Summary

Coloured postcard depicting a chapel in St Sauveur, France, in 1915. Published by Fritz Knecht in Saarburg, Germany, the postcard was written on 15 March 1915 by a member of the German 19th Ersatz Division (Ersatz meaning 'replacement'), which was then located at St Sauveur, neart Cirey, on the French frontier. It is adressed to Frau Martha Krunpfert, Obergruna - the writer's sister-in-law - and her children. The postcard was despatched the following day via the German Army Postal Service.

During World War I around 11 billion letters or postcards were sent from the front free of charge through the German Army Postal Service. Millions more letters were sent to the front by families and friends at home. From 29 April 1916 onwards postal service stations were set up at every army command station in order to monitor the content of the mail and to create reports on the content. The transmission of classified military or rebellious and discouraging information was prohibited.

It is not known how this particular postcard came to be in Australia.

Physical Description

Coloured postcard that shows a chapel at a village side. The imprint St. Sauveur 1915 suggests that the chapel is in France. The card shows some wear and stains. Handwritten text in the old German handwriting style Suetterlin.

Significance

This coloured postcard, dating circa 1915, is one of a postcard series. It provides an invaluable record of German military mail during the First World War. This postcard functioned as communication medium to family and friends at home. They are a rich record of war narrative from a soldier's perspective.

More Information

  • Collecting Areas

    Public Life & Institutions

  • Acquisition Information

    Purchase

  • Place & Date Written

    Saint-Sauveur, France, 15 Mar 1915
    Circa

  • Addressed To

    Frau Martha Krunpfert

  • Inscriptions

    Text, front: "St. Sauveur 1915'. Back, text: No. 2028. Verlag Fritz Knecht, Saarburg i. L (m). Date stamp of the division: (Feldpostexpedition der Ersatz-Division b, 16. 3. 16. 10 11 V) and a detailled seal of the Division. Back, handwritten: Abs. Otto ________ / Feld______________ [obscured by stamp] An: / Frau Martha Krunpfert / Obergruna / C/Siebenlehn d. 15/3 1916 / Liebe Schwägerin u. Kinder! / Am 12/3 erhielt ich Euren lieben Brief / mit Bild. Darüber habe ich mich sehr / gefreut und sage hiermit meinen herz- / lichen Dank. Sobald ich mit P___ zu [senden?] / komme werde ich es auswählen. Sonst geht / es mir noch gut und hoffe auch [gleichfals?] / von Euch. Es grüßt dein Schwager und Onkel / Otto. Translation: Sender: Otto ________ / Field_______________ [obscured by stamp] To: / Ms Martha Krunpfert / Obergruna / C/Siebenlehn 15 March 1916 / Dear sister-in-law and children! / On 12 March I received your letter with picture. It made / me very happy and thank you sincerely. As soon as I get / around to ________ I will choose it. Apart from that I am / well and I hope the same goes for all of you. / Greetings from your brother-in-law and uncle, / Otto.

  • Classification

    Military history, Souvenirs & mementoes, Postcards

  • Category

    History & Technology

  • Discipline

    History

  • Type of item

    Document

  • Overall Dimensions

    137 mm (Width), 86 mm (Height)

  • References

    Information on World War I German postal service from German History in Documents and Images (GHDI) web site [Link 1] accessed 9/2012.

  • Keywords

    Wars & Conflicts, World War I, 1914-1918