FR EN
a black and white photo of a small boat in the water
Premium Jeschke Jádi Auctions Berlin

1368 - Second World War Collection of 57 photographic postcards of …
See original version (German)

Estimate €500 - €700
Sale commission
Description
Second World War Collection of 57 photographic postcards of the Reichsmarine. Circa 1938–1943. 14.4 x 10.5 cm. Published by Verlag M. Dieterle & Sohn, Kiel. Each has a printed inscription on the reverse, a typographical description, and some include an image number and the photographer’s name. Features some rare photographic material of the Kriegsmarine and the Reichsmarine, including small combat vessels of the Kriegsmarine (explosive boats), a new U-tanker being commissioned, naval personnel in Santorini in the Aegean, a speedboat, cylinders being replaced on a speedboat, a destroyer in a Norwegian fjord, a hammock inspection, shipboard anti-aircraft guns, a one-man torpedo, the torpedo boat’s electrical control centre, clearance boats, Private First Class Walter Gerhold, a minesweeper, net-layers deploying an anti-submarine barrier, View from the turret into the submarine, torpedo transfer from a submarine tanker, mine, anti-submarine gun, engine control room of a torpedo boat, female naval auxiliaries, naval cadets, demolition boat crew, minesweeper, anti-aircraft cruiser, Bay of Biscay. – Few duplicates. The publisher M. Dieterle & Sohn in Kiel produced picture postcards of the city for decades. The range extends from street scenes, bridges and harbour views to naval motifs. Kiel’s location shaped the range. The city was the navy’s main base, so the naval port and the fleet were standard features of the range. Even a card from 1938 depicts ‘the naval fleet in Kiel’. During the war, the publishing house continued to operate as a supplier to the armed forces, and there is evidence of cards being issued up to 1943. The photographs were taken by photojournalists from the Propaganda Companies (PK), which were under the authority of the Wehrmacht High Command. Initially, Group WPr III was responsible for the navy. The cards list the photographers on the reverse, for example ‘Foto PK. Tomann’ or ‘Foto PK. Meis’. Other examples include PK Hirche (‘Naval Auxiliary’) and PK Richleske (‘Clearance Boats on a War March’). ‘Naval Combat Ferries’, featuring the PK photograph by Kröncke, are also included. Some of the postcards are labelled “Echte Fotografie” (genuine photograph), meaning they are photographic prints on postcard paper. The reverse bears the publisher’s imprint, the image number and a brief typographical caption explaining the content in the language of war propaganda. The motifs are technical and martial in nature: demolition boats, one-man torpedoes, speedboats, anti-aircraft guns and submarines. These are complemented by images of everyday life on board, naval auxiliaries, naval cadets and individual portraits. The series was intended to portray the Navy’s service as technically superior and immediate. It was aimed at family members, collectors and the home front, and formed part of visual propaganda. Good condition. World War II – Collection of 57 photo postcards of the Reichsmarine/Kriegsmarine. c. 1938–1943. 14.4 x 10.5 cm. Published by Verlag M. Dieterle & Sohn, Kiel. Each features printed text on the reverse, including a typeset caption; some also bear an image number and the photographer’s name. Featuring, in part, rare imagery of the Kriegsmarine and Reichsmarine, including: Small combat weapons of the Kriegsmarine (explosive boat), A new U-boat tanker is commissioned, Naval personnel on Santorini in the Aegean, Fast attack craft (S-boat), Replacing the cylinders on an S-boat, A destroyer in a Norwegian fjord, Hammock inspection, Shipboard anti-aircraft gun, One-man torpedo, Electrical control room of a torpedo boat, Minesweepers (R-boats), Clerk Lance Corporal Walter Gerhold, Minesweeper, Net layer laying a barrier against U-boats, View from the conning tower into the U-boat, Torpedo transfer from the U-boat tanker, Mine, Barrage gun, Engine control station of a torpedo boat, Naval auxiliaries (female), Naval cadets, Explosive-boat pilots, Minesweeper, Anti-aircraft cruiser, Bay of Biscay. A few duplicates. The Kiel-based publisher M. Dieterle & Sohn produced picture postcards of the city for decades. Its range extends from street scenes, bridges and harbour views to naval subjects. Kiel’s location shaped the range of images. As the city was the Navy’s main base, the naval harbour and the fleet were standard features. A postcard dating as far back as 1938 depicts ‘the war fleet in Kiel’. The publisher continued to supply the troops throughout the war, and used cards are documented up to 1943. The photographs were taken by war correspondents from the propaganda companies (Propagandakompanien, PK), which were subordinate to the High Command of the Wehrmacht. For the Navy, the WPr III group was initially responsible. The cards list the photographers on the reverse, for example ‘Foto PK. Tomann’ or ‘Foto PK. Meis’. Other examples include PK Hirche (“Marinehelferin”) and PK Richleske (“Räumboote auf Kriegsmarsch”). “Marinekampffähren” (naval combat ferries), featuring the PK photograph by Kröncke, also belongs in this category. Some cards are marked ‘Echte Fotografie’ (genuine photograph), meaning a photographic print on postcard stock. The reverse bears the publisher’s imprint, an image number and a brief typeset caption explaining the content in the language of wartime propaganda. The subjects are technical and combat-oriented: explosive boats, one-man torpedoes, S-boats, anti-aircraft guns and U-boats. There are also scenes of life on board, female naval auxiliaries, naval cadets and individual portraits. The series was intended to present the Navy’s service as technically superior and immediate. It was aimed at relatives, collectors and the home front, and formed part of pictorial propaganda. Good condition. This lot is subject to standard tax. A 24.95% buyer’s premium is payable on the hammer price, and 7% (Books and Art) or 19% VAT (Manuscripts, screen prints, offset prints, photographs) is payable on the final invoice amount within the European Union. This lot is subject to standard taxation. A 24.95% buyer’s premium applies to the hammer price, and 7% (books and art) or 19% VAT (manuscripts, screen prints, offset prints and photographs) applies to the final invoice amount within the European Union.
See original version (German)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
About the sale Valuable books, prints, historical photographs
Auction location
Auction time 10/24/2026 at 10:00 AM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
You may also like