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Seetransportgesellschaft mbH (German Shipping Company)

image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 7 Jul 2012

Seetransportgesellschaft mbH
Deutsche Rhederei GmbH

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Seetransportgesellschaft mbH

Seetransportgesellschaft was an attempt of the so called princes' group to gain a foothold in Hamburg's shipping scene at the beginning of the 20th century. The company is remarkable insofar, as she was the first in the legal from of a GmbH (~= Ltd.). Two princes of Hohenlohe and the prince of Fürstenberg were bankers and owners of warehouses in Berlin. They established the company probably in 1907 (registered from 1908 until 1913). Manager was Rob E. Loesener, a member of the Sloman family. Loesener and the princes bought shares of the Sloman company DR Union until they held 75%. It was the beginning of an obscure swapping of vessels between various companies. Albert Ballin, who had become meanwhile a member of the board, dropped his seat in 1909. The story of Seetransport GmbH is the story of a permanent crisis.
In the Hamburg scene there also was a permanent mistrust against the princes originated in the South. As the company was accused for having promised to sell a fleet to two new "owners", the end was near. This action was considered to be a non-hanseatic behaviour and nobody was unhappy to get rid of a company playing such an unfamous role.
The flag was red with a white lozenge nearly touching the edges. In the lozenge was a white phoenix.
Source: Otto Mathies: "Hamburgs Reederei 1814 - 1914", Hamburg 1924, pp.189ff. ,p. 220
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 7 Jul 2012

Deutsche Rhederei GmbH

image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 7 Jul 2012

This company was the ephemeral successor of the Seetransport GmbH. It was in the shipping companies register just in 1913. The flag was red with a white lozenge nearly touching the edges. In the lozenge was a red phoenix. In both lower corners was a white 5-point star , in the upper hoist corner a white initial "D", in the upper fly corner a white initial "R".
Source: Otto Mathies: "Hamburgs Reederei 1814 - 1914", Hamburg 1924, pp.189ff. ,p. 222
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 7 Jul 2012

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