GERMAN EMPIRE
FIRST WORLD WAR
POSTCARDS
KENNT IHR FEUER DER GESCHUTZE
(YOU KNOW THE FIRE OF THE GUNS)
SERIES 959
This set of 6 postcards is very typical of the postcards issued during the First World War. Usually these cards are in sets of 6 cards, all with very similar pictures and a common title, in this case "Kennt ihr Feuer der Geschutze", loosely translated as "You Know the Fire of the Guns".
These cards all feature a German artillery battery preparing to fire their gun.
All 6 cards appear to be sent by the same soldier to someone in 'Kreuznach'? The first 3 cards have a unit stamp inscribed "3 Kompanie | Garde-Landsturm-Bataillon Hagelberg (G.7)", '3 Company | Guards Landstrum Battalion Hagfelberg'. The other 3 cards have a "S.B. | 1.Landst-Fubartl-Btl III A-K | 4 Batterie." Judging by the unit cancels the sender appears to have been part of an Artillery Battery.
No.1
This card is inscribed "Kennt ihr Feuer der Geschutze und der Kanonen Donnerhall? Kennt ihr das krachen der Haubitze, das furchtbar durch die Lufte schallr?" - 'Do you know the fire of the guns and the cannons thunderball? Do you know the crack of the howitzer, which resounds terribly through the air?'
This postcard was written on 9th Feb 1916 and presumably posted soon after. There is a violet coloured stamp "Geprüft und zu befördern" which appears to be a censorship stamp 'Checked and Promoted' indicating that the card had passed the censor and was acceptable to be sent and did not violate any military restrictions. There was also a circular version of this stamp.
No.2
This card is inscribed "Die Bombe platzt mit lautem krachen, kartätschen sausen durch die Luft, und der Geschütze schwarzer Rauchen reibt ganze Glieder durch die Luft!" - 'The bomb bursts with a loud crack, cartridges rush through the air, and the black smoke gun sends whole limbs through the air!'
This card was sent on the 14th Feb 1916 and has a shortened version of the "Geprüft und zu befördern" stamp "Geprüft" shown above and simply states "Checked".
No.3
"Auf solche Artillerie kann bauen der Kaiser und das Vaterland." - 'The emperor and the fatherland can rely on such artillery.'
This card was sent on 5th Feb 1916 and has the same cancellations as card No.2 above.
No.4
This card is inscribed "Sie Steht bei ihm mit Vertrauen, sie steht ihm bei mit starker Hand; und treu wohl bis zum Tode ist der brave deutsche Artilleris" - 'She stands with him with confidence, she stands with him with a strong hand; and the good German artilleryman is faithful until death'
This card was written on 25th Feb 1916 and has a different unit stamp, this time "S.B. | 1.Landst-Fuβartl-Btl III A-K | 4 Batterie". I dont know if the sender's original unit was renamed or he was transfered to another unit.
No.5
This card has the inscription "Wollt ihr unsere Farben wissen? Rot ist das blut und schwarz der Tod! Und darum wir auch tragen müssen an der Montierung schwarz und rot." - 'Do you want to know our colors? Red is blood and black is death! And that's why we have to wear black and red on the hill.'
Very similar to the card above, this one was dated 19th Mar 1916 and has the same unit and censor stamp.
No.6
This final card bears the inscription "Am schwarzen Kragen kennt man sie die brave deutsche Artillerie!" - 'You know the good German artillery by their black collars!'
The final card in the set of 6 was dated 11th Feb 1916 and has the original unit stamp.
