WW1 Propaganda Postcards

[fugawi]

I'm going to start this thread with some WW1 postcards designed to recruit individuals of Czech and Slovak ancestry to fight in the Czech Legions.

The goal of Czech and Slovak nationalists was to defeat Imperial Germany and Austro-Hungary and create an independent state called Czechoslovakia. By serving in the Czech Legions and fighting on the side of the Allies they hoped to achieve this goal and that the victorious Allies would then support the Czechs and Slovaks national aspirations.

The Czech Legions fought in France, Italy and most notably on the Eastern front and in Russia. There were also Czechs and Slovaks fighting with the Austro-Hungarians and Germans against the Imperial Russian troops. The Czech Legion later fought against the Bolsheviks after the Russian Revolution.

The next postcard shows Czech Legion troops in Italy. The Italians were engaged in brutal mountain warfare against the Austrians in the Alps. I'm not sure what role the Czechs had.

Postcard back. Note this and the previous postcards were printed in the USA and have addresses for the recruiting offices on the front.

Here is a letter and envelope written by a patriot that answered the call...

Please post 'em if you've got 'em!

 

[plinker 777]

Cool. I like these old propaganda postcards/posters. The Bayonet work is kinda "grizzly" Any chance of a translation to english?

 

[fugawi]

Only if someone speaks Czech, which I don't. I have the entire letter, written on both sides, but I don't want to post it in case there's something personal in it. He's writing to a Milovana - maybe his sweetheart.

I'm guessing the second one might say 'fight for democracy' or something like that.

 

[Desert_Fox]

Paging Joe N!

 

[cody c]

Very interesting, thanks for posting those (no pun intended!)

 

[Ioncannon]

My Polish is a bit rough, but the first one seems to be written in it (plus the flag in the corner).

 

[y2k]

Very cool.

 

[Suomi]

Interesting. Has anyone read "The Good Soldier Švejk"? It is a satirical novel written by Jaroslav Hašek and takes place during Word War I. I have read the english translation and it was hilarious.

 

[sail32]

Actually they made at least 2 movies of "The Good Soldier Svejk". The Burnaby Public library had copies.

 

[fugawi]

I was hoping a native Czech speaker would offer up translations as often you need to know the idiomatic sayings of a language in order to translate a phrase correctly. But since its my post I'll have a go at it.

Using Google translate:

'For our Liberty! Forward with the Czechoslovak Army!' Took this one right from the card. A rallying cry I assume. In Slovak 'na nasi svobodu' translates as 'for our freedom'.

'HRR for the murderer! Of democracy!' Don't know what HRR stands for but it can't be pleasant. In Slovak this translates as 'HRR at a murderer! For democracy!'

'Hoy! Fatherland! Fatherland! Beaten they die!' Then underneath it says 'Czechoslavak Soldier 1st Army in France'. I translated this phrase and the next from Slovak as it seemed to make more sense.

'God of thunder in the grievence a hero gul'ami...' I'm guessing a hero comes... Google translated 'gulami' as 'balls' or 'spheres'.

A hero has strength? Joe N where are you?

Please post 'em if you've got 'em... ...Postcards, I mean!

 

[y2k]

Where on earth did you find them?

 

[fugawi]

I found them on an auction site and won the bid. I'm not really into Czech milsurps or Czech militaria but they were so neat looking I had to have them. Plus I am interested in the Polish Legions as I am a Polish collector.

The Czech Legion in Russia is famous for making a fighting withdrawal to Vladivostok, fighting the Boshies and others as they went. And legend says, taking along the Tsar's gold!

They were later evacuated by the Japanese or Americans and made their way back to the newly formed Czechoslovakia to defend its borders. I believe the second president of the Czech Republic was a Legionnaire. Central Europe in the 1920s was a tumultuous mix of regional conflicts and border wars.

 

[y2k]

Well keep me in mind if you want to part with them someday.

 

[fugawi]

I will but don't hold your breath.

If you're interested in the Czech Legions, Osprey Publishing makes a nice little booklet on them (Men at Arms #447). That's where I'm getting most of my info from. Plus the Czech Legion is well covered in Osprey's The Russian Civil War 1918-22 (Essential Histories #69).

The last is worth getting alone for the history of the armed groups, armies, nations and personalities involved. Its very readable and not overwhelming.

 

[fugawi]

Found this one online. Its being offered for sale but is expensive...

Czech Legion Propaganda Postcard

 

[fugawi]

Not a postcard but since so far all the postcards posted have been about the Czech Legion in WW1, here's a period photo...

Czech Legion 1st Independent Storm (Shock) Battalion flag and Stormtrooper