BACKGROUND: Artwork, as a propaganda tool, was widely used during the Third Reich and Hitler’s own humble artistic background also helped foster a general interest in German art. Many art exhibitions were held through-out German during the time period with the largest being held annually, ever summer from 1937 to 1944, at the German House of Art in Munich. As early as 1938 the OKW, Oberkommando der Wehrmacht, (High Command of the Armed Forces), actively began recruiting artists who were assigned to a units Propaganda Company along with photographers and journalists. By the end of the war almost two hundred war artists had served in the Wehrmacht. This example is a reprint of a painting by Prof. Graf and is number three in a series of Knight’s Cross winners of the Kriegsmarine postcards. Of Note: Günther Lütjens began his naval career in 1907 and served on battleships until 1913 when he was assigned as commander of torpedo boats on the Flemish coast. Lütjens left the navy after WWI, returning in 1921 where he served as a commander of the 3^RD Torpedo Boat Flotilla. At the outbreak of WWII Lütjens was serving as a commander. In June 1940 Lütjens was assigned as Commander of Battleships and was responsible for the early actions of the main battleships Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Bismarck.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Roughly, 5 7/8" x 4 1/8", mid weight card stock, postcard features close up, portrait style, full color artwork of Admiral Günther Lütjens wearing a navy blue reefer jacket and visor cap. The visible details in the artwork include a Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross. The reverse of the postcard has black printed Latin script which includes, "Ritterkreuzträger der Kriegsmarine Nach einem Original von Prof. Graf, München-Nr. 3. Lütjens, Günther, Admiral, Führer eines Schlachtschiffverbandes, geb. am 25. Mai 1889 in Wiesbaden. Wurde am 14. Juni 1940 mit dem Ritterkreuz ausgezeichnet. Gefallen am 26. Mai 1941 auf Bismarck". (Knight’s Cross Holders of the Kriegsmarine After an Original by Prof. Graf Munich-Nr. 6. Lütjens, Günther, Admiral, Leader of a Battleship formation. Born on 25^TH of May 1889 in Wiesbaden. Awarded a Knight’s Cross on 14^TH of June 1940. Fell in battle on 26^TH of May 1941 on the Bismarck.) The postcard is in overall good condition with minor age yellowing and some light wrinkling.

GRADE ***1/2                             PRICE $45.00