{"product_id":"original-wwii-german-soldier-kia-mourning-thank-you-card-herbert-lundolph-dortmund-dec-1941","title":"Original WWII German Soldier KIA Mourning Thank You Card-Herbert Lundolph-Dortmund- Dec. 1941","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWWII German military death condolence\/thank-you card (Trauer-Danksagung)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e dated \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDecember 1941\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, from Dortmund-Lütgendortmund. It was issued by the family following the death of their son \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHerbert\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, who is specifically described as having died a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“Heldentod” (hero’s death)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e—the standard wartime German expression used for a serviceman killed in connection with military service.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe upper-left corner features an \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIron Cross with swastika and “1939”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, a distinctly WWII-period military mourning motif. The German text translates approximately to:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“For the heartfelt sympathy you showed us on the occasion of the heroic death of our dear son Herbert, our brother, brother-in-law and uncle, we express our sincere thanks. Your sympathy was a comfort to us in our great sorrow.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt is signed in print by \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAugust Ludolph and his wife Emilie (née Lagermann)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eArtur Killer and his wife Rosel (née Ludolph)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. The address is given as \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNeu-Crengeldanz 14, Dortmund-Lütgendortmund\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, and the card is dated December 1941. The printer’s mark at lower left reads \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“Ludolph \/ Bochum.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eUnlike the smaller \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSterbebild\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e memorial cards commonly distributed at funerals, this appears to be a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003efamily acknowledgment\/thank-you card sent after expressions of sympathy\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Period German funeral practices included both memorial cards and separate \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDanksagung\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e cards thanking people for their condolences.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition appears \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003every good for an approximately 85-year-old paper item\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, with strong, legible printing, intact black mourning border and only light age toning\/handling visible in the photograph. The Iron Cross\/swastika graphic remains particularly sharp.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Whiskey Rebellion Antiques","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43487793086541,"sku":null,"price":25.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0610\/9229\/8829\/files\/40BEFBCB-B7A2-406E-94AB-4B4ABCB711BC.jpg?v=1787162886","url":"https:\/\/whiskeyrebellionantiques.com\/products\/original-wwii-german-soldier-kia-mourning-thank-you-card-herbert-lundolph-dortmund-dec-1941","provider":"Whiskey Rebellion Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}