Great Protrait of EKI winner!!!

[Tyler Ramsey]

I just thought I might share this with ya'll . Any opinions on it?
P.S. can anyone translate the back for me?

[erichcraciun]

Hello VS-Mann,

the back reads, "Mein lieber 'Mattesle'
Martin 5.11..40

Marieles Geburtstag"

Or...

My dear Mattesle
Martin 5.1.1940
Marieles Birthday.

Judging by how the diminuative of Mariele is written once could assume that this man is from Baden (southern Germany).

[McCulloh]

would that not be Feb. 5, 1940?
Interesting as he got both classes of EK VERY early in the war.

[Angel Farré]

No Jeff, look at the 1 into the year and in Roman type they are II.

Nice portrait, a truly French campaign veteran.

Angel

[Kai-Steffen M.]

the date IS: february 5th 1940, 5. Februar 1940, 5.2.1940, 5.II.1940, fünfter zwoter neunzehnhundertvierzig, just to make it clear - it is mentioned a second time below in latin letters... i think the dot above the 1 in the year is a stain- it is further up than in the two i in the month and if you look close it has a different color - more black than brown...
Gruß,
KSM

[Tyler Ramsey]

The thing I love most about it is it ONLY has the EK's and nothing else. Thank ya'll for translating it for me!!!!!!!!!!!

[Denis]

Hi
As Jeff said, this photo is really interesting since the soldier was awarded both EK class very eraly in the war. The February date let us think he distinguished himself in Poland. (Possibility exists that he was bestowed the EK during the "Drôle de guerre" (Funny war) as Frenchpeople call it which was the period between the outbreak of the war in Europe (1/9/39) and the German attack (10/5/40).
Regards
Denis

[erichcraciun]

Jungs,

I wrote it wrong - it is 5.NOVEMBER 40. I don't believe it is a Roman 2 auch keine Flecken. But then the whole writing on the back comes from different periods. Notice the first line is in ball-point, Kuegelschreibertinte...which they did not have during the war. And I believe the last line Marieles Geburtstag was also written later. Anyway, I think he gave this portrait of himself to some one after the war. I have a great foto of a very bieder-looking inf. private with a dedication from 1970 on the back.

Interesting portrait not the lest since he just has the EK1 and 2 and no other Sturmabzeichen or wound badges.

Just my opinion.

Erich Craciun

[Tyler Ramsey]

Cool I had no idea that they dedicated old photos late after the war, now that you point this out, thats probley what happend. Thanks Allot!