Postcard 1: The town of Coucy-le-chateau is an excellent observation post; from the top of the castle keep one can see for 40km. On 1st September the town fell into German hands and in the woods of the lower town near the marshalling yard the German army set up secretly a gun with a range of 25-30km with which to hit the towns used to supply the French fort.

Up until 1916 the town did not suffer from attacks but later the German adopted a scorched earth policy; the inhabitants were evacuated, everything that could be of use to the French was destroyed or taken away and the castle blown up with 28 tonnes of dynamite.

Frl. Ella Langer

Damenschneiderin

Ebersdorf b. Chemnitz i. Sachsen

Poststraße N. 31

military postmark without geographical implications, dated 26. 4. 15 7-8 N

[handwritten military details of the sender, of which I can only clearly read his rank, Unteroffizier] 

Cousi le Château 

Liebe Ella!

Teile Euch mit daß ich jetzt in Cousi le Château Frankreich bin.  War erst in Leine [?] bin aber jetzt nach hier versetzt worden.  War [?] bestimmt [?] sehr fiel [sic] zu sehen fahren bald hier und da hin.  Mir gefällt es sehr gut hier, gesund bin ich auch noch.

Besten Gruß

sendet Euch Paul

Dear Ella!

Letting you know that I am now in Cousi le Château France.  Was first in Leine [?] but have now been transferred here.  There was probably a lot to see here [?] travelling around here and there.  I really like it here, and I’m also still in good health.

Best regards

sent by your Paul

Postcard 2:

Polish [Russian?] civilian postcard, addressed to

Frälein Ella Langer

Ebersdorf b. Chemnitz

Poststraße 31

military postmark without geographical implications, dated 8. 5. 15 6-7 N

handwritten military details of the sender: Abs. Gefrt. Böhme, can’t decipher other details

Im Osten, den 7. 5. 15.

Wertes Fräulein!

Ihre liebe Liebesgabensendung habe ich erhalten, und [illegible, grammatically necessary addition squashed in] Ihnen auch vielmals Dank.  Werde mir alles gut schmecken lassen.  Wir befinden uns immer noch in der Nähe von diesem Städtchen.  Wollen wünschen, daß der schreckliche Krieg bald ein Ende nehme, und wir alle gesund heimkehren können.  Noch vielmals dankend grüßt Sie herzlichst Willi Böhme

In the east, 7 May 15

Esteemed young lady!

I have received your gift parcel, sent from a warm heart, and I thank you many times.  I’ll really enjoy eating it all.  We are still near this little town.  Let us hope that the dreadful war will soon come to an end and that we will all be able to return home in good health.  Thanking you many times yet again warmest greetings 

Willi Böhme

Postcard 3: It was commonly known as the Kierbedzia bridge after its designer Stanislaw Kierbedz.It was opened in 1864 and officially named after the current tsar, the Alexander bridge.

On August 15th 1915 the Russian troops withdrawing from Warsaw blew up the two middle spans without damaging the pillars. The bridge was rebuilt in 1916 but with a new design. In 1944 it was destroyed again by retreating German forces.

Polish [Russian?] civilian postcard, “Feldpost” added by hand, addressed to

Frau Olga Anke

Oberwiesenthal Sachsen

Bezirk Annaberg

Erzgebirge

military postmark, no geographical indication, dated 12. 11. 15 6-7 N

handwritten details of sender, illegible

Rußland d. 12. 11. 15

Liebe Familie

Sende Euch die besten Grüße.  Mir geht es so weit noch gut hoffe auch dasselbe von Euch.  Eine von Russen gesprengte Brücke über die Weichsel, auch diese Gegend ist wenig verschont geblieben.  Seit [sic] nochmals gegrüßt von [?] Eurem [?] Vater [Vetter?]

Russia, 12 December 15

Sending you my best greetings.  So far I’m still fine hope the same of you, too.  A bridge across the Vistula, blown up by the Russians, this area, too, has been spared little.  Greetings yet again from your father [cousin?]

Postcard 4: The capture by the Germans of Wlodawa in August 1915 was strategically important as it lay on the Wlodawa - Brest - Litovsk railway line.

civilian postcard, two military stamps, one giving date: 19. 12. 15 5-6 N

handwritten details of sender: Unteroff. P. [?] Anke [a name we had in 2/3], rest just military details

addressed to 

Ella Langer

Damenschneiderin

Ebersdorf b. Chem.

