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 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. 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. In mid-1942 the OKH decided to have portraits of all the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross holders and Willrich was assigned the task. Of Note: Credited with sixty-eight aerial victories Major Freiherr von Günther Maltzahn was awarded a Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross on December 31ST 1940 while serving as a Hauptmann and Commander of 2ND Squadron of Fighter Wing 53. Maltzahn went on to become the 29TH recipient of the Oak-leaves to the Knight’s Cross on July 24TH 1941 and was also awarded a German cross in gold on December 23RD 1942.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Roughly, 5 7/8" x 4 1/8", mid-weight card stock, sepia toned postcard features a close up of Major Freiherr von Günther Maltzahn wearing a flight suit with his Knight’s Cross and Oak-Leaves clearly visible in the foreground and the "Pik As", (Ace of Spades), emblem and Willrich’s unique "W" initial cypher interspersed with the date, "1942", in the background. The reverse of the postcard has black printed Gothic script which includes, "Major Freiherr von Maltzahn". The reverse also has additional printed script that includes, "Verlag: "Volksbund für das Deutschtum im Ausland", (Publisher: National League for Germans Abroad).