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 seven in a series of Knight’s Cross winners of the Kriegsmarine postcards. Of Note: Suhren joined the Kriegsmarine in April 1935 and was promoted to Leutnant der See in 1938. Serving as the Wachoffizier on U-48 at the outbreak of WWII Suhren completed nine successful sorties before being given command of the U-564 in early 1941. Suhren was the fourteenth highest scoring German U-boat ace and was credited with sinking 148,000 tonnes of allied shipping. Suhren survived the war and passed away in August 1984.

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 Reinhard Suhren 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. 7. Suhren Reinhard, Kapitänleutnant, Kommandant eines U-Bootes, geb. 16. April 1916 Langenschwalbach bei Wiesbaden, erhielt am 3. November 1940 das Ritterkreuz, am 31. Dezember 1941 das Eichenlaub und am 1. September 1942 die Schwerter zum Eichenlaub.", (Knight’s Cross Holders of the Kriegsmarine After an Original by Prof. Graf Munich-Nr. 7. Suhren Reinhard, Kapitänleutnant, Commander of a submarine, born on the 16^TH of April 1916 in Langenschwalbach by Wiesbaden. Awarded on 3^RD of November 1940 the Knight’s Cross, and on 31^ST of December 1941 the Oak-Leaves and on 1^ST of September 1942 the Swords to the Oak-Leaves.) The postcard is in overall very good condition with minor age yellowing.

GRADE ****                             PRICE $45.00