Poststraße No 31

Sachsen

Rußland d. 19. 12. 15

Liebe Mutter u. Ella

Eure liebe Post habe ich erhalten und habe mich sehr darüber gefreut und sage hiermit meinen besten Dank.  Mir geht es soweit noch gut und gesund bin ich auch noch was ich von Euch auch hoffe.  Wünsche Euch ebenfalls gesunde und fröhliche Weihnachtsfeiertage.  Viele Grüße [?] an alle.  Es grüßt Euch herzlichst Paul

Russia, 19 December 15

Dear Mother a. Ella

Have received your dear mailing and was really delighted with it and herewith express my best thanks.  So far I’m still ok and I’m also still in good health which I hope is also the case with you.  Also wishing you healthy and cheerful days over Christmas.  Many greetings to all.  Warmest greetings Paul

Postcard 5: The first heavy bombing of Bialystok took place in April 1915 and it was occupied in August.

Postcard 6: General view of the Wisly river at Plock

civilian Russian postcard, “Feldpost” added by hand; regimental stamp illegible to me, on other stamp

No sender details

addressed to

Familie

E. Langer

Ebersdorf-Chemnitz

Poststraße 31

no handwritten place or date, very unusual

Werte Familie Langer

Zum Weihnachtsfeste bekam ich die Ansichtspostkarten als Liebesgabe vom Battl. u hatte Ihre werte Adresse verlegt, fand Sie [sic] aber erst heute wieder und kann es nicht unterlassen, Ihnen meinen herzlichsten Dank dafür auszusprechen.  Wir befinden uns im Osten in der Nähe von Plock [?] sende Ihnen zum Danke diese Karte von hier.  Sonst bin ich noch gesund und hoffen [?] daß der Krieg bald zu Ende geht, grüßt Sie unbekannter Weise Gefrt. der Landj. William [sic] Böhme

[rest tiny and very hard to read, probably just the sender details which other writers put on top]

Honoured Lange Family

For Christmas I received the picture postcards as a present from the battallion [?] and couldn’t find your honoured address and only found it again today and must not omit expressing my warmest thanks for it [unclear what for, as he’s just stated that the cards came from the battallion].  We are here in the east near Plock [?] and am sending this card from here by way of thanks.  Otherwise I’m still in good health and hope that the war will soon come to an end, greetings, though not knowing you personally*, Private William Böhme 

translator’s note: *unbekannterweise: this is a turn of phrase used quite frequently in German, e g if a group of friends on holiday together sends a postcard home to somebody most of them know, then the one who doesn’t will add his/her name “unbekannterweise”.  What is likely to apply here is the custom that, in times of crisis or at least of known need like local floods, individuals/individual households will be encouraged to pack parcels, not knowing who the recipient will be.  These parcels will then be collected by some central organisation and distributed to those who need them.  Willi Böhme may have been such a recipient, and the packing family must have enclosed a note giving their name and address

Postcard 7: Historically a strategic bridge where exchanges of prisoners took place and convicts were executed. In the summer of 1914 the Belgian army blew up three arches of the bridge hoping to slow the advance of the German army. Rebuilt, the bridge was destroyed again in 1940 for similar reasons.

civilian French language postcard, “Feldpost” added by hand; postmarked “Betriebswerkstätte Bonet [?]”, no date

addressed to

Frau

Emilie verw. Langer

Ebersdorf

b. Chemnitz i./Sachsen

Langens Berg [?]

Rouet, d. 28. II. 18

Liebe Mutter u. Ella!

Vor allem herzlichsten Dank und Grüße für das mir übersandte ich hätte Euch bei meinem letzten Urlaub gern mit besucht leider war die Zeit zu kurz, sonst geht alles noch soweit gut, hoffe dasselbe auch bei Euch.  Bitte last [sic] auch einmahl [sic] etwas von Euch hören, hoffend auf ein gesundes baldiges Wiedersehen grüßt Euch alle recht herzlich in Treue

Euer Edmund

down the side: Bitte viele herzliche Grüße an alle Familie Max usw.

Dear Mother a. Ella!

