This is a studio photograph taken in Kiel, Germany about 1907-08. It shows a sailor ("Matrose") named Ludwig Krauss.

He wears standard German naval uniform as worn by other ranks from the 1870's until 1918. He has a dark blue woollen cap (see right) with an imperial cockade and black cap tally with a yellow (or white) metallic inscription showing the name of his ship- "S.M.S. PREUSSEN". His shirt is the blue woollen winter naval top ("Wollenes Hemd" or woollen shirt) with removable naval collar in a lighter shade of blue with three white stripes (see right). The collar is tucked into a black neckerchief at the front, tied with white cord. He would almost certainly have been wearing matching dark blue trousers worn loose over black boots.

Ludwig Krauss was one of several brothers from Munich who served in the German army and navy during the Imperial period. Ludwig served in the navy aboard SMS Preussen in about 1907-08. He emigrated to America before the First World War broke out.

A postcard of SMS Preussen
sent by Ludwig Krauss
Photo © Dixie Krauss