Postcards from the Trenches

Featured this week are century old, hand-painted postcards from World War I sent home in 1915 and 1916 by a 23-year old German soldier named Otto Schubert. The postcards are part of an exhibition entitled “Postcards from the Trenches: German and American Soldiers Visualize the Great War” that is on exhibit now in Washington, DC at the Pepco Edison Place Gallery through September 27. The postcards illustrate the personal tragedies and horrors of German and American soldiers on both sides of No Man’s Land.

Next, the exhibit travels to The Printing Museum in Houston, Texas, showing from October 23 — February 14, 2015. This exhibit is the collaboration of Dr. Irene Guenther of The Honors College at The University of Houston, and Dr. Marion Deshmukh of George Mason University in Washington, DC.

Postcards from the Trenches
November 18, 1915
Untitled
My dear Irma, 1000 greetings, your Otto. Many greetings to your family, most of all to your brother.

Postcards from the Trenches
November 25, 1915
Village Beauty
Dear Irma, for two days no news from you. Hopefully my greeting card will find you in perfect mood and health. How long will it take? This evening received your letter.
(Continued on front)
The wonderful Christmas celebration will soon be here. I hope it will bring much joy to all of you at home. Now the second Christmas at the front, I don’t want to think about it. When I remember how wonderful the winter semester was at the academy I could go crazy. May life be good to you, am sending 1000 heartfelt wishes, your Otto.

Postcards from the Trenches
December 1, 1915
Untitled
A thousand greetings, Otto

Postcards from the Trenches
December 15, 1915
Small Village in France
Dear Irma, many thousands of greetings, your Otto. Please write me often. Have not had a letter from you in a long time. I also sent a card to your brother. I am quite tired of life [unclear]

Postcards from the Trenches
December 23, 1915
The Best Time of the Day
Dear Irma, the mail has been delivered. Good cigars. A letter. But in the newspaper there is nothing about peace?! 1000 greetings, your Otto.

Postcards from the Trenches
January 14, 1916
Untitled
[ text is unclear ]

Postcards from the Trenches
January 16, 1916
The Enemy Position at Dawn
Dear Irma, don’t yet have the package from Miss Hansen. Newspaper came today. Many greetings to your parents, sister. Brother too.

Postcards from the Trenches
January 24, 1916
Evening Mood at the Front
Dear Irma, I hope [unclear] my card. I was so happy to hear from Hedwig. Thanks for your dear package which I received at Christmas. [Rest unclear] Otto

Postcards from the Trenches
February 15, 1916
Small Town Railroad Station
Dear Irma, many greetings, your Otto.

Postcards from the Trenches
February 22, 1916
Sunday Evening in a Village in the Ardennes
Dear Irma, many heartfelt thanks and greetings, your Otto. Have had no mail from you for days.

Postcards from the Trenches
March 8, 1916
Building a Trench
Dear Irma, 1000 greetings, your Otto. [Unclear]

Postcards from the Trenches
March 11, 1916
Horses Under Shrapnel Fire
Dear Irma, heartfelt greetings. Your Otto

Postcards from the Trenches
March 14, 1916
Small Village at the Front
Dear Irma, [unclear] greetings

Postcards from the Trenches
March 25, 1916
Wounded Men at Collection[?] Point
Greetings, your Otto

Postcards from the Trenches
April 1, 1916
Argonne. Captured French
Dear Irma, a thousand heartfelt greetings from the hot West, your Otto. Better weather for operations.

Postcards from the Trenches
April 2, 1916
Evening Sun in the Ardennes
Please a letter. Newspapers boring. All is going well, your Otto. Greet Hedwig.