German shipping companies purchasing merchant ships abroad in first 4 months of 1939

The American Naval attaché at Berlin reported on 10 August 1939 No. R-500 referring to German shipping literature when he wrote that German private shipping companies purchased just three merchant ships from foreign companies during January-February 1939. In March-April however were 23 ships bought. He discussed this phenomenon with another attaché who said that his government was aware and regarded it a German attempt to form a ‘war reserve’ of ships. The attaché made a list of the 23 ships noticing that most were rather old.

Mantilla-steam tanker-5,671 BRT-built in 1916-purchased from Norway-renamed Nordmeer

Mendocino-steam tanker-6,921 BRT-built in 1917-purchased from Norway-renamed Karibisches Meer

Prinsdal-motor ship-3,000 BRT-built in 1939-purchased from Norway-renamed Arrensburg

Rose-motor ship-3,039 BRT-built in 1938,-purchased from Norway-renamed Alstertor

Vrator-motor ship-3,053 BRT-built in 1938-purchased from Norway-renamed Angelsburg

Anonymous-motor ship-3,200 BRT-under construction in 1939-purchased from Sweden

M.C. Holm-steamship-2,814 BRT-built in 1924-purchased from Denmark-renamed Irmtraut Cords

Ilves-steamship-1599 BRT-built in 1930-purchased from Finland-renamed Gluckkunf

Mount Helmos-steamship-6,481 BRT-purchased from Greece-built in 1923-renamed Berkersheim

Mount Esso-steamship-5,252 BRT-built in1919-purchased from Greece-renamed Robert Bornhofem

Vassos-steamship-4,7333 BRT-built in 1912-purchased from Greece-renamed Paulina Friederich

Dienstaffnage-steamship-4,525 BRT-built in 1922-purchased from Scotland-renamed Magdalene Vinnen

Essex Envoy-steamship-5,210 BRT-built in 1922, purchased from England-renamed Hermod

Laleham-steamship-4,818 BRT-built in 1915, purchased from England-renamed Harm Fritzen

Meopham-steamship-4,330 BRT, built in 1916, purchased from England-renamed Antje Fritzen

Peakham-steamship-4,465 BRT-built in 1912, purchased from England-renamed Jurgen Fritzen

Starbridge-steam tanker-5,863 BRT-built in 1917, purchased from England-renamed Eurofeld

Friesland-steamship-1,029 BRT-built in 1904, purchased from Lithuania-kept name

Holland-steamship-991 BRT, purchased from Lithuania-kept name

Gotland-steamship-990 BRT-built in 1913-purchased from Lithuania-kept name

Heroy-steamship-3,323 BRT-built in 1921-purchased from Norway-renamed Iris

Sir Karl Knudsen-motor tanker-7,747 BRT-built in 1928-purchased from Norway-renamed Charlotte Schliemann

Acme-steamship-2,864 BRT-built in 1919-purchased from Panama-renamed Tilsit

Source

National Archives USA. Record Group 38: Records of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. Series: Secret Naval Attaches Reports. selected naval attaché reports relating to the world crisis, 1937-1943. Probability of an Outbreak of War (pt.). Berlin. Roll M975-003.