"Gefallen" portraits

[Guardian 5]

Gents - I hope you won't mind an addition from the First World War.

This departure photo depicts Wilhelm Stern of Infantry Regiment 170 who fell in 1916.

All the best - TJ

[Guardian 5]

Here is the reverse of the card. From I can tell, it reads as follows:

Wilhelm Stern

a brother of Adam (crossed over)

In the First World War he fell at Gorlire in 1916

He was my older brother.

Wilhelm's slight and youthful demeanor, combined with the poignant caption from his brother, never fails to move me.

The closest reference to Golire I can find is a campaign fought in Southern Poland. That place is spelled Golice. Have I misread the cursive characters?

Thanks for looking.

TJ

[Steve Campbell]

Here's a different approach. I have this one in my collection. It had two death cards glued to the back.

[Colorado]

This portrait encased in a thick hand-tooled oak frame I obtained in my early collecting days. The two medals mounted are striking and I consider it a work of art. It is very heavy. The wire was affixed to the rear so the Soldier's face would point down as if he was looking down at you.

I do not know the Soldier's name. A Cavalryman, he was likely killed in Russia on August 2nd, 1942. The cypher looks like a "35", but it's hard to tell from the angle of his Lieutenant boards.

[Colorado]

Close-ups

[Gerdan]

# 32

I found two Wilhelm Stern listed in the Volksbund list, both KIA 1916:

1) Wilhelm Stern
Wilhelm Stern ruht auf der Kriegsgräberstätte in Menen.

Endgrablage: Block O Grab 799

Nachname: Stern
Vorname: Wilhelm
Dienstgrad: Ersatz-Reservist
Todes-/Vermisstendatum: 02.06.1916


2) Wilhelm Stern ruht auf der Kriegsgräberstätte in Carvin.

Endgrablage: Block 2 Grab 3


Nachname: Stern
Vorname: Wilhelm
Dienstgrad: Musketier
Todes-/Vermisstendatum: 09.09.1916

One of these two could be your guy.

Gerdan

[Steve Campbell]

Jeff, that's a great plaque.

[Colorado]

Thanks Steve. The precise work put in to hand fit his two awards was done by a skilled wood worker.

I never mastered the Volksbund site well enough to know if there was perhaps a Cavalry Lt. from 35th (maybe 35th Panzer) Regiment killed on August 1st, 1942. As far as I know you need a name.

[Gerdan]

Jeff

exactly, you need a name to find a soldier in the Volksbund list. Without a name you are lost.

Gerdan

[jacquesf]

Lets get some fresh views and maybe contributions on this thread. Jacques

[photo-war]

Lets get some fresh views and maybe contributions on this thread. Jacques

The photo from a Ju88 crew member.

[panzer1432]

gef

Nice Thread. Sadly many young lives lost.

[jacquesf]

Just to get this going again, I managed to double my "gefallen" collection. If you want to get rid of yours let me know. Jacques

Here is a SS mann, medical doctor and luft aircrewman.

[jacquesf]

luft

[Gran Sasso]

Veteran of Cholm: