German WWII Souvenir Life Ring,
This item is listed for historical interest only. It was listed on our site previously but has been sold and is no longer available for purchase.
Sold for: $85.00

Original era manufacture. Miniature lifering or lifebuoy named to the Linienschiff Schlesien. SMS Schlesien was a Deutschland class, Pre-Dreadnaught battleship, launched in 1904, she saw combat during the early years of WWI and limited action during the Battle of Jutland in 1916. She also saw limited action during WWII, striking a mine in May of 1945 transporting German wounded. She was beached to avoid sinking and scrapped after the end of the war. The lifebuoy measures 6.5 inches across with red/white paint and white hand lettering. An interesting story accompanies this little relic. According to the collector from whom we purchased it, he in turn, purchased it from an individual, who as a young boy, was given it as a gift by a crewman of the Cruiser Prinz Eugen after the end of WWII. It was removed from the Prinz Eugen as she was being prepared for departure for the Pacific and the Bikini Atomic Bomb tests.