SECOND WORLD WAR POSTCARDS
This page was last updated
17-Mar-2025 06:01
BARLOG POSTCARDS
8700 Series
The following sets of postcards were published by DRIESEN VERLAG and I have titled them series 1400, series 8500 and series 8700. They are popularly know as Barlog postcards after the artist, Ferdinand Barlog who's work is featured in them. The cards depict the humourous side of the life of a new recruit in the German army. The earliest example in my collection is a 8700 cancelled on 15th Aug 1939.
Series 1400 Cards: 1450 to 1459
Series 1400 Cards: 1460 to 1469
Series 1400 Cards: 1470 to 1479
Series 1400 Cards: 1480 to 1489
Series 1400 Cards: 1490 to 1499
Series 8500 Cards: 8500
Series 8700 Cards 8700 to 8709
Series 8700 Cards 8710 to 8719
Series 8700 Cards 8720 to 8729
Series 8700 Cards 8730 to 8739
Series 8700 Cards 8740 to
No. 8700
"Soldaten leben, ja das heiβt. Lustig sein."
'Soldier's Lives, yes that is called funny'
This card exists in all three series namely 8500 and 1491 and depicts a group of soldeirs in their dormitory. The various speach bubbles read from top to bottom and left to right:
"Wo ist denn meine Morgen Zeitung??" - 'Where is my morning newspaper?'
"Mir zwei fier im glas!" - 'Two for me in a glass!'
"Wünsche wohl geruht zu haben !!" - 'I hope you rested well!!'
"Meier III ist lieber die harte wurst. herr oberfeldwebel!!" - 'Meier III prefers the tough stuff. Sergeant Major!!'
"Was soll's zum frühstück geben?" - 'What shall we have for breakfast?'
"Müller ist eben aufgewacht!!" - 'Müller just woke up!!
The examples below were cancelled in HEIDELBERG on 9th Mar 1940 and at an unknown location on 22nd Jan 1945. I have several others in my collection the earliest oone of which was postally used on 15th Aug 1939.
The cards above have different texts running along the vertical divider. The example on the left reads "Bildschnitt aus Barlogs Neuerscheinung "Soldatenleben"" - 'Image cut from Barlog's new release "Soldiers' Life', indicating it was based on the book Soldatenleben by Barlog. The example on the right has a different text which reads "Zur Veroffentlichung freigegeben Nachdruck verboten" - 'Released for publication Reprint prohibited'.
No. 8701
"Von der Wiege bis zur Bahre sind die schönsten Lebenzjahre!"
'From the cradle to the grave are the most beautiful years of life!'
The two examples below bear the texts "Bildschnitt aus Barlogs Neuerscheinung "Soldatenleben"" indicating that the card was based on Barlog's book Soldatenleben. The example below left was cancelled "MANNHEIM-KAFERTAL" on 6th Jul 1942, whereas the example below right was posted in KONSTANZ on 4th Oct 1939.
No. 8702
This card shows a group of German soldiers standing and talking in the dorm room.
No. 8703
Unknown texts
This card features a group of recruits in the dorm playing cards when an officer appears at the door. It has the same design as 1494. I wasn't able to get a good translation of the title of this card however the texts from left to right read as follows:
"Hab', eben an Grand gewonnen !!" - 'I just won a Grand Prize!'
"Prost, Herr Hauptfeldwebel !" - 'Cheers, Sergeant Major!'
"Trinken Sie doch ne Hülle mit !!" - 'Drink a cup with you!!'
The FELDPOST example below was cancelled in WISMAR on 27th Apr 1943.
The above example again bears the texts "Bildschnitt aus Barlogs Neuerscheinung "Soldatenleben"" indicating that the card was based on Barlog's book Soldatenleben. However in this case there is an extra line of text running along the bottom left-hand edge which reads "Nachdruck v. Bild u. Text verboten" - 'Reprinting of images and text is prohibited'.
No. 8704
Unknown title
"Die Kleine ist richtig, Her Hauptfeldwebel!" - 'The little one is right, Sergeant Major!'"Wo ariffs man hier die schönsten mädchen beim tanz?" - 'Where can you find the most beautiful girls dancing?'
"knorke Sache !!" - 'Cool thing"
Another example with the texts "Bildschnitt aus Barlogs Neuerscheinung "Soldatenleben"" indicating that the card was based on Barlog's book Soldatenleben.
No. 8705
Ob Schütze oder Flieger
Whether rifleman or pilot
This card translations as "Ob Schütze oder Flieger, Der Zapfenstreich bleibt Sieger", - 'Whether rifleman or pilot, the tatoo (call to arms) remains the winner'. This card has the same design as 1480.
The two cards above have the text which reads "Zur Veroffentlichung freigegeben Nachdruck verboten" - 'Released for publication Reprint prohibited', but now they too, have the additional "Nachdruck v. Bild u. Text verboten" - 'Reprinting of images and text is prohibited' which was not present on the earlier 8700 card above
No. 8706
Urlaub
Vacation
The card depicts a soldier rushing to the railway station to start his vacation. The inscription reads "Ich schreib dir schnell die Karte. Om mich erwarte!" - 'I will quickly write you a card to say that I am waiting'. This card has the same design as 1473.
No. 8707
The transaltion of this card isn't great but it states "der Brandbrief. Wird dir dieser Brief bestellt. Merke, ich bin ohne Geld!" - 'The incendiary letter. If you order this letter, remember, I'm penniless!'.
No. 8708
This card shows a German soldier transistioning in 3 stages from an overweight recruit to a fit soldier. This card has the same design as 1482.
No. 8709
The cartoon on this card shows a German soldier in the canteen trying to decide what to eat for dinner. This is the same design as 1468. The text reads "Tif fabe noch garnicht soviel genoffen und doch die munition verschossen!" - 'Only 5 Pfennig', 'Tif didn't take that much yet, and still used up all of the ammunition'.The postally used example below was cancelled in FRANKFURT (ODER) on 21st Apr 1943.
REFERENCE SOURCES
1. MICHEL Handbuch-Katalog Deutsche Feldpost 1937-1945 (c) 1991 ISBN: 3-87858-452
3. transkribus an AI site that can be used to decipher texts written in old German script
4. Barlog Aufklärungen für jeden Wehrpflichtigen!. Book. 'Barlog's information for every conscript!'
