GERMAN EMPIRE
1914
AGAINST GERMANY'S SHAME
(UNKNOWN)
This series of six, quite rare, postcards probably dates from somewhere between 1900 and 1914. To date the earliest cancellation I have seen was dated in November 1914. [More Research Required]. The uniforms shown being worn by the Legionnaires is the one which was worn in the period leading up to the First World War.
The cards were sponsored by the International Federation of International Law to Combat the Foreign Legion and they tell the story of a young man who is seduced by the excitement of joining the French Foreign Legion. He signs up but things are often not what they seem, and the young man is seen being beaten, marching long distances through the desert, only to be executed (for desertion?), and his family finally receiving the letter informing them of his early death. The cards were clearly intended as a way of dissuading Germany's youth from joining the Legion.
Historian Eckard Michels estimates that upwards of 100,000 Germans have signed up to be legionnaires at one time or another. At various times Germans constituted from 30% to 50% of active members of the Legion.
Each card also has an image of two hands trying to hold a snake, denoting the struggle to control the Legion and comparing it to a snake.
CARD No.1
DIE WERBUNG
This first card is titled "DIE WERBUNG" or "The advertising". Here the young potential recruit is seduced by the recruiting officer with a good meal and fine wine to put the young man at ease. All designed to get his signature.
No. 1
FROM MY COLLECTION
CARD No.2
DIE CRAPAUDIÈRE
This second card is titled "DIE CRAPAUDIÈRE", the closest translation I could make was "The Toads". The calm serentiy of the recruiting office is a distant memory and the young recruit is seen being beaten and hog-tied for commiting some offence. There are stories of recruits being beaten for minor infractions such as not peeling the potatoes correctly.
No. 2
FROM MY COLLECTION
CARD No.3
MARSCHIER' ODER VERRECK!
The third card is titled "MARSCHIER' ODER VERRECK!" or "March or be damned". Forced marches were all part of the training and here we see recruits being beaten and falling by the wayside on one such forced march through the desert.
No. 3
FROM MY COLLECTION
CARD No.4
DIE ERSCHIEβUNG
The fourth card is titled "DIE ERSCHIEβUNG" or "The Shooting". Our young recruit has committed an offence that is punishable by death by firing squad. Here he is seen with his tunic removed and lying on the ground, and he is awaiting his fate.
No. 4
FROM MY COLLECTION
CARD No.5
DAS ENDE
This penultimate card is titled "DAS ENDE" or "The End". Our young recruit lies dead in the sand, not even afforded a decent burial. Instead his lifeless body is left to the vultures, a death without honour, in a lonely corner of the African desert.
No. 5
FROM MY COLLECTION
CARD No.6
DIE TODESNACHRICHT
The final card is titled "DIE TODESNACHRICHT" or "The Death Message". The story is told, our young recruit is dead, and his grieving family are left to pick up the pieces after receiving notification of his early death.
No. 6
FROM MY COLLECTION