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 number nine in a series of Knight’s Cross winners of the Kriegsmarine postcards. Of Note: Kapitänleutnant Engelbert Endrass was the commander of the successful U-46 and later the U-567 and was the sixteenth highest scoring German U-Boat ace credited with sinking 142,000 tonnes of allied shipping. Endrass had also served on the U-47 with Günther Prien during the successful attack on Scapa Flow.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Roughly, 5 7/8" x 4 1/8", mid weight card stock, postcard features close up, portrait style, full color artwork of Kapitänleutnant Engelbert Endrass wearing a navy blue reefer jacket and visor cap. The visible details in the artwork include a Knight’s Cross with Swords. The reverse of the postcard has black printed Latin script which includes, "Ritterkreuzträger der Kriegsmarine Nach einem Original von Prof. Graf, München-Nr. 9. Endrass, Engelbert, Kapitänleutnant, Kommandant eines U-Bootes. Ehemaliger Wachoffizier unter Prien., geb. am 2, März 1911 in Bamberg. Am 5. September 1940 erhielt er das Ritterkreuz und am 10. Juni 1941 das Eichenlaub. Gefallen amd 21. Dezember 1941", (Knight’s Cross Holders of the Kriegsmarine After an Original by Prof. Graf Munich-Nr. 6. Endrass, Engelbert, Kapitänleutnant, Commaner of a U-Boat, former watch Officer under Prien. Born on 2^ND March 1911 in Bamberg. On 5^TH of September 1940 awarded a Knight’s Cross and on 10^TH June 1941 awarded the Oak-Leaves. Fallen in battle on 21^ST December 1941.) The postcard is in overall very good condition with minor age yellowing.

GRADE ****                             PRICE $45.00