July 2013 Auction Ends Tuesday, July 23rd, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/23/2013
Collection of 16 WWII postcards sent from the Krupps factory in Markstadt, Poland, a work camp that exploited German prisoners for free labor. Letters dated from January-May 1944 are written in French by a Maurice Romannier, a presumed French prisoner, to Genevieve Maheux in Paris. Set reads in part: (1) 22 January 1944: ''...I went to the hairdresser, washed, put heels on my shoes, I put my suitcase in order once again...'' (2) 25 January 1944 ''...It's very late. We had a troublesome evening. There was a death in our room. Censorship does not allow me to say how he died. I must make a declaration at the office. Don't fear, I'm covered by my declaration to the police...'' (3) 26 January 1944 ''...Rationing is very bad in Paris at the moment; worse than it's ever been. I hope my little angel isn't suffering too much...Krupps gave us 10 Marks, but we pay for our work cards and our ration of marmalade each month, so Krupps gets the money back anyway...We have 20 French prisoners in our factory...'' (4) 4 February 1944 ''...It's 1 year since we entered Germany...'' (5) 28 April 1944 ''...tonight the German newspaper talks of Paris and the bombing on the 18th...I would very much like to have news...Physically there is nothing to worry about...Here one eats well. It's true I was always telling you how badly we eat, but here we eat well...We never ate this well in Germany...'' (6) 9 May 1944 ''...Typhus is always in the region...I'm vaccinated against Typhus so nothing to fear...It seems that Petain has made a declaration to transform the project into law for 18 mos...'' (7) 19 May 1944 ''...the German newspaper...[smudged] the western territories...'' Each postcard is written in very small but legible handwriting. 10 of the 16 postcards have original Hitler ''Deutsche Reich'' stamp intact. Postcards measure 6'' x 4.25'' and are in very good condition.
Set of 16 WWII 1944 Postcards From the Krupps' Markstadt Work Camp in Poland -- ''...There was a death in our room. Censorship does not allow me to say how he died...''
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