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 Erwin Rommel Willrich was able to secure a position in the OKW 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. Many pieces of his artwork were featured on assorted series of postcards developed by the "VDA, "Volksbund für das Deutschtum im Ausland", (National League for Germans Abroad), among others. The VDA was originally a pre-war organization formed to assist German nationals living in foreign countries and during the Third Reich era the VDA was taken over by the NSDAP and placed under the jurisdiction of the SS, Schutz Staffel, (Protection Squad). This example was produced by the VDA, as number four in the 1940 "E" series of fund raising postcards. Of Note: A WWI veteran Eugen Meindl went on to participate in the invasion of Crete as a Generalmajor und Kommandeur of the Fallschirm-Jäger-Luftlande Sturm Regiment 1, where he was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross on June 14TH 1941. Meindl also participated in the campaign in Russia and on the western front. Meindl’s other awards included the Narvik Shield, the Crete Cufftitle, a black Wound Badge, a Russian Front medal. Meindl was eventually promoted to the rank of General der Fallschirmtruppe and was also awarded the Oak-leaves and Swords to his Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross. Meindl was imprisoned by the allies on May 25TH 1945 and released on September 29TH 1947. Meindl passed away in Munich on January 24TH 1951.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Roughly, 15cm x 10.5cm, mid -weight card stock, partially colorized, artwork postcard features a close-up profile of Oberst Eugen Albert Max Meindl wearing a great coat and mountain trooper’s cap clutching a pair of binoculars in his hands, in the foreground with the tactical emblem of a falling comet of the Sturm regiment and Willrich’s initial cypher, "W", interspersed with the date, "1940", in the background. Meindl’s great coat and cap are done in charcoal while his face and hands are in full color. The reverse of the postcard has black printed, Gothic style script which includes, "Oberst Meindl sprang als ältester deutscher Offizier mit seinem Bataillon bei Narvik zur Verstärkung der Verteidiger unter General der Gebirgstruppen Dietl vom Flugzeug ab.", (Oberst Meindl was the oldest German Officer to jumped from an airplane with his Battalion at Narvik to reinforce the defenders under General of the Mountain Troops Dietl.). The reverse also has additional printed script that includes, "VDA, "Volksbund für das Deutschtum im Ausland", (National League for Germans Abroad).