PROPAGANDA POSTCARDS
(1915)

This page was last updated
02-Sep-2023 07:28

UNVEILING OF THE IRON HINDENBURG
PP27-C-276

BACKGROUND: This postcard was published to commemorate the unveiling of a massive wooden statue of Paul von Hindenburg in the Siegesalle, Berlin on 4th Sep 1915. As part of the unveiling people were invited to hammer nails into the structure for a minimum cost of 1 Mark, with the proceeds going to the war charity. The statue was named the Iron Hindenburg not for the material used to construct it, but to reflect Hindenburg's strength.

As well as this card, there were a number of other postcards available without pre-printed stamps.

The forty-two foot high structure was made of wood and was designed by Georg Marschall. It was unveiled by Princess August Wilhelm who subsequently hammered a golden nail into the plinth. The general population was invited to do likewise, and for a small fee they could hammer either an iron, silver or gold nail into the statue. After making their contribution they were invited to sign their names into a "Book of Iron" so that their donations would be forever recorded for future generations to see their generosity to the war effort. Within the first five hours an estimated 20,000 nails had been hammered into the statue. Statues were erected in several cities throughout Germany.

The nails were priced as follows:
Small grey nails: 1 Mark
Silver and black nails: 5 Marks
Golden nails: 100 Marks.
Small silver plaque nailed to the sword with engraved name: 500 Marks.

[Extract from Men of Nails, Sherwin Simmons]

The other statues used for the occasion featured Admiral Tirpitz, Crown Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria, mythical figures such as Iron Siegfried of Wiesbaden and objects such as crosses and shields, and even an iron bear in Berndorf. Source: [Wordpress].

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