Offered here is an original Third Reich-era German real-photo postcard featuring a dramatic aviation scene at the Fliegerdenkmal on the Wasserkuppe in the Rhön Mountains, an important site in the history of German gliding and aviation.

The photograph shows a German glider in flight beside the famous Fliegerdenkmal (Aviators’ Memorial) on the Wasserkuppe. The glider carries a prominent swastika on its tail, the number 40, and registration D-13-245. The monument’s large eagle can be clearly seen perched atop the rocky memorial.

The reverse identifies the scene:

“Schönes Deutschland: Die Rhön
Fliegerdenkmal – Wasserkuppe”

Translation:

“Beautiful Germany: The Rhön
Aviators’ Memorial – Wasserkuppe”

The postcard also reproduces the inscription associated with the monument:

“Wir toten Flieger blieben Sieger
durch uns allein
Volk flieg Du wieder und Du wirst Sieger
durch Dich allein”

Approximate translation:

“We fallen airmen remained victors
through ourselves alone.
People, fly again, and you will become victors
through yourselves alone.”

The card is marked “Echte Fotografie” — “Real Photograph” — confirming it as a photographic postcard rather than a standard printed illustration.

Publisher information reads:

Paulusverlag R. u. R. Büttner, Fulda – Nr. 247a

The Wasserkuppe became one of Germany’s most important centers for gliding, and the Fliegerdenkmal was erected as a memorial to German aviators killed during World War I. This postcard combines several highly collectible subjects: German gliding history, the Wasserkuppe, the Fliegerdenkmal, Third Reich aviation imagery and real-photo postcard photography.

The card appears unused and unmailed, with no handwritten message, address, stamp or postal cancellation.

Condition: Original period photographic postcard showing light age and handling wear. Overall displays very well. Please examine all photographs carefully for exact condition.

Historical collectible offered strictly for collecting, research and educational purposes.

Items are sold as shown and as-is. We combine shipping whenever possible and ship every day, including Saturdays.

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YB4 series