SECOND WORLD WAR POSTCARDS

This page was last updated
11-Dec-2024 07:00

UNSERE WAFFEN SS - 374
OUR WAFFEN SS

This series of postcards was published by E.A.Schwerdtfeger (E.A.S) of Berlin and depicts elements of the Waffen SS in action. Each of these postcards is inscribed '374' in the top corner of the right-hand reverse pane. The top left-hand corner has the title of the series 'Unsere Waffen - SS' followed by the cards title. The bottom left-hand corner has the name of the photographer followed by the inscription 'Herausgegeben im Einvernehmen mit dem SS-Fuhrungs hauptamt' - 'Issued in agreement with the SS command main office'.

These postcards are unnumbered but there are 30 cards [1] in the series and below is a selection of what was available. There was another similar series by E.A.S which had the Series Number 373 in the top right-hand corner, it also consisted of 30 cards.

Since the cards are unnumbered, and so as not to cause confusion I have deferred to the numbering system used by Roth and Moonwheel [1], U01 to U30 for set 373 and U31 to U60 for set 374.

U31
MG-SCHÜTZEN
MG SHOOTERS

The following postcard features a two-man MG-34 machine gun team hidden under a railway carriage awaiting the arrival of the enemy. Photograph by was reporter Roth.

U32
STRAβENKAMPF
STREET FIGHT

A German SS soldier stands with pistol drawn during a lull in a street battle. Photograph by war reporter Ege.

U33
SOWJET-WIDERSTANDSNEST WIRD NIEDERGEKÄMPF
SOVIET RESISTANCE NEST IS BEATEN DOWN

Another two-man MG-34 machine gun team prepares for a fight outside a small Soviet building. Photograph by war reporter Roth.

U34
KAMPF UM EINE ORTSCHAFT IM OSTEN
BATTLE FOR A TOWN IN THE EAST

A German MG-34 team and a comrade wait just inside a bombed out soviet building for signs of the enemy. Photograph by war reporter Augustin.

U35
BESETZUNG EINES BAHNHOFS IM OSTEN
OCCUPATION OF A TRAIN STATION IN THE EAST

Two SS soldiers approach a railway station, one armed with a bolt-action Karabiner-98 rifle and the other a machine pistol (probably an Mauser C96) with a detachable 20 round box magazine. Photograph by war reporter Melters.

U36
SAMMELN!
ASSEMBLE!

A small unit of German soldiers assemble behind a building in a Soviet village discussing plans for an advance. Photograph by war reporter Zschäckel.

U37
AUF OLYMPISCHER ERDE
ON OLYMPIC EARTH

Another small unit of German soldiers, this time moving forward beneath a stone archway in Greece. Photograph by war reporter Roth.

U38
VOR DEM ANGRIFF
BEFORE THE ATTACK

A German mortar team takes a break before another assault. Photograph by war reporter Melters.

U39
EIN DORF IST GENOMMEN
A VILLAGE IS TAKEN

A small Soviet village is left destroyed and burning as German troops continue their advance. Photograph by war reporter Wiesebach.

U40
DER MELDER UND SEIN HUND
THE DETECTOR AND HIS DOG

A young German soldier and his dog survey the scene before them. Photograph by war reporter Waldbach.

U41
MIR NACH!
FOLLOW ME!

An SS-Untersturmführer (lieutenant) hidden in the long grass gives the signal to move forward. Photograph by war reporter Büschel.

U42
IM SCHÜTZENLOCH
IN A FOX HOLE

Two German soldiers lie low in a fox hole. Photograph by war reporter Hummel.

U43
SPÄHTRUPP
SCOUT TEAM

Two SS soldiers use a fallen tree to navigate across a small stream. Photograph by war reporter Waldbach.

U44
AM MG
A MACHINE GUN

An MG-34 machine gun crew stands by in mountainous terrain whilst the office watches on and smokes his pipe. Photograph by war reporter Augustine.

U45
PANZER IM ANGRIFF
TANK ATTACKING

A German tank commander brandishes his MP-38 sub-machine gun and leads the way. Photograph by war reporter Dürr.

U46
PANZEREINHEIT GREIFT AN
ARMOR UNIT ATTACKS

Three German tanks forge ahead during a rapid advance. Photograph by war reporter Dürr.

U47
STURMGESCHÜTZE BESETZEN EINE STADT
ASSAULT GUNS OCCUPY A CITY

German self-propelled guns gather at the entrance to a burning town. Photograph by war reporter Augustin.

U48
DEM FEIND ENTGEGEN
TOWARDS THE ENEMY

Troops from SS-division Totenkopf advance down a village street with the support of light armour. Photograph by war reporter Ege.

U49
DER VOLKSWAGEN SCHAFFT ES!
THE VOLKSWAGEN CAN DO IT!

A German Volkswagen Kubelwagen navigates a flooded road with ease. Photograph by war reporter Thiele.

U50
VORMARSCH ÜBER PAβSTRAβEN
ADVANCE OVER PASS ROADS

German pioneers have replaced a damaged bridge in order to continue the advance and keep the forward troops supplied. Photograph by war reporter Roth.

U51
KRADSCHÜTZEN
MOTORCYCLE SHOOTERS

Motorcycle troops from SS-division Totenkopf get some assistance as they advance through the mud and debris of a small village. Photograph by war reporter Wiesniewski.

U52
EINE SS-POLIZEI DIVISION AUF DEM VORMARSCH
AN SS POLICE DIVISION ON THE ADVANCE

German troops mounted on horses and bicycles leave a train of destruction and a town in flames. Photograph by war reporter Grau.

U53
GUTE FREUNDE
GOOD FRIEND

Two German soldiers and their horse take a rest during operations. Horses were a vital part of the German war effort in the Russian theatre and were often the only way of moving supplies and artillery during the winter and rainy seasons. Photograph by war reporter Möbius.

U54
TROMPETERKORPS EINER SS-KAVALLERIEDIVISION
TRUMPET CORPS OF AN SS CAVALRY DIVISION

SS cavalry division on parade. Photograph by war reporter Büschel.

U55
TROMPETERKORPS EINER SS-KAVALLERIEDIVISION
TRUMPET CORPS OF AN SS CAVALRY DIVISION

SS cavalry division on parade. Photograph by war reporter Büschel.

U56
DER PAUKENSCHLÄGER DES TROMPETERKORPS EINER SS-KAVALLERIEDIVISION
A KETTLE DRUMMER OF THE TRUMPET CORPS OF AN SS CAVALRY DIVISION

A mounted kettle drummer prepares for the parade. Photograph by war reporter Büschel.

U57
KAVALLERIE AUF EINEM UEBUNGSRITT
CAVALRY ON A PRACTICE RIDE

German mounted troops on a training run. Photograph by war reporter Adendorf.

U58
BEI FRIEDLICHER ARBEIT
IN PEACEFUL WORK

German soldiers help till the land before planting crops. Photograph by war Reporter Weiselbach.

U59
AUCH EIN KRIEGSKIND
ALSO A WAR CHILD

A young foal, born during the war suckles as German troops look on. Photograph by war reporter Grau.

U60
DER SPRUNG ÜBER DEN GOLF VON PATRAS
THE JUMP OVER THE GULF OF PATRAS

A small sailing vessels navigates the port of Patras in western Greece. Photograph by war reporter Roth.

REFERENCES

1. Postcards of the Waffen SS Series Cards by Matthew Roth and J. Moonwheel ISBN: 0-976516-50-0