"CORRESPONDANCE DES ARMÉES DE LA RÉPUBLIQUE" ("Correspondence of the Armies of the Republic"), highlighting its military purpose.
"CARTE EN FRANCHISE" (Free Post Card), indicating no postage was needed for soldiers.
"Impr. NAT Modèle A - pour les troupes en opérations" (National Printing Model A - for troops in operations), specifying its intended use for soldiers in combat zones.
Sender Information:
Name and Surname
Rank
Regiment or Service
Company, Squadron, Battalion, Section, etc.
Postal Sector Number
"Les indications ci-dessus sont à reproduire dans l'adresse de la réponse" ("The above information should be reproduced in the response address"), ensuring that responses could be directed correctly.
"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. S'il en était autrement, elle ne serait pas transmise."
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. If it were otherwise, it would not be forwarded."
"PARTIE RÉSERVÉE À LA CORRESPONDANCE."
Translation: "PART RESERVED FOR CORRESPONDENCE."
This part was where soldiers would write their messages, constrained by the strict censorship guidelines.
Historical Context: This postal card was a critical link for soldiers to maintain contact with home, under the stringent oversight of military censorship to maintain operational secrecy.
Historical Significance: An essential piece for collectors of WWI memorabilia, French military artifacts, or those interested in the postal history of wartime communication.
Illustrates the complexities of personal communication during war, the role of censorship, and the logistics of mail in military operations.
Note: This postal card not only served as a means of communication but also as a poignant symbol of the human aspect of warfare, where personal messages were filtered through the lens of national security. It's a historical artifact that connects us directly to the experiences of soldiers during one of the most significant conflicts in history.
