*Original, German, Third Reich, ‘SEEFAHRT’ Day of German Seafaring, Badge – 1935*
This piece is constructed out of a die struck, aluminum alloy base that has been silver washed and lacquered. The obverse depicts a sailing ship breaking through the waves, below an NSDAP national eagle (clutching a wreathed swastika within its talons), above the bottom of an anchor and is all surrounded by “Tag Der Deutschen Seefahr 25, 26 5 1935” and “Seefahrt Ist Not”, marked on the reverse: “J. Dinnebier Nache Ludenscheid.”, DIMENSIONS: 45 x 41 mm
HISTORY OF THE BADGE:
Day of German Seafaring Badge / 1935 – The nazis took the “Seefahrt is not” motto as a propaganda-concept. It was based upon a novel from Gorch Fock: Seefahrt ist Not, which could be translated as shipping is necessity. Fock in fact was Johann Kinau, who wrote this most read book. There even existed a national-socialist magazine with this title, meant for sailor’s (Deutsche Seefahrer). The motto came from Navigare necesse est, vivere non (Shipping is a necessity, life is not). While the quote “Seefahrt ist not” was popularized by Gorch Fock’s eponymous novel and will forever be associated with him, its roots are actually much older: It is attributed to the Roman military and political leader Pompey. Responsible for supplying rome with grain, he had it imported by sea from many mediterranean locations. On one occasion, when the sailors did not want to set to sea due to an approaching storm, Pompey called out to them: “Navigare necesse est, vivere non est necesse”, roughly meaning “To go to sea is necessary, to live is not necessary”. This Latin quote still adorns the portal of the Haus der Seefahrt [House of Seafaring] in Bremen. Also, it is worth noting that the quote “Seefahrt is not” is ambiguous to German ears. It can also be understood as “Seefahrt ist Not”, meaning “Seafaring is hardship”.
*Condition*
The badge is in very good condition. See photographs for details.
JAQBC_4617118344
