The Daily Postcard No. 10

Five unusual German postcards today, all written between 10th March & 30th May 1916 by the same writer.  The first two images tell a cautionary tale for all soldiers – oh, and the smudge is original,… 

…being the same colour as the writing on the back.  This card was actually sent…

…a few days before this one, as the postmarks show, but the tale told by the two drawings only works this way round.

These cards were manufactured in Munich, and Munich being in the far south of Germany,…

…perhaps it is not so surprising that the other three cards are little masterpieces that take us into the Alpine war.  Here we have mountain-top ablutions, probably, by the looks of it, about to be interrupted by a mountain goat.

We’ve all done it.  Written the wrong year, I mean.  The four cards other than this one are addressed to Frau Lilly Rothschild, and although this one is to Herrn Wilhelm Rothschild, the address on all five cards is the same.

Here we have breakfast on the go on a cold, snowy morning, a lookout keeping an eye, and the bloke on the right, well, doing just what he needs to do.  And having a fag.  And reading the paper.  Of course he is!

You may remember that I mentioned ‘Feldpost’ a couple of posts ago, and these cards are perfect examples of a card preprinted with ‘Feldpostkarte’ – Field Postcard.

And lastly, some grenade-lobbing.  Although that looks more like a Molotov cocktail.  Which hadn’t been invented in 1915, the date the drawings were made (and at which time Vyacheslav Molotov was in forced exile in eastern Siberia.  Just thought I’d mention it).

It’s always interesting to pick up more than one card written by the same author (yes, even if I have little idea what has been written), and I think these five cards are little gems.

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9 Responses to The Daily Postcard No. 10

  1. Sid from Down Under says:

    Magnificent postcards – the last one except for the smoke looks like he’s holding a Stielhandgranate by the wrong end and is that a pre-July 1915 cavalry sword hanging from his belt?

    I see his mate with the binoculars has an armful plus bagful of stick grenades. He must be optimistic if he thinks he can hold his binoculars to his eyes with one hand and with the other throw his armful of stick grenades at the same time. Very humorous cards thanks – somehow they remind me of Popeye the Sailor.

  2. Margaret Draycott says:

    Loved these cards the best so far. Humorous to an extent. Don’t know if I was the lady receiving them how I’d feel knowing son was in the thick of it. Harmless in this day and age.

    • Magicfingers says:

      We shall also touch on the recipients of these cards during the explanation that will accompany a later post, that I mentioned in response to your previous comment.

  3. Margaret Draycott says:

    Good look forward to the explanation when all will be revealed

    • Magicfingers says:

      Actually scheduled for six hours and forty eight minutes from NOW! I shall sow the seeds, then you (all) can, well, let your imaginations wander. You’ll see. Plus a link to the post Sid mentioned to you.

  4. Nick Kilner says:

    Wonderful! what an absolutely superb little collection! I bet they brought a smile to the face of both the sender and the recipient, they certainly have to mine

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