Above all warmest thanks and greetings for that which has been sent to me I would have loved to visit you during my last leave but unfortunately there wasn’t enough time, otherwise everything is still ok, hope the same with you, too.  Please do let me hear from you soon, hoping we’ll see each other again soon in good health really warm faithful greetings from 

your Edmund

down the side: please [convey] warm greetings to all in the Max Family etc.

Postcard 8: Railway bridge at Comines

civilian postcard, “Feldpost” added by hand; two postmarks, one just indicating this is a letter (when it’s a postcard!), the other supplying unit and date: 13. 12. 15 5-6 N

upside down above actual message the sender’s detail, of which I can only make out the surname Langer with any certainty

addressed to:

Frl. Ella Langer

Schneiderin

Ebersdorf /Chemnitz i. Sa

Poststr. [no number]

am Berg

no handwritten date

Liebe Tante u. Großmutter

Bin wieder glücklich im Schützengraben gelandet soweit noch gesund und munter, aber möchte gleich noch mal 10 Tage zu Hause sein, nochmals besten Dank für alles.  Besten Gruß sendet Arthur [?]

Grüßt Emil [?] u. Liane [?]

Dear Aunt a. Grandmother

Successfully landed back in the trenches so far still hale and hearty but would love to have another ten days back home immediately, yet again best thanks for everything.  Warmest greetings are sent by 

Arthur [?]

Greetings to Emil [?] a. Liane [?]

Postcard 9: Kowel was an important centre of Jewish culture and a strategic location both during the First World War and the Russian Revolution.

civilian postcard, “Feldpost” added by hand; military postmark without geographical indications, dated 30. 6. 16 8-9 V

addressed to

Fräulein

Ella Langer,

Schneiderin

in Ebersdorf b. Chemnitz (i. Sachsen)

Poststraße Nr. 31 I

another stamp bang across some of the writing shows that the writer was part of a company that built roads

Geschr. d. 29./6. 1916

Liebe Tante u. Großmutter

Theile [sic] Euch hierdurch mit, daß wir seit voriger Woche in Rußland sein [sic].  Wir sind da 88 Stunden auf der Eisenbahn gefahren.  Auch hatten wir [?] gute Verpflegung auf der Fahrt.  Hier ist es auch tüchtig warm.  Ich arbeite seit einigen Tagen mit im Wald.  Wie geht es denn Euch allen?  Hoffentlich gut!  Ich bin noch gesund und munter, was ich auch von Euch hoffe.  Das Essen ist hier auch ganz gut.  Ich will nun schließen.  Meine neue Adresse schreibe ich Euch mit. [thanks to that stamp the family will have had a job deciphering it!]

no personal signature, instead his name, Walter Lange, and rank followed by all his military/postal details.  

Written 29 June 1916

Dear Aunt a. Grandmother

Lettin you know by these [lines] that since last week we’ve been in Russia.  We travelled by train for 88 hours to get there.  We also had good provisions during the journey.  It’s really warm here, too.  For the last few days I’ve been employed helping in the forest.  I wonder how you all are?  Well, I hope!  I’m still hale and hearty, which I also hope of you.  The food here is also pretty good.  I should now end.  I’m letting you have my new address.

Postcard 10: On 31 August 1914, the Germans entered Rethel and started a fire. It burned for three days and destroyed over 550 buildings, 70% of the town. 13 people lost their lives. 

Feldpostkarte, postmarked 19. 4. 16 3-4 N

handwritten sender’s details more or less obliterated by another stamp again confirming this comes from a member of an engineers’ unit, building roads

addressed to

Fräulein

Ella Langer, Schneiderin

in Ebersdorf b. Chemnitz (i. Sachs.)

Poststraße Nr. 31 I.

Geschr. d. 18./4. 1916

Liebe Tante u. Großmutter!

Ich wünsche Euch alle [suc] auch recht herzliche [sic] gesunde und glückliche Feiertage.  Hoffentlich habt ihr [sic] auch meinen Brief erhalten.  Eure zwei Pakete habe ich auch erhalten und sage nochmals meinen besten Dank dafür.  Mir geht es noch sehr gut.  Es grüßt Euch alle herzlich Walter

Auf Wiedersehn!

Written 18 April 1916

Dear Aunt a. Grandmother!

