SECOND WORLD WAR POSTCARDS

This page was last updated
18-Feb-2025 12:40

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

1941 CALENDER

No. 27
29th Jun to 5th Jul 1941

"Berantwortungsvoller Dienst. Männer vom Bodenpersonal machen das Flugzeug startklar. Aufnahme Dr. Strache"

'Responsible service. Men from the ground crew get the aircraft ready for take-off.' Photograph by Dr Strache

No. 28
6th to 12th Jul 1941

"Besatzungen eines Kampfgeschwaders marschieren zu ihren flugzeugen.' Aufnahme B. Mai

'Crews of a combat squadron march towards their aircraft.' Photograph B. May'

No. 29
13th to 19th Jul 1941

"Flugboot vom Baumuster Do 18 für Fernaufklärung' - Aufnahme A. Stöcker"

'Do 18 Flying boat on long-range reconnaissance' - photo by A. Stöcker

No. 30
20th to 26th Jul 1941

"Deutsche flieger über Scapa Flow. Bomben hageln auf britische kreuzer und schlachtschiffe.' - Reichnung R. Heβ

'German pilots over Scapa Flow. Bombs fall on British cruisers and battleships. - Photograph R. Heβ

No. 31
27th Jul to 2nd Aug 1941

"Langsamflug, Start und landung auf jedem noch so kleinen βlatz machen den Fieseler "Storch" zum idealen Berbindungsflugzeug.' - Aufnahme A. Stöcker

'Slow flight, take-off and landing in every little space, make the Fieseler "Storch" the ideal connection aircraft. - Photo by A. Stöcker

No. 32
3rd to 9th Aug 1941

"So fieht kampfflieger durch die Bugkanzel das feindliche Land." - Aufnahme B.K Stempka

'A gunner's view through the rear gun turret in hostile country." - BK Stempka

No. 33
10th to 16th Aug 1941

"Soeben ist deutsche Infanterie auf einem flugplatz in Norwegen gelandet - schin stehen die Transportflugzeuge wieder startbereit." Zeichnung R. Hess.

'German infantry has just landed at an airfield in Norway - the transport aircraft are now ready to take off again. Drawing R. Hess'

No. 34
17th to 23rd Aug 1941

"Eine Kette von Sturzkampfflugzeugen Ju87 im Anmarsch gegen den feind." Aufnahme Schaller.

'A chain of Ju87 dive bombers marching against the enemy.'

No. 35
24th to 30th Aug 1941

"Der Oberste Befehlshaber der Wehrmacht bespricht mit Reichsmarschall Göring und General feldmarschall Keitel den Operationsplan" - Aufnahme H. Hoffmann

'The supreme commander of the Wehrmacht discusses the plan of operations with Reich Marshal Göring and General Field Marshal Keitel' - photo by H. Hoffmann'

No. 36
31st Aug to 6th Sep 1941

"Deutsche Stukas greifen an. Volltreffer auf polnischen Bunker" - Zeichnung R. Heβ

'German Stukas attack. Direct hit on Polish bunker' - Drawing R. Heβ.

No. 37
7th to 13th Sep 1941

"Funker hart am feind. Gegen fliegersicht gut getarnt - wird die funfstelle schnell aufgebaut. Aufnahme Scherl."

'Radio operators close to the enemy. Well camouflaged from the air - the radio station is quickly set up.' Photograph by Scherl.

No. 38
14th to 20th Sep 1941

"Kampfflugzeuge He 111 in der Nordsee beim Angriffsflug gegen englische seestreitkrafte." - Aufnahme H. Schaller

'He 111 combat aircraft in the North Sea attacking English naval forces.' - Drawing by H. Schaller'

No. 39
21st to 27th Sep 1941

"Mitten im Ziel! Deutscher Bombentreffer auf ein vor Unter liegendes "Sunderland" flugboot." - Zeichnung R. Heβ.

'Right on target! German bomb hits a "Sunderland" flying boat lying in front of it.' - Drawing R. Heβ.

No. 40
28th Sep to 4th Oct 1941

"Soldaten der Luftnachrichtentruppe mit MG in Feindesland." Aufnahme Dr. Weller

'Soldiers of the air intelligence unit with machine gun in enemy territory.' Photograph Dr. Weller