BACKGROUND: Artwork, as a propaganda tool, was widely used during the Third Reich and Hitler’s own humble artistic background also helped foster a general interest in German art. Many art exhibitions were held through-out German during the time period with the largest being held annually, ever summer from 1937 to 1944, at the German House of Art in Munich. As early as 1938 the OKW, Oberkommando der Wehrmacht, (High Command of the Armed Forces), actively began recruiting artists who were assigned to a units Propaganda Company along with photographers and journalists. By the end of the war almost two hundred war artists had served in the Wehrmacht. One of the most prolific, and as a result one of the best known German war artists was Feldwebel Wolfgang Willrich. Willrich a WWI veteran, had volunteer for military service prior to the outbreak of WWII but had been rejected on the basis of his age, (42), and was assigned to Landwehr I as a trained reserve. Through his personal friendship with Irwin Rommel Willrich was able to secure a position in the OKH visual arts section of the Propaganda department. In this position Willrich painted and drew numerous personalities and regular soldiers in all branches of service through-out the war.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: A 15cm x 21cm, single sided, light weight leaflet with a copy of the artwork postcard done by the renown German war artist Wolfgang Willrich. The image Postcard features close up, portrait type, artwork of a "Kapitänleutnant Schuhart". The text reads "One of the men all Germans in the world are equally proud of: Kapitänleutnant Schuhart who was the first to sink an English capital ship, the aircraft carrier Courageous." The bottom edge also has additional printed script that includes, "Volksdeutsches Kameradschaftsopfer der deutschen Jugend-Volksbund für das Deutschtum im Ausland", (Ethnic German Comradeship Offering of the German Youth-National League for Germans Abroad) dated for January 1940.