The European postcard series
Unsere Waffen-SS were published by Kunstverlag E. A. Schwerdtfeger & Co. AG in Berlin during the Third Reich with the permission of the SS-Führungshauptamt. The photos on these rare Waffen-SS postcards were all taken in action by SS-Kriegsberichters or Waffen-SS front line photographers as part of the Nazi propaganda machine. Every postcard has two lines of text. The top line is Unsere Waffen-SS and below that, a text describing the image on the front side. Furthermore, on the reverse of all postcards, is text indicating the name of the SS war reporter who took the photograph and an authorization for publication. Left image: Waffen-SS man on an original Nazi era postcard:
Ein frischer Trunk nach hartem Kampf. Right image: another original Nazi era postcard:
Am Meßgerät. The Postcard shows Hans Kayser of the Leibstandarte SS Anti-Aircraft Battery in 1941. The Flak binoculars had a very wide field of view and the lenses are inclined at 45 degrees for easy viewing. Photo by SS-Kriegsberichter
Franz Roth. Credit: Karl Mensburg. Photos in the PD.
The Waffen SS possessed an array of unique camouflage uniforms, corresponding with different seasons and multiple foliage patterns. In this regard, the Germans were years ahead of any Allied equipment. Unfortunately, material shortages and production limits prevented widespread deployment.
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