1915 Coburger Tageblatt WWI Newspaper Bismarck 100th Birthday Death Notices

Offered here is an original Imperial German newspaper – the Coburger Tageblatt – dated Wednesday, 31 March 1915, published during World War I, featuring a large illustrated centenary tribute to Otto von Bismarck and multiple named WWI casualty / death announcements on interior pages.

This is an authentic period newspaper – not a reproduction.

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Newspaper Identification:

Coburger Tageblatt
General-Anzeiger für Stadt und Land
Organ für Politik, Lokalgeschichte, Handels- und Geschäftsverkehr
Issue No. 76 – 30. Jahrgang – 31. März 1915

Printed in Coburg, Germany during the height of the First World War.

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Front Page Feature – Bismarck Centenary:

The main front page headline reads:

„Ein nationaler Gedenktag – Zum 100. Geburtstage des Altreichskanzlers“
“A National Day of Remembrance – On the 100th Birthday of the Former Imperial Chancellor”

This commemorates Otto von Bismarck (born 1 April 1815), the architect of German unification.

The page features:

• Large central portrait of Bismarck in uniform

• Decorative laurel and oak-leaf framing

• Imperial eagle heraldic elements

• A long patriotic historical article discussing:

  • Bismarck’s role in unifying Germany

  • The wars of unification

  • His political legacy

  • His significance to the German nation during wartime

At the bottom is a symbolic illustration of a Bismarck memorial stone marked “Bismarck” in a forest setting – very evocative patriotic artwork.

This is a full-page wartime tribute, printed while German soldiers were actively fighting on multiple fronts.

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Interior Pages – WWI Death Notices & Casualty Memorials:

Inside pages contain multiple named death announcements and memorial notices for German soldiers killed in action. These are extremely desirable for:

• Genealogists

• Family name researchers

• WWI collectors

• Imperial German military historians

Examples visible in your photos include:

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Wilhelm Jacob

Kaufmann Wilhelm Jacob
Gefreiter der Reserve, 5. Komp. 6. Thür. Inf.-Regt. Nr. 95
Died on 19 November on his 27th birthday
Described as having fallen the “Heldentod fürs Vaterland” (hero’s death for the Fatherland)

Family listed:
Andreas Jacob, Eva Marg. Jacob (parents)
Minna Bauer (sister)
Alwin Bauer (brother-in-law)
Hildegard Bauer
Stephan Jacob und Frau (godparents)

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Eduard Jacob

Kaufmann Eduard Jacob
Reservist der 7. Komp. im Infanterie-Regt. Nr. 95
Fell at age 27, described as “Heldentod für sein geliebtes Vaterland”

Family listed:
Caspar Jacob und Frau geb. Bauer (parents)
Marg. Barb. Bauer (grandmother)
Rosa Schwämmlein (bride)
Richard Schwämmlein (child)
Schultheiß Eduard Windisch und Frau (godparents)

Locations mentioned: Gestungshausen, Fürth a. Berg, Mendota, Unionstown, Cincinnati (America) – excellent emigration / diaspora research value.

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Ernst Müller

Amtsgerichtsekretär Ernst Müller
Unteroffizier d. L. im Inf.-Regt. Nr. 95, 12. Komp.
Killed 17 March, after being awarded the Eisernes Kreuz (Iron Cross) the same day

Family listed:
Liesbeth Müller (wife)
Theodor Müller, Lina Müller (parents)
Emil Rosenberger u. Frau (in-laws)

Location: Zella St. Bl., Coburg, Erfurt – 31. März 1915

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These notices include:

• Iron Cross imagery

• Formal mourning borders

• Poetry and memorial verses

• Detailed family relationships

• Exact units and ranks

This makes the paper a powerful human record of the war.

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Additional Content:

The interior pages also contain:

• War news and фронt reports

• Financial statements (e.g. Mitteldeutsche Bodenkredit-Anstalt balance sheet)

• Local announcements

• Advertisements

• Vereinsnachrichten (association news)

• Housing and job ads

• Church and community notices

All in original Fraktur script.

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Historical Context:

This issue was printed:

• 8 months into World War I

• During heavy fighting on the Eastern and Western Fronts

• On the eve of Bismarck’s 100th birthday

• While German families were already receiving casualty notifications

It is a snapshot of wartime Germany – patriotism on the front page, grief and loss on the inside pages.

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Physical Description & Condition:

• Original full newspaper issue, multi-page

• Large format

• Fold lines, edge wear, small tears, and losses consistent with 110+ year old newsprint

• Some brittleness and chipping at edges

• Two punched filing holes visible (period or archival)

• All main text and images fully readable

• No modern repairs

Condition is very typical for WWI newspapers and does not detract from display or research value.

Please see all photos – they are part of the description.

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Why This Is Desirable:

• Imperial German WWI newspaper

• Bismarck centenary tribute (highly collectible subject)

• Multiple named WWI casualty notices

• Units identified – Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 95

• Iron Cross references

• Genealogy & family history gold

• Strong display potential

• Scarcer survival item in complete multi-page format

This is not just a newspaper – it is a WWI memorial artifact.

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Keywords 

WWI newspaper, Imperial Germany, Coburger Tageblatt, Otto von Bismarck, 100th birthday, Bismarck centenary, German WWI death notice, Gefreiter, Unteroffizier, Iron Cross, Infanterie Regiment 95, German casualty list, WWI genealogy, German memorial, 1915 newspaper, World War One, German ephemera, Reich history

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