In the Faces Of War Series#facesofwarkb41
The photograph here shows a studio portrait of a Heer Lieutenant. Seen here he is posing for a very well defined studio portrait. The studio portraits came in all kinds of quality much like today's. This one is seen as being one of the best types with a well-adjusted focus and lighting.The quality is really crisp as the clarity in the eyes and tunic are seen in incredible detail. The embossment in the bottom right is the name of the studio portrait company. The Lieutenant is seen here looking to the right in his M36 Tuchenrock, he is seen awarded with an EK2 which is seen being worn through the buttonhole on his tunic. Another award he has is a 4 year service ribbon bar (Feldspange). This showing he has been a part of the Heer for 4 years. He is seen very smartly presented with a silver wire bevo breast eagle as well as a very mint looking officers cap.
The Lieutenants story doesn’t end there though, we know more about his story from the reverse, the reverse (as attached) shows a message addressed to his daughter that is being written by her aunt. The photograph like many was produced multiple times at the time of it being taken, one that was given family and has been given to Aunt Irmgard. The reverse reads as “Dear Hannelore, There is now coming to from your godfather (uncle) to you and he looks at you. He did like you very much and wished he had you for himself, such a lovely daughter - like you. And then, the dear god gave us Ursula, but her father never saw her. In case he is still living, he surely thinks about you. Keep praying for him. We are send you greetings. . Aunt Irmgard”
This reverse telling us that the Lieutenant seen here is believed to be missing or dead, the family is praying and hoping that he may be found, unfortunately we will never know if he did survive, be found or was confirmed as dead. Unfortunately this was very common for many families to not know where their loved ones were. You can only hope that this family found closure or got good news at a later stage of his were about. The Portrait is an Agfa postcard size photograph, it is in superb condition and reflects the true sadness and risk of war. You can only imagine what he may have seen or experienced when fighting.