✠ With Special Thanks To Tamara Markmann for her Translation on the reverse of this Feldpost and Simon for his expert knowladge in this post ! ✠
A part of The KB41 Collection On This Day Series - Shared 105 years since its posting on 11/10/1917!
The post here shows a photo-postcard Feldpost posted from a Hospital in the Düssendorf area on 11th October, 1917 to a fellow solider and friend in Ergersheim Elsaß, France . The photo-postcard is sent to by someone in the photo who is at the Hospital injured , they are called Peter Würth with their friend and possible nurse known as Ms. Bünther also signing the photo postcard. This could either be as a result of Peter dictating what should be said or Ms. Bünther writing the events that lead to Peter being at the Hospital. Either way Peter Würth is writing this postcard to his friend Clemens Kieffer, who is fighting in the Ergersheim Elsaß of France to let him know he is alive and in the care of staff at a Hospital.
The photo-postcard reverse shows us that the postcard is in-fact a Feldpost, this meaning there is no Postage stamp and is sent through the military mail system to the feldpost systems of the German frontlines, in this case France.
The reverse reads in German as:
Düssendorf 11.10.17
Lieber Freund Clemens!
Du wirst staunen, wieder ein Lebenszeichen von mir
zu erhalten. Ich liege wieder hier mit einem
Kopfschuß operiert. Frau Bünther ist gerade
bei mir. Sonst geht es mir ganz gut. Sei für heute
herzlichst gegrüßt von deinem Freund Peter Würth
Herzliche Grüße Frau Bünther
Herrn Clemens Kieffer
Ergersheim
Elsaß
(Sideway written - städt. Krank. Anst. (Städtische Krankenanstalt; urban hospital) Düsseldorf
Bau 21. E. 1 (wing 21. E. 1) )
Translated as English reads:
Dear friend Clemens!
You'll be amazed, to receive another sign of life from me.
I'm lying here again with a headshot surgery. Ms. Bünther is with me at the moment. Otherwise I'm fine.
Best Greetings from your friend Peter Würth
Kind regards Frau Bünther
Urban sick. instead (Municipal Hospital; urban hospital) Düsseldorf
Building 21st E. 1 (wing 21st E. 1)
The photograph here shows a group of injured soldiers, all with different degrees of injury. Some more noticeable than others from a variety of regiments, but noticeably a few with severe facial injury's that could count themselves lucky to be alive. One of these we know to be the writer, Peter Würth. A few women and children are also seen in the photograph, possibly family of the Female nurses who are seen in the photograph, one who would likely be Ms Bünther.
Only some of the units and ranks can be identified in this photograph as only some shoulderboards and insignia can be clearly seen from this, in the photograph starting from right to left there can be seen;
A Infanterie-Regt. von Coubière (2.Posensches) Nr.19, seen wearing a Feldblause, notably suffering from a neck wound as seen with padding and bandage under his chin and neck area. Seen seated to the left of him, is a Grenadier guard, this notably from the style collar Litzen. This unknown Grenadier is also seen with the Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse, or EKII worn in ribbon format. Seen seated next to him is a Westfälisches Reserve-Infantery Regt. Nr.53, seen by the "53" on the shoulderbaard. Seated on the floor in front of him can be seen wearing a M1910/15 Vereinfachte Feldrock and is a Fusilier of the Füsilier-Regt. Prinz Heinrich von Preußen (1.Brandenburgisches) Nr.35. Seen to the left of him seated with a Sword in his hand and linking arms with the elderly lady in black (Likely a nurse or local to the hospital) is seen a Uffz. d. Kürrassiere, of the Kürassier-Regt. Königin (Pommersches) Nr.2r. by the rank of Unteroffizier (Seen by his collar litzen insignia) and can also be seen wearing a KR2 bluse with notable EK2 ribbon. It is possible this soldiers sight and co-ordination could be affected, this is suggested as he is not looking at the camera and is looking away as other seen posing are looking towards the camera, the use of sword as walking aid that he hold is also supports this. Seen standing behind the elderly lady in the centre is a young Füsilier of Füsilier-Regt. von Gerdsdorff (1.Kurhessisches) Nr.80, notably seen with pointed collar litzen. This young Füsilier seen here also wears a EK2 Ribbon. Towards the front seated cross legged, with a small ball at his feet we see a Infanterie of 5. Westfälisches Infanterie-Regt. Nr.53, seen notably by the Crown symbol on the shoulderboard. He is also wearing a M1907/10 Tunic. Located the other side of a large and sleepy dog we see a Infanterie in smart Dunkelblau of 1. Ober-elsässiches Infanterie-Regt. Nr.167. The Infanterie also holding a small football poses for the photograph. Seen above him is a young girl in white, suggested daughter of the woman standing behind, a likely nurse or family member of a patient of the Hospital. Seen to the right of her is notably the most visually wounded, with a large patch across his nose can be seen a Solider who also has an EK2 award. Lastly clearly notable is another Füsilier of Füsilier-Regt. von Gerdsdorff (1.Kurhessisches) Nr.80, seen standing at the very back with a moustache and EK2 ribbon.
There is many other men injured in the photo-postcard however it is not possible due to distance, lack of clarity and angle of which many are positioned for the photo to add any further detail to them. Notable many are in M1907/10 Jnfanterie Waffenrock tunics and a few can be seen with visiable white bandages to the head and neck. As previously mentioned it is not possible to name which one is Peter Würth but is suggested one of them that has a head injury.
The photograph shows the clear types of physical injuries that could be sustained and how many like Peter from this story we learn on the reverse shows they are lucky to be alive. The hospital being that of a Municipal Hospital within the urban district of Düsseldorf, located ; Building 21st E. 1 (wing 21st E. 1), to which could be of the same General Municipal Hospital in Düsseldorf today. This is a stunning and unique story of a lucky Peter Würth who survived his Headshot surgery writing to his friend Clemens Kieffer, to that of which he was likely in service with and which area of fighting he sustained his injury's. In reflection, these seen here were the luckier of those unfortunate to not be in the safe confines of a Hospital in their home country. Whilst others died foreign lands and lay wounded in makeshift field hospitals.
We will Never forget them.
Waww, this amazing, so surprising with this history