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 Verlag, 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. 94
4th to 10th Oct 1942

"Vernichtung eines feindlichen U-Bootes durch Stuka-Volltreffer." - Zeichnung Max Ludwig

'Destruction of an enemy submarine by a direct hit from a Stuka.' - Drawing Max Ludwig.

No. 95
11th to 17th Oct 1942

"Auf dem schonen Sizilien" - Aufnahme BR Oppitz-Atlantic.

'On the beautiful Sicily' - Photograph Oppitz-Atlantic.

No. 96
18th to 24th Oct 1942

"Kampfflugzeug Heinkel He 111 über der englischen Kanalküste" - Aufnahme BR Wanderer-Scherl

'Heinkel He 111 fighter aircraft over the English Channel coast' - photo taken by BR Wanderer-Scherl

No. 97
25th to 31st Oct 1942

"Bordflugzeug Arado Ar 196 auf einem deutschen kriegsschiff in den norwegischen hewaffern" - Aufn BK Bohlischeid-Scherl

'Onboard aircraft Arado Ar 196 on a German warship in a Norwegian fjord' - photo by BK Bohlischeid-Scherl

No. 98
1st to 7th Nov 1942

"Der Fieseler "Storch" das bewährte Verbindungs flugzeug der deutschen Luftwaffe" - Aufnahme Scherl-Archiv.

'The Fieseler "Storch" the tried and tested liaison aircraft of the German Air Force' - Photograph Scherl-Archive.

No. 99
8th to 14th Nov 1942

"Männer vom Bodenpersonal beim Aberprüfen der Motoren" - Aufnahme BR Retelhohn-Scherl

'Men from the ground crew checking the engines' - Photograph BR Retelhohn-Scherl

No. 100
15th to 21st Nov 1942

"Flugzeuge auf der wacht" - Aufnahme B.R Stempka

'Planes on Guard' - photo by B.R. Stempka.

No. 101
22nd to 28th Nov 1942

"Ein Britischer Geleitzug fahrt in den Tod" - Zeichnung W. Batz

'A British Convoy goes to its death' - Drawing W. Batz

No. 102
29th Nov to 5th Dec 1942

"Zerstörer Messerschmitt Me 110 startklar zum Feindflug in Nordafrika. Italienische Askaris sehen interessiert zu." Aufnahme BR Sturm.

'Destroyer Messerschmitt Me 110 ready to take off for combat missions in North Africa. Italian Askaris watch with interest.' Photograph by BR Sturm.

No. 103
6th to 12th Dec 1942

"Messerschmitt zerstörer Me 110 uber Palermo" - Aufn BK Hausmann βBZ

'Messerschmitt 'destroyer' Me 110 over Palermo' - Photo BK Hausmann βBZ

No. 104
13th to 19th Dec 1942

"Start zur Aufklärung gegen England! Die Heinkel He 115 hebt sich vom Wasser ab" - Aufnahme A. Stöcker.

'Start of reconnaissance against England! The Heinkel He 115 takes off from the water' - Photo by A. Stöcker.

No. 105
20th to 26th Dec 1942

"Schwere flakartillerie an der kanalküste beim Ausputzen des Tannenbaums." Aufnahme Dr. Scholz-Scherl

'Heavy anti-aircraft artillery on the channel coast cleaning out the Christmas tree.' Admission Dr. Scholz-Scherl

No. 106
27th to 31st Dec 1942

"Musikalisches Zwischenspiel" - Aufnahme Bresse-Hoffmann.

'Musical interlude' - Art by Bresse-Hoffmann.