FIRST WORLD WAR
(1914-18)

This page was last updated
27-Aug-2023 08:37

DEUTSCHE ARTILLERIE
(GERMAN ARTILLERY)

This set of 6 postcards is titled "Deutsche Artillerie", or "German Artillery".

These cards all feature a German artillery battery preparing to fire their weapon.

The reverse side of the cards does not identify the publisher, the catalogue number or the date of issue, although the series would almost certainly have been issued during the First World War.

This particualr set of six cards was sent by the same German soldier to a loved one in the town of Neugraben in the district of Harburg on the Elbe, near Hannover. The cards span a six week period during which the soldier diligently wrote home every week.

No.1

This card has in text:

"1. Was gibt es Schöneres auf der Welt, Als deutsche Artillerie, Sie jedermann gleich gut gefäflt, Die beste Trupp' ist sie".

1. What could be nicer in the world than German artillery, everyone likes them equally well, they are the best troops.




The example above was a Feldpost card sent on 17th May 1918, but unfortunately the identity of the unit sending the card can not be determined.

No.2

The second card has the inscription:

"2. Wo's ging zum Kampfe immer los, Flugs war sie bei der Hand, Fest stand sie da, kämpft so famos Für unser Vaterland".

'2. Where did the fight always start, she was immediately at hand, she stood firm, fighting so splendidly for our fatherland'




The example above was another Feldpost card sent by the same soldier a week later than the first, on 25th May 1918. The rectangular violet unit stamp is inscribed "S.B. | Hun-Kol.d.10 Batt | KL Batl.Fuβartl.-Regt. 10"

No.3

The third card carries the inscription:

"3. Ob sie dem Vortrupp angehört, Dem ersten Treffen dient, Stets wacker hat sie mitmarschiert Und prompt den Feind bedient."

'3. Whether she belongs to the vanguard, serves the first meeting, always bravely marched with her and promptly served the enemy.'




The third card was posted a week after the second, on 31st May 1918. This card has the same unit stamp as the previous card.

No.4

The fourth card is inscribed:

"4. Aus hundert Röhren tönt es stark Es macht uns keine Müh', Den Feind erschüttert bis ins MArk Die schwere Artillerie".

'4. It sounds strong from a hundred tubes. It's no trouble for us, The heavy artillery shakes the enemy to the core'




Another week lapsed before our sender posts the fourth postcard, this one on 3rd Jun 1918.

No.5

The penultimate card has the text:

"5. Und soll mai etwas schnell gescheh'n, Holt man die Reiter her, Wir haben es so oft geseh'n, Sie jagen kreuz und quer. Sie gehen immer lebhaft vor, Der sind ein gar verweg'nes Korps Die reitende Artillerie."

'5. And if something should happen quickly, you bring the riders, we've seen it so often, they hunt all over the place. They always act briskly, They're a really daring corps The mounted artillery'




On the 8th Jun 1918 this soldier posts his fifth card home.

No.6

The sixth and final card bears the following text:

"6. So sind sie alle denn genannt; Der Waffen schönste Zier, Die hochgeehrt in jedem Land, Zu der gehör'n auch wir. Der Artillerie gesunder Kern Ja der verläβt sich nie, Drum bringen wir ein Hoch sehr gern Der deutschen Artillerie"

'6. Thus are they all called; The most beautiful adornment of weapons, which are highly honored in every country, we also belong to them. The artillery healthy core Yes, it never leaves, That's why we're very happy to bring the German artillery high'




The sixth and final card was posted on 10th Jun 1918.