GERMAN EMPIRE
MISCELLANEOUS
POSTCARDS
1916
The 1916 postcard page has now been split into four separate pages as it was beginning to get unwieldy. All 1916 Official postcards are now on this page. Official postcards are cards that were issued by the Reich’s post office, had pre-printed (indicia) stamps and were widely available throughout German towns and cities.
Secondly Printed to Private Order postcards are postcards that were generally issued by entities that were advertising an event or commemorating an anniversary, and also had pre-printed stamps, but were not widely available throughout Germany (most were only available at the event they were commemorating).
Thirdly Other postcards are postcards that fall into the same general category as printed to private order however they do not have pre-printed stamps.
Finally, Miscellaneous postcards is where you will find postcards that do not fit into the first three categories (i.e. they are not official, they do not have pre-printed stamps, and they do not commemorate an event).
Quick Links:LUDENDORF, TRUE LOVE, EAGLE WITH FLAG, O'DEUTSCHLAND, BREAD, SOLDIERS RELAXING, HORSING AROUND, U-BOAT, DEIN IST MEIN HERS, THE FIRST KISS, SOLDIER'S FAREWELL, OUR FIELDGREY, THE HOUR HAS COME, ATTACK, A BOWL OF SOUP, LOVE TO THE GRAVE and REUNITED
GENERAL LUDENDORF PORTRAIT
(16th Feb 1916)
This patriotic postcard shows an artist's impression of German Fieldmarshall Ludendorf
TREUE LIEBE!
(20th Feb 1916)
This patriotic postcard is entitled 'Treue Liebe' - 'True Love' and is a very typical example of a romanticised postcards used at the beginning of the First World War. The image shows a hearbroken woman bididng farewell to her husband / lover as he departs for the war. The German text reads "'Treue Liebe!' Stirbt Blum' und Hoffnung gleich. Wir sind an Liebe reich, Denn die stirbt nie bei mir Das glaube mir." I don't know the meaning of the word 'Blum', but it likely means flowers and could be a shortened version of the word 'blume' making the translation 'True love!' Flowers and hope die the same. We are rich in love, Because she never dies with me, Believe me.'
The reverse of this postcard is cancelled "BRESLAU 20.2.16" but there is no stamp and no Feldpost marking. The bottom left has a rising sun logo with the letters 'R & K L' and the word 'Serie 2719/6' indicating this postcard was No.6 in a series numbered 2719.
DER DEUTSCHE WAR UND IST IMMERBEREIT
ZUM SIEGEN UND STERBEN IN ERNSTER ZEIT
(14th Mar 1916)
O' DEUTSCHLAND
(30th Apr 1916)
This patriotic postcard is entitled 'O' Deutschland' and depicts a group of German soldiers on the battlefield. The inscription reads "Es sind die alten Schwerter noch, Es ist das deutsche Herz, Man zwingt sie nimmermehr ins Joch, Sie dauern aus wie Erz, Haltet aus im Sturmgebraus" roughly translated as 'They are still the old swords, It is the German heart, One never forces them into the yoke anymore, They last like ore, Hold out in storm-storm'.
There is another example of an O' Germany postcard sent on 1st May 1915.
The reverse of this postcard has a red Feldpost label and the postmark is dated 30th april 1916. I don't know much about this postcard or the contents unfortunately. There is a serial number, 1494, and a green flag with the initials M.B.L in the lower left of the reverse of this postcard.
BREAD
(5th May 1916)
This postcard features two rather well fed German soldiers holding loafs of bread.
The reverse of this postcard has a Feldpost label and the postmark is dated 5th May 1916.
GERMAN SOLDIERS RELAXING at the FRONT
(10th Jun 1916)
HORSING AROUND
(19th Jun 1916)
Here a group of soldiers have a little downtime during a lull in the fighting. The caption reads "565 Deutsche Kraftfahrer haben in einer russ. Stadt ein lebensgrosses Holzpferd vorgefunden, welches zum Scherz und Zeitvertreib dient" - translated as '565 German motorists have found a life-size wooden horse in a Russian city, which serves as a joke and pastime'. I guess it wasn't all bad for the soldiers on the Russian front.
The reverse of this postcard has a Feldpost Nr 209 cancel from 19th Jun 1916. There is also an additional postmark which needs more research.
UNTERSEEBOAT KLAR XUM TAUCHEN
(25th Jun 1916)
DEIN IST MEIN HERS
(27th Jun 1916)
DER ERSTE KUSS
(29th Jul 1916)
BEHUT DICH GOTT
AUF LIEBES WIEDERSEHN
(27th Sep 1916)
UNSERE FELDGRAUEN
(30th Sep 1916)
The message is another one of the war and its effect on the population. In this case it appears to show a soldier returning to his family rather than leaving them for the war. The text reads "In der heimat, in der Heimat, da gibt's ein Wiedersehn!" which translates as 'In the homeland, in the homeland, there is a reunion!'.
The reverse of this postcard has a feldpost cancel dated 30.9.16 and was sent to Roth near Nürnburg in Bavaria, southern Germany. There is an inscription on the top left that says "Verein für das Deutschtum im ausland E.V "Unsere feldgrauen" . Soldaten liederpostkarte No.7 von Paul Hen "In der heimat da gibt's ein Wiedersehn ..." - 'Association for German's abroad E.V "Our Field Gray". Soldiers song postcard No.7 by Paul Hen "In the homeland there's a reunion ...'.
The bottom left has the printers details '20733 Geschӓftstelle: Berlin W62, Kurfürstenstraβe 105.
HORCH, DIE STUNDE HAT GESCHLAGEN
(14th Oct 1916)
This postcard shows a soldier leaving his wife to join his comrades on the way to war. The inscription reads "5. Horch, die Stunde hat geschlagen, Komm noch einmal an mein Herz! Zittre nicht, hor' auf zu klagen; Wiedersehen stillt den Schmerz" - '5. Listen, the hour has struck, come once more to my heart! Do not be tempted to stop complaining; Goodbye quenches the pain.'
The reverse of this postcard also has a feldpost cancel but dated 14.10.16 and was sent to Roth near Nürnburg in Bavaria, southern Germany. There is an inscription on the top left that says "Verein für das Deutschtum im ausland E.V "Unsere feldgrauen" . Soldaten liederpostkarte No.7 von Paul Hen "In der heimat da gibt's ein Wiedersehn ..." - 'Association for German's abroad E.V "Our Field Gray". Soldiers song postcard No.7 by Paul Hen "In the homeland there's a reunion ...'.
The bottom left has the printers details '20733 Geschӓftstelle: Berlin W62, Kurfürstenstraβe 105.
GERMAN SOLDIERS ATTACK a BUILDING
(10th Nov 1916)
DA DENK' ICH AN MEIN FERNES LIEB
(19th Nov 1916)
TREUE LIEBE BIS ZUM GRABE
(19th Dec 1916)
GERMAN SOLDIER REUNITED with his FAMILY
SCULPTURE
(24th Dec 1916)