I wish all of you really healthy and happy feast days [presumably Easter].  I hope you have received my letter, too.  I have also received your two parcels and yet again express my best thanks for them.  I’m still fine.  Warmest greetings to you all

Walter

See you soon!

Postcard 11: Soupir churchyard was the scene of fierce fighting in September 1914 and remained close to the frontline for much of the war.

civilian postcard, “Feldpostkarte” added by hand; military postmark 14. 8. 15 12-1 V

addressed to 

Frl.

Ella Lange

Damenschneiderin

Ebersdorf b. Chemnitz

Poststraße No. 31 

Sachsen

sender’s details across the top, Unteroff. P. [?] Anke etc

11. 7. 1915 [big difference to postmark!]

Liebe Mutter u. Ella!

Eben habe ich das Paket erhalten.  Habe mich sehr darüber gefreut und sage hiermit meinen besten Dank.  Liebe Ella wenn Du schreibst wollt man Gesellschaft Sonntag d. 7. [illegible word] zu Hause machen, es wird ihnen wohl schwer fallen wie es wieder gehen soll [???].  Mir geht es soweit noch gut waß [sic] ich auch von Euch hoffe.  Nochmals besten Dank.  Es grüßt Euch Paul

Dear Mother a. Ella!

Just received the parcel.  Was really delighted with it and herewith express my best thanks.  Dear Ella if you write that on Sunday 7 [something illegible suggesting the plan of a party] at home, they’ll probably find it hard to psee?] how things might carry on [???].  I’m still fine which I also hope of you.  Yet again best thanks!  Greetings from your Paul

Postcard 12: Louvain was the target of German reprisals at the end of August 1914 that shocked the world. Many buildings, including the church of St Peter were deliberately damaged by fire and there were summary executions of citizens of all ages.

Photo of St Pierre’s in Louvain, with sender’s details added by hand; he’s an engine driver (Lokomotivführer)

civilian postcard changed to “Feldpostkarte” by hand, postmarked 29. 9. 15 10-11 V

no sender’s details

addressed to

Frau

verw. Emilia Langer

Ebersdorf

b. Chemnitz i./ Sachsen

Langer Berg Poststr. 17 

Namur, d. 26./ 9. 15

Liebe Mutter!

Herzliche Glück u. Segenswünsche zu Deinem Geburtstag sendet Dir von ganzem Herzen

Edmund

hoffend auf ein baldiges Wiedersehen bitte grüße an alle Geschwister von Edmund

down the side: mir geht es noch sehr gut hoffendlich [sic] Euch allen auch

Namur, 26 June 15

Dear Mother!

Warmest wishes for happiness and blessings on the occasion of your birthday are being sent to you from the bottom of my heart by Edmund.

hoping we’ll see each other again soon please pass on greetings to all siblings from Edmund

down the side: I’m still very well hope the same of all of you, too

Postcard 13: The failure of the Russian army to retake the strategic city of Kowel in 1916 virtually ended the involvement of the Russians in WWI. Approximately half of the city's residents were Jewish, a group who suffered particularly at the hands of the Cossack soldiers when they were accused of anti-Russian sentiments.

civilian postcard, “Feldpost” added by hand; postmarked 23. 9. 16

addressed to

An Frau

Emilia Langer,

in Ebersdorf b. Chemnitz (i. S.)

Poststraße Nr. 31 I

sender’s details unusually clear: Abs. Landsturm Walter Langer III. Straßenbau Komp. 6V, Feldpoststation 201 Bug-Armee

Geschr. d. 22./1. 1916

Liebe Großmutter!

Ich sende Dir auch die besten Glück- u. Segenswünsche zu Deinem Geburtstag und hoffe Dir [?] Gesundheit, daß Du ihn noch vielmals erlebest.  Auch mir geht es so weit noch ganz gut und bin noch gesund und munter, was ich auch von Dir hoffe.  Die herzlichsten Grüße sendet Dir Dein Enkel Walter

Viele Grüße an Ella und alle anderen

Written 22 January 1916

Dear Grandmother!

I am sending you my best wishes for happiness and blessings on the occasion of your birthday and hope for health for you, and that you will live to experience it many more times [there’s nothing like “many happy returns” in German - translator].  I, too, am still quite well so far and I’m still hale and hearty, something I hope of you, too.  The warmest greetings are being sent to you by your grandson Walter.

