World War I Imperial German patriotic war finance song sheet Wartime Document

Original World War I German patriotic war-finance song sheet titled “Das Lied vom feldgrauen Geld” — “The Song of Field-Gray Money.”

The text is credited to German poet Gustav Hochstetter, with music by Bogumil Zepler. Published by Alfred Meßner, Berlin, and printed by A. Wohlfeld, Magdeburg.

This unusual piece of WWI ephemera was intended to encourage Germans on the home front to financially support the war effort. The poem compares money with the supplies required by the military: ammunition for artillery, aircraft and airships, torpedoes for U-boats, horses and other necessities.

One of the central lines reads:

“Deutschland kämpft mit einer Welt, und zum Krieg gehört auch – Geld!”

Translation:

“Germany fights against a world, and war also requires — money!”

The text directly appeals to German men and women to have confidence in the Fatherland and contribute whatever they can. The final section explains that this money is not simply being given away, but is effectively being lent to the state, with the expectation that it will eventually be repaid.

Especially interesting are the period references to virtually every major aspect of WWI warfare, including:

Infantry in the trenches, artillery shells, cavalry horses, aircraft, airships/Zeppelins and U-boat torpedoes.

The bottom advertises the complete musical version for piano and voice for 60 Pfennig.

A very interesting piece of WWI German home-front propaganda and war-finance ephemera, combining poetry, military imagery and an appeal for public financial support.

Original period paper with age toning, folds, edge wear, small tears and other handling/storage wear as shown. Please examine the photograph carefully for exact condition.

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