The Naming Ceremony as the Moment of Birth of Wilhelmshaven

On the morning of 17 June 1869, the Prussian King Wilhelm I (1797–1888) arrives at the Jade. In decorated streets, he is greeted by the population and naval detachments. He is accompanied by many notable personalities. They include the Grand Duke of Oldenburg Peter II. (1827–1900) and Prince Adalbert of Prussia (1811–1873).

When he arrives at the port entrance, the King is greeted by a salute from the German and British warships that are present. The baptismal ceremony takes place at the head of the northern pier. The actual naming is done by the Prussian Minister of War Albrecht von Roon (1803–1879). His speech ends with the words: “I thus declare, by the power of the royal order that has been issued to me, that from this moment on, this port and the city that is coming into being with it shall be called ‘Wilhelmshaven’, will be called ‘Wilhelmshaven’ for all time.“

 

The Former Second Port Entrance

The so-called former second port entrance is the first sea lock to be completed in Wilhelmshaven. It comes into being in the first phase of the port’s construction, following plans presented in 1856 by the hydraulic engineer Gotthilf Hagen (1797–1884). Although it is already partially functional in 1869, it first officially comes into operation in 1870. The port entrance soon proves to be inadequate. It is unfavorably positioned in relation to current of the Jade, and already upon completion, the very small entry gates make it difficult for the modern warships of the time to pass through. After the Second World War, the sea lock is blown up. Today, what remains of the entrance are the 180-meter-long turning basin and the piers towering above the Jade.

 

The naming takes place under a canopy made of leaves at the head of the northern pier. There are no extant photographs of the ceremony.

Quelle: Stadtarchiv Wilhelmshaven

 

An armored frigate passes through the narrow lock gates of the port entrance.

Quelle: Stadtarchiv Wilhelmshaven

 

The port and sea lock facilities were built between 1856 and 1869, principally thanks to the muscle of thousands of workers.

Quelle: Stadtarchiv Wilhelmshaven

 

This commemorative sheet from 1894 shows the port entrance and the ships present on the day of the naming ceremony.

Quelle: Stadtarchiv Wilhelmshaven

 

The nascent port city is festively decorated for the celebrations in the presence of the King. Two gates of honor were erected above the current Ebertstraße.

Quelle: Stadtarchiv Wilhelmshaven