GERMAN WWI DEATH CARD FOR INFANTRY REGIMENT UNTEROFFIZIER AND GRUPPENFUHRER KARL KRAFZICK

German death card for WWII Infantry Regiment Unteroffizier and Gruppenfuhrer KARL KRAFZICK.  In 1930, Gruppenführer became a SS rank and was originally bestowed upon those officers who commanded SS-Gruppen and also upon senior officers of the SS command staff.

Karl was the owner of the Iron Cross 2nd class and fought in Poland, Belgium and France.  Born on July 7, 1915 in Wahlrod and newly married to Margareth December 1940 he died on a violent reconnaissance with a bullet to the heart on October 5, 1941 at the age of 26 years old. Card measures about 4 3/4 " x 6 1/4" unfolded.  It is a double sided, double page card. 

Military death cards are notices of the death of a WW1 and WW2 German soldiers who were killed during the war. Known also as “Sterbebilder”. 

Death notices were a common European Catholic custom, normally given or mailed to mourners, family, and friends as death notifications also encouraging mourners to remember the deceased in prayer.  These cards were usually 1 or 2 small pages, either single or folded and printed on both back and front.  These pages would usually have a photograph of the deceased along with his important life information.  Some did not include a photo and many included a religious icon or poem.

In contrast to other death cards the German government would not allow the printing of any WWII soldier’s unit information or a graphic cause of death.