This is a WWII German “Sterbebild”, or death memorial card, honoring the life and sacrifice of Gefreiter (Corporal) Josef Thalhammer, who died on December 10, 1943, at the young age of 20, during combat in Russia. These cards were distributed to family, friends, and community members in memory of fallen soldiers. They are a poignant part of wartime German culture, often saved in family Bibles or photo albums. The front side features a portrait photograph of Thalhammer in his military uniform. His expression is youthful yet solemn, with a calm, determined look in his eyes. He wears the field cap and tunic of a Wehrmacht soldier, with visible insignia including the eagle-and-swastika emblem over the right breast pocket and collar tabs typical of an enlisted man in a Grenadier regiment. Below the photograph is a brief obituary: ” In Memory in Prayer of our dear son and brother Josef Thalhammer, son of a farmer from Westerskirchen, Gefreiter in a Grenadier Regiment, who on December 10, 1943, at the age of 20, met a hero’s death in Russia.” A poem follows, expressing grief and remembrance for a young hero buried in a distant field, ending with a reference to a brother who also died before him. The reverse side displays an illustration of a German soldier’s grave in the woods, marked with a cross and helmet. The inscription reads: “Gefreiter Josef Thalhammer killed on 10.12.1943 He was dear to us in life, we will not forget him even in death. The card is printed by Gebr. Geiselberger, Vilsbiburg (a Bavarian print house known for producing such cards), and bears the code HCoM 109. What are these cards? Known as “Sterbebilder” or “Totenbildchen”, these small memorial cards were traditionally printed in Germany, Austria, and Catholic regions of Europe. During WWII, they were commonly issued for fallen soldiers and distributed at memorial services or mailed to relatives. They typically feature a portrait of the deceased on one side and a prayer, obituary, or poem on the reverse. (SOLD)
THE CABINET CARD GALLERY 
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