Many greetings to Ella and all the others

Postcard 14: Anvers (Antwerp): The seige of Antwerp in 1914 lead to the final capitulation of the Belgian army although thousands of soldiers and civilians did escape, many to Holland where they stayed for the remainder of the war.

Feldpostkarte postmarked 8. 6. 16 10-11 V, another stamp tells us this comes from a soldier who builds roads

addressed to 

Fräulein Ella Langer,

Schneiderin

Ebersdorf b. Chemnitz (i. S.)

Poststraß3e Nr. 31 I

Geschr. d. 7./ 6. 1916

Liebe Tante u. Großmutter!

Die besten Pfingst-Grüße aus Frankreich sendet Euch allen recht herzlich Walter.  Mir geht es soweit noch ganz gut wie ich auch von Euch hoffe.  Wie geht es denn Euch?  Hoffentlich gut.  War auch der Otto [?] schon mal auf Urlaub?  Vorige Woche gab es bei uns auch Grüne Klöße das ist nämlich mein Leibfutter, die haben sehr gut geschmeckt.  Ich will nun schließen.

rest are sender’s details: Pionier Walter Langer III - then just abbreviations

Written 7 June 1916

Dear Aunt a. Grandmother!  

The best wishes for Whitsun, sent from France, are sent to you by Walter.  I’m still quite well, something I hope for you, too.  How are you getting on?  I hope well.  Has Otto also been on leave?  Last week we, too, were served green* dumplings here - my favourite dish, you know - they were really lovely.  I will now end.

*translator’s note: the green will have been achieved by the addition of spinach or herbs to the dumpling mass

Postcard 15: Namur sports stadium and Citadelle hotel

French language civilian postcard, “Feldpost” added by hand; military postmark 30. 10. 17 8-9 V, and another postmark which certainly tells us the sender is from the army of Saxony and possibly that he works in a unit installing telephones - not clear enough to be sure.

addressed to 

Frau

verw. Langer

Ebersdorf b./ Chemitz

i./ Sachsen

Poststr. No I [?]

Liebe Großmutter!

Die herzlichsten Grüße aus Namur senden Euch Kurt u. Vater

Grüße an Emil u. Frau

Dear Grandmother!

The warmest greeting from Namur are sent to you by Kurt a. Father

Greetings to Emil a. wife

Postcard 16: The ruins of Rethel with the castle hill

Feldpostkarte postmarked 10. 4. 16 3-4 N, another stamp showing this company builds roads

addressed to

Fräulein

Ella Langer, Schneiderin

Ebersdorf b. Chemnitz (i. Sachsen.)

Poststraße Nr. 31 I

Frankreich d. 8./ 4, 1916

Liebe Tante u. Großmutter!

Eure 2 Pakete habe ich erhalten und habe mich sehr darüber gefreut.  Ich sage auch meinen besten Dank dafür.  Auch ein Paket von meinen Eltern habe ich mit erhalten.  Liebe Tante u. Großmutter ob ihr [sic] Landsturmmann oder Armierungssoldat [?] oder Pionier schreibt, das ist egal.  Ich erhalte deswegen die Post.  Hoffentlich habt ihr [sic] auch meine Photographie erhalten.  Ich will nun schließen.  Es grüßt Euch alle herzlich Walter    Auf Wiedersehn!

France, 8 April 1916

Dear Aunt a. Grandmother!

I have received your 2 parcels and was really delighted with them.  I’m also expressing my warmest thanks for them.  I also received a parcel from my parents at the same time.  Dear Aunt a. Grandmother it doesn’t matter whether you write Landsturmmann or Armierungssoldat or Pioneer.  I get the mail anyway.  I hope you have also received my photo.  I will end now.  Warmest greetings to you all [from] Walter.  See you again!

Postcard 17: Anvers town hall and Brabo statue

Photo of the town hall of Anvers.  Handwritten upside down on top edge:

Beste Grüße sendet Dir, sowie Großmutter u. Emil mit Familie Euer Karl [?]

This is just the photo side of a postcard, the side with the address and sender’s details is missing.

