SECOND WORLD WAR POSTCARDS
This page was last updated
10-Feb-2025 07:02
VERLAG DIE WEHRMACHT
SERIES 18-25
This series of postcards (from Verlag der Wehrmacht KG, Berlin) was published as part of an annual "Wehrmachts Kalender". The calander was published annually from 1938 until 1942 [REQUIRES CONFIRMAITON]. The designs for each calendar are very similar in that they show one week of the year (seven consecutive days) on the top half of the page and a detachable postcard on the other half. The images depict a military theme with a title in capital letters beneath the image.
On the reverse side, centrally and at the top edge is the word "POSTKARTE". Also in the centre, running vertically from top to bottom are the publisher's details between two verical lines. The outline of a stamp is located on the top right-hand side and the photographer's name on the bottom left-hand edge.
The images are very typical of the type of postcards that were being published in Germany in the early years of the Second World War and as you would expect from a series titled "Wehrmachts Kalender", all the braches of the military are represented from the Heer to the Luftwaffe and Kriegsmarine.
Since I do not have access to the complete calendars I have divided the cards into groups depending on whether the publisher's text ends with a "7-8", an "18/25", a "36" or a "37". This page relates to cards ending with a "18/25".
For the 18/25 series there appears to be two variants. The numbers on the type I cards have a space between the '8' and the '/' as well as between the '/' and the '2' of the "18 / 25". For the type II there is no space between the numbers "18/25".
In addition the 'g' of "gröβte" in the small pre-printed stamp, on the reverse top right-hand side, the type I has a closed 'g' whereas the type II had an open 'g'.
There is a known series of reproductions of the type II cards. Fortunately they are not difficult to differentiate. The images on the original cards are much lighter, clearer and more defined than the reproduction. An example can be seen here. I have never seen a genuine type II so this may only exist as a reproduction [MORE RESEARCH REQUIRED].
No.1
EIN WEITER WEG ZUR HEIMAT
A LONG WAY FROM HOME
This postcard features 3 German soldiers looking at a signpost on the side if the road. The top sign shows the distance from Tromso to Hammerfest, which are both cities in Northern Norway. The lower sign shows the distance from Tromso to Villach in Southern Austria. These troops were obviously operating in Tromso at the time of this photo so that would have been sometime after the German invasion of Norway on 9th Apr 1940, codenamed Operation Weserübung.
All three soldiers appear to be wearing the field uniform of the Gebirgsjagerregiment 138 who served in Narvik in May 1940 [requires additional research].
No.2
FERNSPRECH BAUTRUPP BEI SCHWIERIGEM LEITUNGSBAU
LAYING TELEPHONE LINES IN DIFFICULT CONDITIONS
No.3
PIONIERE BEIM BRÜCKENBAU
PIONEERS CONSTRUCTING A BRIDGE
No.4
SPÄHTRUPP VOR DEM ABMARSCH
SCOUT BEFORE THE MARCH
No.5
EINMARSCH DEUTSCHER TRUPPEN IN BRÜNN
GERMAN TROOPS ENTER THE CITY OF BRÜNN
The title of this postcard puts the date at Oct 1938, when the German army entered the city of Brünn (also known as Brno) in Moravia, Czechoslovakia.
No. 6
NACHSCHUB FÜR NORD-AFRIKA
SUPPLES FOR NORTH AFRICA
Assuming that supplies were no longer shipped to north Africa after the defeat of the Afrika Korps in May 1943 this photo must predate that period. The campaign began in Jun 1940.
No.7
ARBEITSDIENST BEIM BAU VON FEUERSTELLUNGEN
LABOUR SERVICE CONSTRUCTING DEFENCES
No.8
WASSERFLUGZEUGE
WATERPLANES
This postcard features two Heinkel He 60 floatplanes. The type first flew in 1933 and production ceased after the 205th aircraft was completed in 1936. All He 60's had been removed from front line service in 1940 due to their vulnerability and were replaced by the Arado Ar 196. The He 60 did see service between 1939 and 1943 in the Baltic and Mediterranean regions where it performed a coastal reconnaissance role.
