Date of use : 1917 Poland

Postcard from Photogrammetrist Lang

The postcard bears the caption "Złoczów – Ulica Podwójcie / Podwójciagasse", reflecting the bilingual place-naming tradition characteristic of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Złoczów (today Zolochiv in Ukraine) was part of the Kingdom of Galicia during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and formed part of the Habsburg administrative system. Because the region was governed by Austria, official publications and printed materials frequently used both Polish and German place names. The street name printed on the postcard illustrates this administrative and cultural practice. The photograph depicts a typical Central European townscape: a broad street lined with residential buildings featuring decorative façades, telegraph poles running along the road, and a horse-drawn carriage moving through the scene. Such visual details provide insight into everyday urban life in smaller towns of the region during the early twentieth century. City view postcards of this kind circulated widely across Central Europe between roughly 1900 and 1918 and functioned both as souvenirs and as convenient communication media.

The postal marking on the reverse side indicates the date 14 March 1917. The cancellation reads "Złoczów," confirming that the postcard was processed through the local postal infrastructure at that time. During the First World War the Galician region changed hands several times between Russian and Austro-Hungarian forces. By early 1917 the town had returned to Austro-Hungarian control. Another notable element is the printed reference to "Deutsche Feldpost." This indicates that the postcard was transmitted through the German military postal system. The Feldpost service formed a specialized wartime communication network that enabled soldiers to send mail free of charge or at reduced postal rates. Field post markings typically corresponded to military postal stations attached to operational units or field headquarters.

A particularly interesting printed inscription appears near the address area: "Feldfotogrammeter Lang, Kartenstelle II d. V. A. 20." This phrase refers to a military function. The term "Feldfotogrammeter" designates a military photogrammetry specialist. Photogrammetry involves the production of maps through the analysis of photographic images, including aerial photographs, and became increasingly important for military cartography during the First World War. The term "Kartenstelle" refers to a mapping or cartographic section within a military structure. It is therefore highly probable that the sender was a technical specialist engaged in military mapping operations. From about 1915 onward, both German and Austro-Hungarian forces systematically employed aerial photography and photogrammetric analysis to produce accurate battlefield maps. The occupational description printed on the card thus reflects the growing technological dimension of warfare during this period.

The postcard is addressed to "Grete Lang" in the city of Darmstadt, Germany. Darmstadt was an important cultural and industrial centre in the early twentieth century and served as one of the principal cities of the Hessian region. The city was also known for its educational and scientific institutions. The address line includes a street name resembling "Liebfrauenstraße" and the house number "78," indicating that the card was sent to a private residence. The recipient was therefore most likely a family member or a close acquaintance of the sender. Postcards sent from soldiers to relatives at home represent valuable sources for the social history of the First World War, providing insight into personal communication between the front and the home front.

From a philatelic perspective the postcard exhibits several notable characteristics. Mail sent through the Feldpost system frequently travelled without postage stamps because soldiers were granted postal privileges that exempted them from standard postage fees. Instead, military postal markings were applied. The circular date stamp and the violet control marking visible on the card correspond to such military postal procedures. These markings confirm that the card passed through an official military postal channel and was likely subject to inspection or censorship. Feldpost material from the First World War is of considerable interest to both philatelists and historians, as it documents the logistical and communication networks that connected soldiers with civilian society.

This item is documented as part of the Photography in Postal History research project.
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