutch, German and Danish channels, rivers and lakes like Lake Schwerin where they once spent the winter.[20]

Krake became well-known in the harbours since the ship was neither used for commercial fishery nor for cargo which was rather uncommon at that time of economic uncertainty. Younger people especially felt attracted to the readings and tale-telling aboard Krake. Luserke's stories developed with each telling, adapting according to listeners' reactions, and were finally written down. He had a typewriter and a small book inventory aboard.[21]

 
Martin Luserke aboard Krake
 
Sketch based on a drawing from 1936/37
 
Dieter and Martin Luserke aboard Krake

Another reason for the ship's reputation depicted an unusual decoration of its inner cabin walls. Harbourmasters and Customs officers who had to inspect the ship worked up curiosity for those strange figurative to symbolical carvings. Luserke created them during his time as POW in France between 1917 and 1918. They added to the theatrical effects of Luserke's taletelling and readings in a similar way than harsh weather conditions or the pounding of the waves against the ship's body. Luserke's use of ancient Norse and Breton myths and legends as well as dramatic ghost and Klabautermann stories from the coast provoked a certain thrill. The prestigious writer Carl Zuckmayer who felt an antipathy for him, regarded Luserke as "of extensive phantasy, originality, capability at the highest stage" with a tremendous talent "of artistics, especially theatric".[22][23]

His former pupils from Thuringia and Juist Island as well as teacher colleagues came aboard but also unknown guests like hitchhikers who attended the ship for free trips. Luserke integrated them in the daily work aboard which revealed his pedagogic background. One of his young guests aboard who later became well-known was Beate Uhse.[24] In her memoirs she wrote about Luserke as her most favourite teacher characterizing him as "appreciative", "generous" and "full of wit".[25]

The city of Emden fascinated Luserke, so there he rented a flat for himself and his son to hibernate.[26] He explored the city's library and archive for his historical research. Several of Luserke's books were written in Emden and its Falderndelft harbour, which went on became bestsellers during the 1930s and 1940s. In 1935 Luserke was awarded with Literaturpreis der Reichshauptstadt Berlin for his novel Hasko which reflects two historic sea battles of the Dutch Watergeuzen near Ameland Island and Emden.[27] The press became interested when in 1935 an Austrian press photographer came aboard for a home story.[28]

Luserke developed a very special relation to his fictional book Obadjah and the ZK 14 which incorporates his ship and those many empty stone jars originally meant for hard liquor which he had found aboard.[29] Despite the Antisemitism of that time the name of his character Obadjah (Hebrew עובדיה) as fictional former ship-owner originates from the major-domo of Jewish king Ahab.[30][31] Obadjah is also a tenor soloist role in Felix Mendelssohn's oratorio Elijah, Op. 70, MWV A 25 so any Nazi with knowledge of classical music would have been able to recognize this connection. Some of Luserke's other books also include the ship and his own impressions.[32][33][34]

At the end of 1938 Luserke had to stop his trips due to foreign currency shortage of German Reich which led to a blocking of operating fluids and supplies for private vessels.[35] He went off board with rheumatic disorder and later settled in Meldorf, Holstein, where he continued his tale-tellings, writings and community theatre successfully.[36][37][38][39]

On 18 June 1944 Krake was completely destroyed when an Allied bomb struck the wharf in Hamburg-Finkenwerder.[40]

Literature

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  • Martin Kiessig: Die alte ZK 14. Zu Besuch auf einer schwimmenden Dichterwerkstatt, in: Martin Luserke. Gestalt und Werk. Versuch einer Wesensdeutung. Philosophical doctor's thesis, University of Leipzig, J. Särchen Verlag, Baruth/Mark 1936.
  • Martin Luserke: Logbücher der Krake, 1934–1939.
  • idem: Der Teufel unter der ZK 14 as part of the anthology Der kleine Schühss – Ein Buch von der Wattenküste, incl. drawings by Karl Stratil (1894–1963). Rolf Italiaander (1913–1991) (Ed.), epilogue by Martin Kiessig (1907–1994). Verlag Gustav Weise, Leipzig 1935.
  • idem: Obadjah und die ZK 14 oder Die fröhlichen Abenteuer eines Hexenmeisters. Ludwig-Voggenreiter-Verlag, Potsdam 1936.
  • idem: Krake kreuzt im Nordmeer – Logbuch 1937, incl. drawings by Willy Thomsen. Verlag Philipp Reclam jun., Leipzig 1937.
  • idem: Das Logbuch der Krake, incl. drawings by Dieter Evers. Ludwig-Voggenreiter-Verlag, Potsdam 1937. (new edition: ISBN 978-7-00-005031-0)
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Krake ZK 14.

