Atlantik 1944 WWII German Photo Postcard La Pallice La Rochelle France Harbor U-Boat Port

Original WWII-era German soldier’s photograph/postcard showing the Avant-port de La Pallice–La Rochelle, France, with an excellent panoramic view of the wartime harbor.

The image shows the expansive port facilities with numerous ships and smaller vessels, piers, harbor structures, signal masts, cranes/industrial equipment and waterfront activity. La Pallice at La Rochelle became an important German-controlled Atlantic port during WWII and was the location of the heavily fortified La Pallice U-boat bunker/base, making wartime photographs from this area particularly interesting.

The reverse has a substantial handwritten German message and is dated:

“Atlantik, den 28.7.44” — “Atlantic, July 28, 1944.”

This date is especially interesting, as it places the card in late July 1944, less than two months after the Allied D-Day landings and during the rapidly changing military situation in France.

The printed French identification on the reverse reads:

“Avant-port de LA PALLICE-ROCHELLE”

Translation of the handwritten message:

“My dear Resi!

First of all, Hermann sends you the very best greetings from far away. I am still doing very well, which I also hope is the case with you. Here I have sent you a card showing where I am at the moment.

The weather here is however it wants to be — rain and sunshine. What is the weather like with you? Hopefully the same? In the meantime you will have received my letter — [a short portion is difficult to decipher].

Greetings and kisses once again, your Hermann.”

The sender identifying himself as Hermann and explicitly telling Resi that the photograph shows where he was stationed at that time gives this piece particularly nice historical context.

Historical Interest:

La Pallice was one of the strategically important Atlantic ports occupied by German forces after the fall of France. Beginning in 1941, the Germans constructed a massive reinforced-concrete submarine bunker there for Kriegsmarine U-boats operating in the Battle of the Atlantic.

By the date written on this photograph — July 28, 1944 — Allied forces had already landed in Normandy and were beginning their breakout. German-held La Rochelle/La Pallice would ultimately become one of the isolated Atlantic pockets, remaining under German control until the final days of the war in Europe.

Although the photograph itself does not identify Hermann’s military branch or unit, the combination of the La Pallice harbor subject, wartime date, German-language message and direct statement that this was where he was located makes this a desirable piece of German wartime photographic history.

Condition:

Original period-used condition with age wear, light staining/foxing, surface marks, corner and edge wear, and some creasing visible on the reverse. The photograph remains quite clear with excellent harbor detail. The handwritten message is extensive and largely legible.

Please examine all photographs carefully for exact condition.

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Original historical item sold exactly as shown. Please see photographs for condition and details.

YB3 series