Best greetings are being sent to you, as well as to Grandmother a. Emil with family, by your Karl

civilian postcard with “Feld-Postkarte” added by hand, postmarked 11. 2. 15; this postmark obliterates most of the sender’s details - surname Langer; another stamp identifies this as coming from a member of a reserve infantery regiment

addressed to

Fräulein

Ella Langer

Schneiderin

Ebersdorf b. Chemnitz

Poststr. 31

Sachsen

Moorslade d. 10./ 2. 1915 [rare, that a place name is given]

Liebe Ella, soeben Dein wertes Paket erhalten, sage Dir auch meinen besten Dank dafür.  Mir geht es soweit ganz gut, haben immer genug zu essen u. bekommen nun auch noch [illegible word] aus der Heimat, daß ich gar nicht weiß, wie ich alles vertun [???] soll.

[Very unfinished, no signature]

Moorslade 10 February 1915

Dear Ella, just received your honoured parcel, expressing my greatest thanks for it.  So far I’m quite well, [we] always get enough to eat a. now also receive so much (alas: illegible word] from back home that I don’t know how to keep up with it.

Postcard 18: Another railway blown up by the Belgian army to hinder the German advance in 1914.

French civilian postcard, with “carte postale” crossed out twice (printed crossing-out?) and replaced in print by FELDPOST.  Civilian, but German postmark: Namur 21. 11. 14 5-6N, Belgien; addressed to

Frau verw. Langer

Ebersdorf b. Chemnitz

i/ Sachsen

Frankenbergerstr. [added clearly as an afterthought, and not the usual road]

Liebe Mutter Schwagers [sic] u. Schwägerin

Mir geht es hier gut bleibt alle Gesund [sic] und last [sic] auch mahl [sic] etwas von euch hören.

Grüßt Euch alle herzl. Edmund

strange pre-printed addendum:

Sende meine besten Wünsche von Namûr und ein pöhlisches Wiedersehen

Namûr [filled in by hand] 21. [back to pre-printed] November 1914

Dear Mother brothers-in-law and sister-in-law

I’m fine here [hope you] all stay in good health and do occasionally show a leg.

Warm greetings to all of you Edmund

Sending my best wishes from Namûr and here’s to a pöhlisch reunion.  

[translator’s note: no idea what “pöhlisch” might mean; sounds like a mangled version of “Polish”, but why would soldiers want to be re-united with family in Poland, and that frequently enough to be a pre-printed greeting?]

Postcard 19: A very detailed account of the events in Betheniville at the beginning of WWI can be found here.

Feldpostkarte, military postmark 24. 12. 15 11-12 V, i e Christmas Eve, the heart of Christmas for Germans; another stamp from the reserve infantry regiment

addressed to

Frau 

Olga Anke [Sonke?]

Oberwiesenthal

i./ Erzgebirge

Den 22./ 12. 1915

Liebe Familie Sonke [??]

Haben Sie herzlichsten Dank für Ihr l. Paket, was ich gesund u. munter genießen kann.

Gleichzeitig herzl. Wünsche zum Jahreswechsel

Ihr erg. Klitte [???]

22 December 1915

Dear Sonke Family

Accept my warmest thanks for your dear parcel, which I am able to enjoy hale a. hearty.

At the same time warm greetings for the change-over of years

your devoted Klitte

Postcard 20: Kowno (Kaunas) fortress was a key defensive position for the Russian army. The Germans used seige guns including the Gamma-Gerat howitzer which fired shells of 1 tonne to demolish its fortifications within 11 days at the end of August 1915.

civilian postcard, probably military postmark 21. 12. 16 11-12 V

sender Walter Langer etc

addressed to

Fräulein

Ella Langer, Schneiderin

Ebersdorf b. Chemnitz (i. Sachsen)

Poststraße Nr 31 I

Geschr. d. 21./ 12. 1916

Liebe Tante u. Großmutter!

Die besten Weihnachtsgrüße aus Rußland sendet Euch recht herzlich Walter.  Auch ich bin so weit noch gesund und munter, was ich auch von Euch hoffe.  Euer liebes Kärtchen zu meinem Geburtstage habe ich auch erhalten und mich sehr darüber gefreut.  Sage Euch auch meinen besten Dank dafür.  Ich will nun schließen.  Seid [sic] herzlich gegrüßt von Eurem Enkel u. Neffn [sic]

Written 21 December 1916

Dear Aunt a. Grandmother!

