Figure 1.--Romanian was a largely agricultural country at the time of World War I. This girl from a rural village wears a what we would now call a folk costume. At the time it was probably her normal everyday wear. This is a postcard sent from German-occupied Romania during 1917, by a German soldier (presumably an officer) to his son Georg. The Germans seem particularly interested in folk costumes. The boy must be a teenager, otherwise the father would have addressed him with the title Herrn (Mr.). Also the reminder to be a good boy is typical. Click on the image to see the back of the card.

Romanian was a largely agricultural country at the time of World War I. This girl from a rural village wears a what we would now call a folk costume. At the time it was probably her normal everyday wear. This is a postcard sent from Pilesti in German-occupied Romania during 1917, by a German soldier (presumably an officer) to his son Georg in Nürnberg, Bavaria. The Germans seem particularly interested in folk costumes. The boy must be a teenager, otherwise the father would have addressed him with the title Herrn (Mr.). Also the reminder to be a good boy is typical.

Folk Costumes

Romanian was a largely agricultural country at the time of World War I. This girl from a rural village wears a what we would now call a folk costume. At the time it was probably her normal everyday wear. he Germans seem particularly interested in folk costumes.

Feldpost

Feldpost meant field post or mail. German soldiers were entitled to send mail home without paying postage. Their relatives had to buy stamps to write back. Notice instead of a stamp, the soldier has simply written 'Feldpost'.

Postcard

This is a postcard sent from Pilesti in German-occupied Romania during 1917, by a German soldier (presumably an officer) to his son Georg in Nürnberg, Bavaria. I believe it was a commercial postcard and not a phoyograph the soldier took.

German text

Feldpost.
An Georg Fleischmann Nürnberg
Hirtengasse 13.

Pilesti, den 24. Februar 1917.

Mein lieber Georg,
Als Gegenstück zur gestrigen Karte sende ich Dir heute ein kleines rumänisches Mädchen in Landestracht. Die Kleine stickt an einer Bluse. An den Füßen tragen alle Sandalen, hier opinca genannt. Bestelle an Herrn Professor Eismann Grüße und sei auch brav und fleißig. Dir, Mama und Tante innigen Gruß u. Kuß.

Dein Papa.

English translation

Pitesti, February 24, 1917.

My dear Georg,
As counterpart to yesterday's card I am sending you today a little Romanian girl in national costume. The little one is embroidering a blouse. On their feet they all wear sandals, here called opinca. Greetings to Professor Eismann and be good and diligent. To you, Mama and Auntie tender greetings and kisses.

Your Papa

Pilesti

Pilesti is a Romanian city in Wallachia. It is located on Argeş River , where the river meets its tributary, Râul Doamnei. Pilesti played a fole in World War I. The Central Powers offensive launchee (September 1916). Pilesti was evacuated by the Romanian Army and occupied by the Central Powers forced commanded by August von Mackensen. The front stabilized on the Olt River for a time. Mackensen in a short time seized Bucharest and all of southern Romania (December 1916). The German military garison in Pilesti would have been primarily concerned with seizing agricultural products of use to the German Army. Romanian authorities duringvWorld warII deported Romanian Roma through Pilesti to NAZI death camps. The Communist regime following World War II conducted notorious mind control experiments in a Pilesti prison. The brutal experiments were carried out by the Securitate secret police.

Created: 7:22 PM 9/19/2010
Last updated: 7:22 PM 9/19/2010