Frohe Weihnachten & Happy Christmas to all our followers. Thank you for your support throughout 2023 !
This is part of the KB41 Weihnachten Series & KB41 Collection On This Day Series
The post here shows a Weihnachten (Christmas) Postcard addressed to a Mr Ernst Tröger on the 21/12/14. This Postcard is a detailed Feldpost Postcard, which shows that the Postcard has been sent from Bautzen. One brother to another. This Feldpostcard being sent via military mail means that no postage stamp was required. The Feldpost card details the writings on the front and reverse of someone in service writing of news of their family on the 21st December 1914. The Postcard is seen detailed with the patriotic Tri-colour of Imperial Germany; Red, White and Black border, with oak branches, an anchor and flag displaying the German Naval Flag. All of this topped by a glowing yellow star, to symbolise Weihnachten (Christmas). To resemble the star that Mary and Joseph saw during the travel to Bethlehem, that is often used to top a Weihnachtsbaum (Christmas Tree). This is a crisp patriotic card that shows symbolism of the Kaiserliche Marine (Imperial German Navy).
The Front Reads as :
Unser Gott
- unsre Ehre,
unsre Hoffnung!
Auf ein
Gesundes Wiedersehen.
Viele Grüße
von Vater Mutter und Geschwister
The Reverse reads as:
Feldpost
Herrn
Ernst Tröger
in Hohendorf
Post: Waldkirchen
(Erzgeb) No. 18
Lieber Bruder und Schwägerin,
Euren Brief erhalten und sage meinen
besten Dank. Habe Max auch geschrieben,
hat mir auch gleich geantwortet. Mir
geht es gut was ich auch von Euch hoffe.
Es grüßt herzlich Alfred
The Front in English Reads as:
Our God
- our honour,
our hope!
To a healthy reunion
many regards
from father mother and siblings
The Reverse in English reads as:
Mr
Ernst Tröger
in Hohendorf
Post: Waldkirchen
(Erzgeb) No. 18
Dear brother and sister-in-law,
I have received your letter and want to say
my best thanks. I also wrote to Max, he
replied straight away. I am doing well, and
I hope the same for you.
Greetings Alfred
The Feldpostcard is seen addressed to a "Mr Ernst Tröger" who lives in Hohendorf but details an interesting route, showing the postal route and with it the postal history. The Feldpostcard being sent from one brother to another. The Brother sending is called Alfred, who sends this postcard to his Brother and Sister-in-law in Hohendorf. Hohendorf is located in Northern Germany and is a coastal village which is located near the Baltic Sea. The Brother who the Postcard is addressed to, Ernst Tröger living in this village is suggested that he is in the Kaiserliche Marine (Imperial German Navy). Northern Germany famous for its rich maritime and naval heritage, Kiel being the most infamous for its U-boat production and pens.
The front of the Postcard reads: "Our God - our honour, our hope!" These words written in script printed on the front that is the greeting alongside the Christmas imagery of the Postcard. Words to lift the morale and spirits of the patriotic people and servicemen of Germany. Also seen on the front are words written by Alfred in ink with faint lines underneath neatly that reads in English as "To a healthy reunion, many regards, from father mother and siblings" This assumed that Alfred has met up with or still lives with their parents and siblings for this message to be written on the front. The heartfelt message hoping that a healthy reunion of the family soon. This would be a much received and warm greeting from not just his brother writing this but the message from home of his parents and other siblings would give a much needed morale boost and make Ernst feel closer to home whilst away in service.
The postal history associated with this Feldpostcard can be seen written by its address and also by the hand cancel. The Feldpostcard addressed with a final destination to Ernst in Hohenforf, but starts its journey in "Waldkirchen" (biggest town in the district of Freyung-Grafenau, South East Germany ) as written in the address, this suggested to be where Alfred and his family live. From here the Feldpostcard travels and receives a hand-cancel in "Bautzen" (A city in East Germany) to where the hand-cancel dates the Feldpostcard to 21/12/14 before finally reaching its destination in Hohenforf.
The detailed message written on the reverse is brief but shows well wishes to his brother (Ernst) and his wife (Sister-in-law) with a message to show that Alfred had received the letter that his brother had sent, thanking him for this. Alfred writing that he also wrote to Max (an assumed mutual friend or relative) who replied straight away. This being concluded briefly that Alfred is doing well and he hopes his brother is too. Before signing it "Es grüßt herzlich Alfred" Greetings Alfred.
The First World War starting nearly 5 months ago from when this Feldpostcard was written, on the 28th July 1914 shows that this is the first Christmas that many would have been away from home for whilst in service. Little did people know another three Christmases would be spent away in service before the end of the First World War. Postcards and letters such as these would allow families to communicate with loved ones in service and those who answered the call to serve their nation to receive news and well wishes from home. This providing morale and support to those who would miss home whilst in service.
Seen here with the Imperial German Navy flag, Ernst being in the Kaiserliche Marine. The Imperial German Navy that was first founded in 1871 and would disband at the end of the First World War in 1918. It was Kaiser Wilhelm II who greatly expanded the Imperial Navy from what was a basic coastal defence to a powerful Naval power that was the second strongest to the British Royal Navy.
Alfred and his family proud of his brothers service show their love and support for him at this difficult time of the Christmas period, where families would in peacetime spend time together celebrating religious and traditional activities. This sadly wouldn't be available for many until the end of the conflict in 3 years. Those who could would only be able to see their families for brief visits on leave or as apart of their recovery from wounds sustained in service but sadly many would never be able to see their families again. Many paying the ultimate sacrifice, many table that would have been filled with joy and laughter would sadly be empty and many families living with grief and sadness. Their sacrifice and service not being forgotten. It is not known what Ernst did in the Kaiserliche Marine but it is hoped that Ernst would have survived the war and spent Christmas in this "healthy reunion" as detailed in the words written on the front of this crisp Weihnachten Feldpostcard.
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