Postcards from the First World War

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Although their weapons did not come from the same era, Helvetia – the personification of Switzerland – and the soldiers had a common goal: to preserve the integrity of the country in the midst of a Europe in flames. Bibliothek am Guisanplatz Bern

An idealistic portrayal of mobilisation: a soldier bids farewell with a weapon in one hand, and his wife on his other arm. Bibliothek am Guisanplatz Bern

This postcard people shows the pressures of the time: the man who receives a small amount of money as a soldier, and his wife, who has to eke out a living on her own. Privatsammlung U. Gribi, Büren a.d. Aare

When Italy entered the war in 1915, the monitoring of the borders extended south of the Alps too. Privatsammlung U. Gribi, Büren a.d. Aare

While the warring sides fought, Switzerland was protected by a guardian angel and a dove of peace. Privatsammlung U. Gribi, Büren a.d. Aare

Aeroplanes were turned into weapons of war for the first time from 1914. Privatsammlung U. Gribi, Büren a.d. Aare

Broom in hand, this proud ‘Helvetia‘ is ready to fend off soldiers from the different nations at war, while protecting herself and her country. Bibliothek am Guisanplatz Bern

Machine guns along with canons killed the most people during the First World War. At the start of the war the Swiss army had over 72 machine guns at their disposal. By 1918 a further 1,600 were produced and given to the troops. Privatsammlung U. Gribi, Büren a.d. Aare

A labour of love in army lodgings. Generally women in the presence of soldiers were depicted in patriotic Swiss dress, as counterparts to the uniformed troops. Schweizerisches Musuem für Volkskunde, Basel

The Christmas tree sits proudly in the middle of the soldiers’ common room. Also notable is that only alcohol-free drinks were served, even on Christmas Eve. Bibliothek am Guisanplatz Bern

Here the humanitarian role of Switzerland is emphasised, as Swiss nurses help those injured in the war Privatsammlung U. Gribi, Büren a.d. Aare

Switzerland as an island of peace. This postcard evokes the peace between the German-Austrian monarchies and the French Republic. Privatsammlung U. Gribi, Büren a.d. Aare

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Postcards had their heyday at the start of the 20th century. In countries at war, but also in neutral Switzerland, the First World War brought about a rise in picture postcards being sent in the post. They were a blank canvas for propaganda, satire and patriotism, and they illustrated the lives of soldiers, albeit it in a somewhat idealistic manner.

Hundreds of years after the outbreak of war these postcards are now giving endless insight into this dark period. In contrast to the cinema, newspapers or literature, these cards have been more or less ignored until now.

Historians have recently begun to take an interest in the illustrations. Their images are clues to the era, conjuring up a sense of the important themes and topics of the time and how they were expressed.

The combination of a personal message and a contemporary image mean readers today can immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the age, reaching a deeper understanding of the concerns and challenges that faced people at the time.

(Text: Olivier Pauchard, swissinfo.ch, Pictures from: Georg Kreis: Swiss postcards from the First World War. Baden: hier + jetzt Association for Culture and History 2013)