W. Sanke 408 “Unsere Flieger-Helden” WWI German Ace Montage Postcard

Offered here is an original Imperial German Great War aviation postcard by the famed Berlin publisher W. Sanke (card no. 408), titled “Unsere Flieger-Helden” and presenting a montage of celebrated German fighter aviators (“aces”) framed in an ornate oakleaf border beneath the Imperial eagle. This is a period-produced propaganda/hero-card intended for public sale and collecting during the war years, featuring portrait ovals and a central field photograph, all identified by printed name captions.

Identification and Translations (German to English)

“Unsere Flieger-Helden” translates directly as “Our Aviator Heroes.”

Publisher line at lower edge: “W. Sanke Berlin, N. 37.” (W. Sanke, Berlin, postal district North 37.)

Card number at lower right: “408.”

Printed, identified portraits on the card (as captioned)

Wintgens (Kurt Wintgens)
Boelcke (Oswald Boelcke)
Immelmann (Max Immelmann)
Mulzer (captioned “Mulzer”)
Buddecke (Hans-Joachim Buddecke)
v. Althaus (captioned “v. Althaus”)
Höhndorf (captioned “Höhndorf”)
Berthold (captioned “Berthold”)
Parschau (captioned “Parschau”)

Center image caption: “v. Gossel u. Windisch” (literally “von Gossel and Windisch,” i.e., two individuals pictured together).

Branch of Service / Context
These men are associated with Imperial Germany’s military aviation arm—initially the Fliegertruppe (Flying Troops) and later the Luftstreitkräfte (Imperial German Air Service)—which operated under the Kaiserliche Armee (Imperial German Army) rather than as an independent air force. The montage emphasizes the fighter-pilot “ace” phenomenon and the wartime elevation of aviators into national icons.

Physical Description
Standard wartime German picture-postcard format (typical ca. 14 x 9 cm). Sepia-toned photographic portraits printed within an elaborate graphic frame of intertwined oak leaves, with an Imperial eagle crest at the top center. Each portrait oval carries a crisp printed surname caption; the central vignette shows two uniformed aviators standing outdoors above crossed flags, reinforcing the patriotic presentation. The lower margin carries the publisher imprint and the card number “408.” Reverse is the standard postcard back with divided message/address layout and a red triangular “stamp here” indicator; no message text is present on the reverse in the images provided.

Historical Background and Collector Significance
W. Sanke of Berlin was among the best-known German postcard publishers of the era, issuing extensive series depicting military leaders, decorated soldiers, and especially aviation heroes. These cards functioned as mass-market morale pieces—part collectible, part patriotic messaging—sold at kiosks, stationers, and near garrisons, and commonly sent home from the front or kept in albums.

The aviation “hero cult” of 1915–1918 was not accidental; it was a deliberate narrative asset. Early fighter aviation offered a rare, easily communicated story of individual skill and victory amid industrialized trench warfare. Figures like Boelcke and Immelmann became household names precisely because their successes could be framed as personal mastery and technological superiority. Boelcke’s tactical legacy—codifying air-combat principles that shaped fighter doctrine—made him a foundational figure in German pursuit aviation. Immelmann’s fame, likewise, reflected the early Fokker-era ascendancy and the public’s fascination with the new dimension of war in the air. By grouping multiple decorated aviators on a single montage, Sanke created a “portfolio” card aimed at collectors who followed the air war, tracked victories, and valued the visible insignia of distinction (notably the prominence of high decorations in several portraits).

For the serious collector, montage cards like this offer added appeal beyond a single-portrait issue: they capture the broader wartime narrative of aviation celebrity, show period-accurate uniforms and award wear, and serve as a snapshot of how Germany curated and marketed its flying aces to the home front. The inclusion of multiple named figures also makes the card an excellent cross-collection piece—bridging Imperial German aviation, awards, photography, and home-front ephemera.

Condition
Collector-grade, with honest age toning and light handling wear consistent with a century-old postcard. Edges and corners show minor wear; image contrast and printed captions remain clear and legible. Reverse appears unused (no address lines filled, no correspondence text visible) with typical light aging marks from storage.

Provenance
No named provenance, unit attribution, or period correspondence accompanies this example; offered strictly on the merits of the card itself as a period W. Sanke issue (no. 408) with printed identifications.