SECOND WORLD WAR POSTCARDS
This page was last updated
06-Feb-2025 07:12
WÜSTENKRIEG IN NORD-AFRIKA (L / 0518)
DESERT WAR IN NORTH AFRICA
The following set of six postcards was published by Film - Foto - Verlag. Berlin SW 68 from artwork by an artist named Oeschlagel.
The original cards are printed on thick, slightly porous card which means they are susceptible to foxing as the cards absorb moisture overtime. There is a reproduction set doing the rounds on eBay and other Internet sites, but these cards are printed on thinner, whiter, shiny card which makes them easy to differentiate from the originals. In addition, the font used for the texts differs from the original to the reproduction and the word "Afrika" is misspelt "Afrike" on the reproduction set.
ABOVE LEFT: Original title
ABOVE RIGHT: Reproduction title
The original cards sell from upwards of US$10 per card whereas the reproduction set can be obtained for about the same price for the complete set.
The North Africa Campaign was fought from 10th June 1940 until 13th May 1943. It included campaigns fought in the Libyan and Egyptian deserts (Western Desert Campaign, also known as the Desert War) and in Morocco and Algeria (Operation Torch) as well as Tunisia.
No.181
DAS DEUTSCHE AFRIKAKORPS LANDET UBERRASCHEND IN DER CYRENAIKA
THE GERMAN AFRICA CORPS MAKES A SURPRISE LANDING IN CYRENAICA
BELOW LEFT: Original card BELOW RIGHT: Reproduction
No.182
DIE DEUTSCHE LUFTWAFFE IST AUCH IN DER WÜSTE DER SCHRECKEN IHRER FEINDE
EVEN IN THE DESERT THE GERMAN LUFTWAFFE IS THE TERROR OF IT'S ENEMIES
BELOW LEFT: Original card BELOW RIGHT: Reproduction
No.183
9th APRIL 1941
The following card is titled "Wenige deutsche Soldaten nehmen am 9. April 1941 6 britische Generale durch Handstreich gefangen", - 'On April 9, 1941, a few German soldiers captured 6 British generals by surprise'.
This is most likely a reference to the capture of Sir Richard Nugent O'Connor KT, GCB, GBE, DSO and MC and Lieutenant General Sir Philip Neame, VC, KBE, CB, DSO, both of whom were captured during the night of Sunday, 6th Apr 1941 by a German patrol. During the Second World War, in the spring of 1941, Neame was commander of British troops in Cyrenaica (north-eastern Libya), recently conquered from the Italians by General Richard O'Connor. However, as the region was retaken by the newly-arrived Afrika Korps under Erwin Rommel, Neame and O'Connor were taken prisoner. Both men remained in captivity in Italy until the autumn of 1943.
BELOW LEFT: Original card
BELOW RIGHT: Reproduction
No.184
DAS DEUTSCHE AFRIKAKORPS IST AUF DEM VORMARSCH
THE GERMAN AFRICA CORPS IS ON THE ADVANCE
BELOW LEFT: Original card BELOW RIGHT: Reproduction
No.185
FÜR DIE DEUTSCHEN PANZER GIBT ES AUCH IN DER WÜSTE KEIN HINDERNIS
THERE IS NO OBSTACLE FOR THE GERMAN TANKS EVEN IN THE DESERT
BELOW LEFT: Original card BELOW RIGHT: Reproduction
No.186
DEUTSCHE FLUGZEUGE GREIFEN IN DER WÜSTE IN DEN ERDKAMPF EIN.
GERMAN AIRCRAFT INTERVENE IN GROUND BATTLE IN THE DESERT.
BELOW LEFT: Original card BELOW RIGHT: Reproduction
