GERMAN WWI DEATH CARD FOR GRENADIER MAX GREIL

German death card for WWII Grenadier MAX GREIL who dies at the age of 34 on April 8, 1945 during the Seige of Breslau.This card measures about 2.5" x 4.25" unfolded.  It is a single sided, one 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.