Features seven flags at the top right, likely representing the Allied nations, symbolizing unity and international support for France's cause.
At the bottom, it reads "Stern Graveur", indicating the engraver or publisher of the card.
Official Use: The card is titled "CORRESPONDANCE DES ARMÉES DE LA RÉPUBLIQUE" ("Correspondence of the Armies of the Republic"), with further details:
"CARTE EN FRANCHISE" (Free Post Card), meaning no postage was required for soldiers.
"Impr. NAT. - Modèle A' pour les troupes en opérations" (National Printing - Model A' for troops in operations), specifying its use for soldiers actively engaged in combat.
Sender Information:
EXPÉDITEUR: Provides fields for the sender to fill out:
Name and Surname
Rank
Regiment or Service
Company, Squadron, Battalion, Section, etc.
Postal Sector Number
Note: "Les indications ci-dessus sont à reproduire dans l'adresse de la réponse" ("The above information should be reproduced in the response address"), ensuring the reply could reach the soldier.
Back instructions:
"Cette carte doit être remise au vaguemestre. Elle ne doit porter aucune indication du lieu d'envoi ni aucun renseignement sur les opérations militaires passées ou futures."
Translation: "This card must be handed over to the postmaster. It must not bear any indication of the place of dispatch nor any information about past or future military operations."
"S'il en était autrement, elle ne serait pas transmise."
Translation: "If it were otherwise, it would not be forwarded."
Correspondence Section:
"PARTIE RÉSERVÉE À LA CORRESPONDANCE."
Translation: "PART RESERVED FOR CORRESPONDENCE."
This section would be where the sender writes their message, but given the strict censorship guidelines, the content would be limited to personal updates devoid of any military or strategic information.
These instructions highlight the stringent censorship measures in place during WWI to prevent sensitive information from reaching the enemy. The vaguemestre (postmaster) was responsible for ensuring that no such information was included in soldiers' correspondences, which were crucial for maintaining morale but also a potential security risk if not properly monitored.
Designed for soldiers to communicate with home, ensuring that personal messages could be sent without compromising military security. The back of the card would typically only contain the sender's message and the recipient's address, with space for postal marks or censorship stamps.
Condition: The card might show signs of handling, postal stamps, or censor marks.
Historical Significance: This card is a direct artifact of WWI's communication practices, offering insight into censorship, military logistics, and the personal lives of soldiers.
It showcases the intersection of personal communication with military strategy, illustrating how wartime conditions affected even the most basic human interactions.
Note: This postal card'sis a stark reminder of the realities of war, where even personal correspondence had to navigate through layers of censorship for the sake of national security. It's a tangible piece of history that connects us to the personal narratives of those who served in WWI.
