ANONYME - Völker Europas wie schön sind eure Geschichter

During the Great War, when the only means of communicating news to the masses was by newspapers and weekly illustrated magazines, the ‘war’ or 'military' picture postcard with its often colourful image and printed message or caption, was a welcome means of personal communication for many people.

In Britain, cards that showed the effect the war was having on the home front were frequently on sale in the shops - within days of an ‘incident’ happening.

Before the outbreak of the First World War, the trade in picture postcards was firmly established with numerous categories and themes available. People purchased them, not just to convey messages to friends and relatives but also to collect and save the cards in special albums.

When war erupted in August 1914, picture postcards were already the perfect medium to provide a link between the men on active service and their families and friends at home.

Throughout the war, postcard publishers, printers, photographers and artists helped to boost the morale of the people both at home and the troops on the war fronts.