Description
WAR REPORTER : WIESNIEWSKI
The postcard series Our Waffen SS was issued by permission of the SS – Fuhrungshauptamt (the SS Main Office for guidance, led by Heinrich Himmler) and was a part of the Nazi propaganda machine.
All the Waffen SS divisions had attached to them a Waffen SS Kreigsberichter ( war reporter ) company or platoon. All the postcards from this series are based on the images taken by these war reporters.
The postcards series Our Waffen SS consists of 60 different postcards, divided into two sets. The sets have either the number 373 or the number 374 printed on the top right of the card within the area where a stamp would placed.
All the postcards have on the reverse (address side), at the top left, two lines of text. The top line is Unsere Waffen SS and below that, a smaller format text describing the image on the front side. Furthermore, on the reverse of all postcards, at the bottom left, is text indicating the name of the war reporter who took the photograph and an authorization for publication which translates to “permission from the SS-Fuhrungshauptamt”.
The postcards are all a standard size of 4.2 x 5.9 inches (10.5 x 14.8 cm) and are printed by the Kunstverlag E.A. Schwerdtfeger & Co AG., Berlin. This information is printed on the reverse of all the postcards with vertical text in the center, dividing the card into two sections. All postcards are printed on a good quality cream base photographic stock with letter press printing on the reverse in black.
Our Waffen SS postcards were found to have several variations of the text on the reverse. This may be due to several printing editions, or printing at multiple facilities.
The earliest used postcard so far seen is from December 23, 1942. From this we surmise that the postcard images are all from Spring of 1941 through the Fall of 1942, starting with the attack on Greece and the Balkans and then the invasion of Russia on June 22, 1941 (attack named Operation Barbarossa after Emperor Frederick Barbarossa of the holy Roman Empire), where 129 German divisions, divided into three Army groups, implemented Adolf Hitler’s dream of Lebensraum (living space) for the population of Germany. Operation Barbarossa ended in December 1941.
At the beginning of Operation Barbarossa, the Waffen SS had only six divisions and approximately 160,000 men. By May of 1945 it contained 39 divisions and approximately 900,000 men. The Waffen SS units participating in Operation Barbarossa were the divisions Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler, Das Reich, Totenkoft, Polizei, Wiking (from July 1, 1941), Nord , 9th SS Standarte (SS Infantry Regiment 9) and SS Volunteer Battalion Nordost. There were also additional reserve and independent units from Administrative Department, Concentration Camp Inspectorate, SS Officer & NCO Schools, SS Guard Battalions, and SS Garrison Posts.
I believe the postcards are images from the battles on the Eastern Front ( June 1941 – May 1945 ) and from the Greece campaign ( Operation Marita, April 6, 1941), where 21 German divisions, including the Waffen SS Division Leibstandarte, attacked Greece and Yugoslavia due to the reverse suffered by the Italian forces and their weak performance in the region.
ALSO VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.MILITARYTOUR.COM FOR MUCH MORE MILITARIA
Additional information
Weight | 0.03 kg |
---|
Vendor Info
- Military Tour
- Vendor: Doug Johnston
-
Address:
210 Dufferin Avenue
Winnipeg MB R2W 2X5
-
M-44 GOGGLES WITH BALLISTIC LENSES . GENUINE U.S. GOVERNMENT
Sold by Military TourGenuine American Government Issue. Excellent protection from dust, wind and sun. Two snap-in extra lenses. Foam padding for comfortable fit. Adjustable O.D. headband. Condition: New. Please note: Original government boxes may be damaged from storage wear. The glasses and lenses…
-
GERMAN SS TOTENKOPF (Mirror Horizontal) FOREIGN VOLUNTEER UNIT ENLISTED MAN COLLAR TABS
Sold by Military TourGray on black. Pairs complete. Excellent quality. ALSO VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.MILITARYTOUR.COM FOR MUCH MORE MILITARIA
-
KNIGHT CROSS KAPITANLEUTNANT GUNTHER PRIEN KOMMANDANT U-47
Sold by Military TourA4 Sized letter Typed on an original period SS-typewriter ALSO VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.MILITARYTOUR.COM FOR MUCH MORE MILITARIA
-
GERMAN WW2 GRENADE BZ 39 EGG IGNITION FUZE INERT
Sold by Military TourThe Ignition Fuze 39 (Brennzünder 39) was the standard fuze used for the Eihandgranate 39 Egg Hand Grenade and also the Model 43 Stick grenade. Comes complete with friction wire that has a pull lanyard attached and connected to the cap.…
-
COLT PYTHON 6″ REVOLVER – BLACK – INCLUDES SPEED LOADER
Sold by Military TourCOLT PYTHON 6" REVOLVER - BLACK - INCLUDES SPEED LOADER ALSO VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.MILITARYTOUR.COM FOR MUCH MORE MILITARIA
-
GERMAN WW2 AGED 1/2 BASKET CHICKEN WIRE HELMET COVER
Sold by Military TourThese German M42 M40 and M35 chicken wire covers are made in europe. So they are made with good european chicken wire. This is a five-twist single strand chicken-wire half basket. Generally wire of the era was woven with three, five,…