Imperial German Postcard of Generalfeldmarschall von Mackensen

This postcard features a finely rendered portrait of Generalfeldmarschall August von Mackensen, shown in Imperial German uniform with his distinctive mustache and the Pour le Mérite neck order prominently displayed. The image is executed in a monochrome illustrative style rather than a photographic halftone, giving it a formal, almost engraved appearance typical of politically themed German postcards produced during the immediate post–First World War period. Mackensen is presented frontally, conveying authority and gravitas, with careful emphasis placed on his decorations and high-collared tunic.

Beneath the portrait appears a German-language quotation criticizing accusations of German war atrocities and explicitly referencing the Treaty of Versailles, followed by Mackensen’s printed signature and title “General-Feldmarschall.” The reverse carries the same statement translated into English and Spanish, underscoring the card’s function as an outward-facing political and cultural message rather than simple domestic correspondence. At the lower left of the reverse is the imprint “Baustein III – Deutsche Kulturpolitische Gesellschaft,” with Berlin and Leipzig locations noted, and a printed indication that the postcard fee had been paid, confirming organized distribution rather than private issue.

Historically, this postcard belongs to the postwar propaganda and revisionist culture that emerged in Germany after 1918, particularly among nationalist and conservative circles seeking to counter Allied narratives of wartime conduct and to delegitimize the Versailles settlement. Mackensen, one of Germany’s most respected senior commanders and a living symbol of Imperial military honor, was frequently used as a moral authority in such messaging. Cards of this type were intended for both domestic circulation and international audiences, making their multilingual presentation a deliberate political choice.

From a collector’s standpoint, this postcard is significant as a documentary artifact of postwar German political sentiment tied directly to a named and identifiable Imperial field marshal. While Mackensen portrait cards exist in multiple forms, examples combining his image with explicit Versailles-related text and multilingual reverse are notably scarcer than standard wartime portrait postcards. The piece fits squarely within advanced collections of Imperial German leadership imagery, post-WWI propaganda material, and interwar political ephemera.

Condition is good overall. The card shows even age toning, scattered foxing, and light surface spotting consistent with early 20th-century paper. Corners show minor wear, and there are no visible tears, creases, or postal markings. The card appears unused, with clean address and message fields and no evidence of trimming or restoration.