The best Christmas greetings from Russia are sent to you, quite warmly, by Walter.  I, too, am so far still hale and hearty, something I hope of you, too.  I have also received your little birthday card and was really pleased with it.  Thanking you all warmly for it.  I will now end.  Be warmly greeted by your grandson a. nephew 

Postcard 21:

This has two sheets.  It’s a civilian postcard, and the text on the address side is the continuation of the letter that starts on the full-page bit.  It has no discernable connection with the war.

postmarked München 17. 3. 15 6-7 N. pre-printed postage stamp

addressed to 

An Frau Wwe Ch. Wingert

Gasthaus zum Goldnen Apfel

in Barr (Elsass)

text from next sheet:

München den 17 März 1915

Meine Liebe.

Wir haben, Gott sei Dank glückliche Reise herher gemacht und waren froh, als Wir [sic] in München aussteigen konnten.  Herr Feurstein [sic], Emil und Mme Krafft haben uns abgeholt.  Bei uns geht es gut, ich bin schon ein wenig eingewöhnt.  Du brauchts [sic] keine Angst zu haben, wir verhungern noch nicht, es giebt hier noch genug Brot und Kuchen, ich finde das Schwarzbrot hier besser, als bei uns.  Heute ist Frau Krafft wieder abgereist.  Am Sontg [sic] waren wir bei Vokt [sic - normally spelt Voigt] zum Thee 

Munich 17 March 1915

My dear one [the person being addressed is female]

Thank God our journey here was happy and we were glad when we could get off [the train] in Munich.  Herr Feurstein, Emile and Mme Krafft were there to meet us.  We are all well here, I’ve already settled in a bit.  You need not worry, we aren’t yet starving, here’s still enough bread and cake here, I prefer the dark bread here to ours.  Today Mrs Krafft departed again.  On Sunday [abbreviated in the German] we went to Vokts for tea

back to front of postcard:

es ist Schade [sic], dass Du nicht dabei warst.  Wie geht es bei Euch allen, und was macht Euer Kranker in Strasburg [sic], hoffentlich besser.

Viele grüsse [sic] und Küsse von uns allen, an Dich, und Deine ganze Familie.

Deine S. Müller

a pity you weren’t there with us.  How are you all, and how is your sick person in Strasbourg getting on, I hope better.

Many greetings and kisses from all of us, to you, and to all your family.

Your S. Müller

Postcard 22: Photo of Somme-Py (Champagne)

Feldpostkarte, military postmark 16. Jul 17 1-2 N; another stamp identifying the military unit and using this strange term “Armierung” which we had earlier on in 2/16

addressed to

Frau

Auguste Kaufsen [???] 

Rees b,/Rg [????]

Markt 12 [major miracle this ever arrived - or maybe it didn’t]

name of sender may just be Sold. Kopps, rest of detail even more illegible

Im Felde 15. 4. 1917 [sic, three months before the postmark]

Liebe Auguste

Die besten Grüße sendet Peter alles gut auf Wiedersehen

At the front 15 April 1917

Dear Auguste [that’s a female name]

The best wishes are sent to you by Peter everything fine see you again

Postcard 23: Trench art sketch made in Volhynia (border of Poland and Ukraine)

18.5.1917

Postcard 24: German Military Cemetery

civilian postcard, Feldpost added by hand, probably military (a word may be “Reserve”) postmark 13. 8. 16 5-6 N, large stamp indicating it’s from a military hospital at the front; addressed to

Herrn Philipp H [rest illegible]

Hofheim ([illegible])

road illegible

another hand has added, ominously, Laz. Friedhof which could be interpreted as “military hospital cemetery” 

actual text: dated 12. 8. 1916

Lieber Schwiegervater

Dear Father-in-Law

the rest is simply to feint to read.

Postcard 25: Trench art sketch: My Quarters January 1915

Postcard 26:

civilian postcard, “Feld Post” added by hand

addressed to:

an

Fräulein 

Karoline Benz

Kästrin [???]

in Karlsruhe

Städtisches Krankenhaus [?]

Andenken von Deinem Bruder bei dem Gefecht [final word illegible - could be a place name]

A souvenir from your brother at the battle of [illegible word].

[will make sense only in conjunction with the picture that was presumably printed on the reverse of this card]

Postcard 27: Zum Andenken 1914-1916. In memory.