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 six in a series of Knight’s Cross winners of the Kriegsmarine postcards. Of Note: Kretschmer began his U-boat service in 1936 serving as Leutnant zur See on U-35. At the beginning of the war he was commanding U-23 a small type IIB submarine until he took command of the type VIIB, U-99 on April 30^TH 1940. Kretschmer remain in command of this submarine until his capture on March 16^TH 1941. Kretschmer was the highest scoring German U-boat ace and was credited with sinking 314,000 tonnes of allied shipping in an eighteen month career.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Roughly, 5 7/8" x 4 1/8", mid weight card stock, postcard features close up, portrait style, full color artwork of Korvettenkapitän Otto Kretschmer wearing a navy blue reefer jacket. The visible details in the artwork include a Knight’s Cross with Oak-Leaves and Swords. The reverse of the postcard has black printed Latin script which includes, "Ritterkreuzträger der Kriegsmarine Nach einem Original von Prof. Graf, München-Nr. 6. Kretschmer, Otto, Korvettenkapitän, Unterseebootskommandant, geb. Am 1. Mai 1912 in Heidau {Kr. Liegnitz}. Am 4. August 1940 mit dem Ritterkreuz und am 4. November 1940 mit dem Eichenlaub ausgezeichnet als 2. Offizier der Kriegsmarine, am 26. Dezember 1941 erhielt er die Schwerter als 1. Offizier der Kriegsmarine und 5. Offizier der deutschen Wehrmacht. Geriet in engl. Gefangenschaft am 17. März 1941." (Knight’s Cross Holders of the Kriegsmarine After an Original by Prof. Graf Munich-Nr. 6. Kretschmer, Otto, Korvettenkapitän, submarine commander, born on the 1^ST of May 1912 in Heidau {Kr. Liegnitz}. On the 4^TH of August 1940 he was bestowed with the Knight’s Cross and on the 4^TH of November 1940 with the Oak-Leaves distinguishing him as the 2^ND recipient officer of the Navy, on the 26^TH December 1941 he was awarded the Swords as the 1^ST recipient officer of the navy and the 5^TH recipient officer of the German Armed Forces. Awarded while in English captivity on the 17^TH of March 1941.) The postcard is in overall very good condition with minor age yellowing.

GRADE ****                             PRICE $45.00