No.9
MINENRAUMBOOTE IN HOHER FAHRT
MINING BOATS AT HIGH SPEED
No.10
DEUTSCHE ZERSTORER IM HAFEN VON NARVIK
GERMAN DESTROYER IN THE PORT OF NARVIK
No.11
EINE MINENSUCHFLOTTILLE BEiM AUSLAUFEN
A MINE SEARCH FLOATILLA ON PATROL
No.12
U-BOOT-JÄGER WERFEN WASSERBOMBEN
SUBMARINE HUNTERS THROW DEPTH CHARGES
No.13
TORPEDOBOOTE UND FLUGZEUGE SICHERN EIN HEIMKEHRENDES KRIEGSSCHIFF
TORPEDO BOATS AND AIRCRAFT SECURE A HOME-COMING WARSHIP
No. 14
KAMPF UM DIE GRIECHISCHE METAXAS-LINIE
BATTLE FOR THE GREEK METAXAS LINE
No.15
GEFECHTSPAUSE DER KAVALLIERIE
THE CAVALARY TAKES A BREAK DURING THE BATTLE
No.16
STURM AUF EIN PANZERWERK
STORM ON A TANK FACTORY
No.17
PANZERKAMPFWAGEN DURCHSTOSSEN DIE SERBISCHE STADT ZARIBROD
ARMORED CARS PASSED THROUGH THE SERBIAN CITY OF CARIBROD
No.18
SKIPATROUILLE DER GEBIRGSJÄGER
MOUNTAIN HUNTERS SKI PATROL
No. 19
AM HORCHGERÄT
ON THE LISTENING DEVICE
No. 20
EIN ZERSTÖRER LÄUFT AUS
A DESTROYER IS RUNNING OUT
No. 21
EIN ENGLISCHER ZERSTÖRER WIRD DURCH EIN DEUTSCHES KRIEGSSCHIFF IN BRAND GESCHOSSEN
AN ENGLISH DESTROYER IS SHOT ON FIRE BY A GERMAN WARSHIP
No. 22
PANZERKAMPFWAGEN DURCH BRECHEN EINEN POLNISCHEN WALD
PANZERKAMPFAGEN BREAK THROUGH ON THE POLISH FOREST
No. 23
SCHWERER DEUTSCHER KREUZER
HEAVY GERMAN CRUISER
No. 24
U-BOOT BEIM AUSLAUFEN IN DEN ATLANTIK
SUBMARINE LEAVING THE ATLANTIC
This postally used example was cancelled on 27th Feb 1942
No. 25
FEUERNDES INFANTERIEGESCHÜTZ IN EINEM BELGISCHEN DORF
FIRING INFANTRY GUN IN A BELGIAN VILLAGE
No. 26
SINGEND WOLLEN WIR MARSCHIEREN
WE WANT TO MARCH SINGING
No. 27
NACHSCHUB KOLONNEN AUF DEN VORMARSCHSTRASSEN IN GRIECHENLAND
SUPPLY COLUMNS ON THE ADVANCE ROADS IN GREECE
No. 28
TORPEDOBOOTE LAUFEN AUS
TORPEDO BOATS LAUNCH
No. 29
ZUM HELDENGEDENKTAG
FOR HEROES' MEMORIAL DAY
No.30
PAK ÜBERNIMMT DEN KÜSTENSCHUTZ
PAK TAKES OVER COASTAL PROTECTION
No. 31
AM MG IN DER KANZEL DER HE 111
A MACHINE GUN IN THE PULPIT OF HE 111
No. 32
STUKA
STUKA
No. 33
EIN ZERSTÖRER FLUGZEUG ÜBER DER ENGLISCHEN KANALKÜSTE
A DESTROYER AIRCRAFT OVER THE ENGLISH CHANNEL COAST
No. 34
GENERAL FELDMARSCHALL V. BRAUHITSCH, DER OBERBEFEHLSHABER DES HEERES, AN DER WESTFRONT
GENERAL FIELD MARSHAL V. BRAUHITSCH, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMY, ON THE WESTERN FRONT
No. 35
TORPEDO WAFFE FLAK ZUM SCHLUSS
TORPEDO WEAPON FLAK AT THE END
No. 36
GROSSADMIRAL Dr. b.c. RAEDER, DER OBERBEFEHLSHABER DER KRIEGSMARINE
GRAND ADMIRAL Dr. b.c. RAEDER, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE NAVY
No. 37
TORPEDOWAFFE KLAR ZUM SCHUSS
TORPEDO WEAPON READY TO FIRE
No. 38
EIN STAFFEL VON ZERSTORERFLUGZEUGEN VOR DEM START
A SQUADRON OF DESTROYER AIRCRAFT BEFORE TAKEOFF
No. 39
FUNKER DER FALLSCHIRMJÄGER AUF KRETA
RADIO OPERATOR OF THE PARATROOPER ON CRETE
ABOVE LEFT: Original version
ABOVE RIGHT: Reproduction version