References

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  1. ^ acc. to Ole Pfeiler (Osterholz-Scharmbeck, Germany), trustee for flat bottomed ships of Schiffshistorisches Archiv Flensburg, 14 August 2017.
  2. ^ Dr. Martin Kiessig: Die alte ZK 14 – Zu Besuch auf einer schwimmenden Dichterwerkstatt. In: Martin Luserke. Gestalt und Werk. Versuch einer Wesensdeutung. Philosophical Dissertation (doctor's thesis), University of Leipzig, Germany, published by J. Särchen Verlag, Berlin 1936.
  3. ^ Krake. Johannes a Lasco Bibliothek (library) in Emden, East Frisia, Germany.
  4. ^ Krake Archived 1 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Schiffshistorisches Archiv (historic ship's archive), Flensburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
  5. ^ Albrecht Sauer: Martin Luserke. Series: The Oxford Encyclopedia of Maritime History. Oxford University Press, 2007. ISBN 978-0195130751.
  6. ^ Die Lebensfahrt des Martin Luserke, lecture by Professor Kurt Sydow on the occasion of the 100st birthday of Martin Luserke, 3 May 1980, published as Die Lebensfahrt eines großen Erzählers – Martin Luserke (1880–1968), in: Jahrbuch des Archivs der deutschen Jugendbewegung Vol. 12, 1980.
  7. ^ Iris Hellmich: Auf den Spuren des Schriftstellers Martin Luserke. In: Wochenmagazin der Emder Zeitung, series: Emder erzählen, episode No. 127, 5 July 1997.
  8. ^ Archive of Visserijmuseum Zoutkamp (fishery museum), The Netherlands: Registration Card of Z.K. 14 Ebenhaëzer (ex Z.K. 74). Personal inquiry and photo by Daan Oostindiën of Zoutkamp, 9 August 2017.
  9. ^ Iris Hellmich: Auf den Spuren des Schriftstellers Martin Luserke, published by: Emder Zeitung, weekly magazine, Series: Emder erzählen (sequence 127), 5 July 1997.
  10. ^ Dieter Luserke: Mit meinem Vater Martin Luserke an Bord des guten Schiffes KRAKE-ZK 14 (1988)
  11. ^ Dieter Luserke: Mit meinem Vater Martin Luserke an Bord des guten Schiffes KRAKE-ZK 14 (1988)
  12. ^ Dieter Luserke: Mit meinem Vater Martin Luserke an Bord des guten Schiffes KRAKE-ZK 14 (1988)
  13. ^ Dieter Luserke: Mit meinem Vater Martin Luserke an Bord des guten Schiffes KRAKE-ZK 14 (1988)
  14. ^ NLA AU, Rep. 239, Nr. A 316 Titel: Tjalk Krake – Juist, Laufzeit: 1934–1950, Klassifikation TeilB: krake, GEOB: Juist, Krake, Tjalk Archived 30 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine. State Archive of Lower Saxony, Aurich, East Frisia.
  15. ^ Coen van Oostrom: Ronde en Platbodems – Schepen en Jachten. De Alk B. V., Alkmaar 1988. ISBN 90-6013-968-2, p. 105f.
  16. ^ R. Martens & F. Loomeijer: Binnenvaartschepen. Uitgeverij de Alk, Alkmaar 1977. ISBN 90-6013-692-6.
  17. ^ Prof. Dr. Jörg W. Ziegenspeck: Martin Luserke – Notizen zu Leben und Werk des Reformpädagogen, lecture from 9 October 1988.
  18. ^ Dieter Luserke: Mit meinem Vater Martin Luserke an Bord des guten Schiffes KRAKE-ZK 14 (1988)
  19. ^ Dieter Luserke: Mit meinem Vater Martin Luserke an Bord des guten Schiffes KRAKE-ZK 14 (1988)
  20. ^ Dieter Luserke: Mit meinem Vater Martin Luserke an Bord des guten Schiffes KRAKE-ZK 14 (1988)
  21. ^ Dieter Luserke: Mit meinem Vater Martin Luserke an Bord des guten Schiffes KRAKE-ZK 14 (1988)
