Summary

Black and white postcard showing a soldier in uniform, who smokes in front of a wooden house. Addressed to 'Otto', it has no postal marks visible, and may have been enclosed in other mail such as a package or letter. These kind of black and white photo postcards were often used for communication with family and friends.

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 postcard came to be in Australia.

Physical Description

This black and white postcard captures a German soldier standing in front of a wooden house, dressed in uniform and holding a cigarette in his left hand. The postcard has a handwritten text on the back side; however, it has no postal marks visible. The postcard shows some wear.

Significance

This black and white postcard from the First World War is an invaluable pictorial record of a German soldier in uniform. These photo postcards were often used to send to family and friends at home. The arrangement of the photograph is done in portrait form.

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