SECOND WORLD WAR POSTCARDS

This page was last updated
18-Feb-2025 12:38

LUFTWAFFE POSTCARDS
'DER ADLER'

This series of postcards appeared as part of an annual calendar produced by Scherl Velag, the same company that printed "Der Adler" - The Eagle, magazine. The calendar appeared in 1941, 1942, 1943 and 1944. I have never seen an example of a calendar from 1940 or 1945, so I suspect only the above mentioned 4 issues were produced.

CALENDAR FORMAT

The format of the calendar consisted of one page for each week of the year, and beneath each weekly set of dates there was a tear-off postcard, see here for the complete calendar pages for 1941, 1942, 1943 and 1944.

POSTCARD FORMAT

The postcards are unnumbered. The 1941 edition and 1942 calendars each have 53 individual postcards; the 1943 and 1944 calendars do not have any tear off postcards. The total number of collectable postcards therefore is 106 (excluding the advertising cards). The reverse of each card has a brief description of the image found on the opposite side.

MAGAZINE FORMAT

The magazine on the other hand ran to 146 issues, printed every other week from 1st Mar 1939 until 12th Sep 1944. Each issue initially had 24 to 36 pages, but as the war dragged on the number of pages was reduced to a mere 12 pages. The magazine was widely available in Germany but was also available in dual languages comprising German and one of the following: English, French, Italian, Romanian or Spanish.

If you have a card and wish to know where it appeared in the calendar you can compare the text on the back of the card with the following list, click the link and you will be taken to the relevant position. Alternatively, you can search through all of the postcards from 1941 or 1942

Introduction
1941: Jan to Mar
1941: Apr to Jun
1941: Jul to Sep
1941: Oct to Dec

1942: Jan to Mar
1942: Apr to Jun
1942: Jul to Sep
1942: Oct to Dec

1942 CALENDER

No. 14
30th Mar to 5th Apr 1941

"Deutsche Kampfflugzeuge vom Baumuster Do.17 in Flandern uber dem fliehenden Feind. Aufnahme Scherl."

'German fighter planes of the type Do.17 in Flanders above the fleeing enemy.' Photo Scherl.

This card was attached to the inside of issue No. 144 of der Adler magazine.

No. 15
6th to 12th Apr 1941

"Während ständif neue Truppentransporte im Hafen von Oslo eintreffe, steht unsere flugabwehr auf der Wacht. Aufnahme Scherl"

'While new troop transports keep arriving in the port of Oslo, our air defence is on guard.' Photograph by Scherl

No. 16
13th to 19th Apr 1941

"Ein deutsches kampfflugzeug greift im Tiefflug polnische Stellungen an." - Zeichnung R. Heβ

'A German fighter plane attacks Polish positions at low altitude." - Drawing R. Heβ.

No. 17
20th to 26th Apr 1941

"Der Sprung in die Tiefe - gleich öffnet sich der fallschirm. Aufnahme Scherl."

'The jump into the depths - the parachute is about to open.' Photo Scherl.

No. 18
27th Apr to 3rd May 1941

"Generalfeldmarschall Milch an der front in Norwegen - auf dem flugplatz von Drontheim. Aufnahme Scherl (Grabler)"

'Generalfeldmarschall Milch at the front in Norway - on the airfield of Trondheim.' Photograph Scherl (Grabler)

No. 19
4th to 10th May 1941

"Deutsche kampfflugzeuge gehen in mildem flakfeuer zum angriff über" - Zeichnung R. Heβ

'German fighter planes go on the attack amid light anti-aircraft fire' - Art by R. Heβ




This portrait version of the same piece of art was likely available in the French version of 'Der Adler', as unlike the other previous examples it has the description in both German and French.

No. 20
11th to 17th May 1941

"Beobachter und flugzeugführer, eine festgefügte Kampfgemeinschaft, auf Angriffsflug gegen England. Aufnahme Dr. Strache."

'Observer and pilot, a tightly knit combat team, on an attack flight against England.' Photograph by Dr. Strache.

No. 21
18th to 24th May 1941

"Jäger greifen an. Aufnahme A. Stöder"

'Hunters attack.' Photograph by A. Stöder

No. 22
25th to 31st May 1941

"Britischer "Wellington" Bomber im vernichten ben feuer deutscher jäger" Zeichnung R. Heβ.

'British "Wellington" bomber in the fire of German fighters' - Drawing R. Heβ.

No. 23
1st to 7th Jun 1941

"Rahaufklärer Hs126 beim Tiefflug über einem Wald, in dem Feindliche Wiberstandsnester vermutet werden. Aufnahme Schaller."

'Hs126 reconnaissance plane flying low over a forest, where enemy nests are suspected.' Photograph by Schaller.

No. 24
8th to 14th Jun 1941

"Der Nahaufklärer über seinem Ziel - die Arbeit mit der handkammer beginnt" - Aufnahme Dr Strache"

'Close reconnaissance over the target - the work begins" - Photo by Dr Strache'

No. 25
15th to 21st Jun 1941

"Im feuer der deutschen flak. Schon nach wenigen Sekunden stürzt das feindliche flugzeug brennend ab." - Zeichnung R. Heβ

'Under German anti-aircraft fire. After just a few seconds, the enemy plane crashes, burning." - Drawing R. Heβ.

No. 26
22nd to 28th Jun 1941

"Das horchgerät ist das Uhr der Luftwaffe." - Aufnahme Dr. Strache.

'The listening device is the ear of the Luftwaffe' - Photo by Dr. Strache.

This interesting piece of technology was used by the Luftwaffe to listen for approaching enemy aircraft.