  22. ^ Geheimreport (advance publication), in: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, 14 February 2002.
  23. ^ Gunther Nickel, Johanna Schrön (Ed.): Geheimreport. Wallstein, Göttingen 2002, ISBN 978-3-89244-599-9, p. 160.
  24. ^ Picture (undated): Martin Luserke (left), his former pupil Beate Köstlin (after marriage: Beate Uhse) and teacher Erne Wehnert (right) from Schule am Meer on Juist Island (later teaching in Ahrenshoop) aboard Krake.
  25. ^ Beate Uhse: Mit Lust und Liebe – Mein Leben. Ullstein Verlag, Frankfurt and Berlin 1989. ISBN 3-550-06429-2, pp. 53–55.
  26. ^ Acc. to his son Dieter Luserke he rented a flat near Falderndelft harbour in Emden at 4, Beuljenstrasse.
  27. ^ Martin Luserke: Hasko – Ein Wassergeusen-Roman. Franz-Eher-Verlag, Munich 1936. (new edition: ISBN 978-3-922117-99-5)
  28. ^ Press picture: Dieter Luserke (1918–2005) aboard Krake in 1935, published by: periodical Die Dame, Vol. 24 (September 1935), photographer: Lothar Rübelt.
  29. ^ Martin Luserke: Obadjah und die ZK 14 oder Die fröhlichen Abenteuer eines Hexenmeisters. Ludwig Voggenreiter Verlag, Potsdam 1936.
  30. ^ Karl Wilhelm Justi: Der Prophet Obadjah, in: Library of Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany.
  31. ^ Der Prophet Owadjah
  32. ^ Martin Luserke: Krake kreuzt im Nordmeer – Logbuch 1937, incl. drawings by Willy Thomsen (1898–1969). Verlag Philipp Reclam jun., Leipzig 1937.
  33. ^ Martin Luserke: Das Logbuch des guten Schiffs Krake DGIC von seiner vierten Dänemark-Fahrt 1936 nach Holtenau, rund um Seeland über Stralsund nach Kappeln (Schleswig) zurück, incl. drawings by Dieter Evers. Ludwig Voggenreiter Verlag, Potsdam 1937. (new edition: ISBN 978-7-00-005031-0)
  34. ^ Martin Luserke: Der Teufel unter der ZK 14 as part of the anthology Der kleine Schühss – Ein Buch von der Wattenküste, incl. drawings by Karl Stratil (1894–1958). Rolf Italiaander (1913–1991) (Ed.), epilogue by Martin Kiessig (1907–1994). Verlag Gustav Weise, Leipzig 1935.
  35. ^ Karl-Ulrich Meves: Martin Luserke, in: Mitteilungen 108 (2006), Vereinigung ehemaliger Schüler und der Lehrer der Meldorfer Gelehrtenschule e. V. (Ed.), pp. 33–41.
  36. ^ Radio Interview about Meldorfer Spielweise with Martin Luserke, Alice Witt, Dr. Kurt Reiche (director of Meldorfer Gelehrtenschule), Prof. Otto Haase (Ministry of Culture and Education of Schleswig-Holstein State), Dr. Herbert Giffei (pedagogue from Oldenburg), Norddeutscher Rundfunk 1952, 9:53 mins.
  37. ^ Radio Interview with Martin Luserke, Norddeutscher Rundfunk 1962, 3:22 mins.
  38. ^ Dr. Kurt Reiche: Martin Luserke zum Gedächtnis, in: Mitteilungen 33 (1968), Vereinigung ehemaliger Schüler und der Lehrer der Meldorfer Gelehrtenschule e. V. (Ed.), Meldorf 1968, pp. 13–17.
  39. ^ Heinke Baumgartner-Brandt: Erinnerungen an die Luserke-Zeit, in: Mitteilungen 82 (1993), Vereinigung ehemaliger Schüler und der Lehrer der Meldorfer Gelehrtenschule e. V. (Ed.), Meldorf 1993, pp. 6–8.
  40. ^ Ole Pfeiler: Krake Archived 1 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine, Schiffshistorisches Archiv Flensburg
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