GERMAN WWI DEATH CARD FOR PANZERJAGER OBERGRUPPENFUHRER HANS BOTH

German death card for Panzerjager Regiment Obergruppenfuhrer HANS BOTH. The rank of Obergruppenführer was created in 1932 by Ernst Rohm and was intended as a seniormost rank of the Nazi stormtroopers  for use by Röhm and his top SA generals
Hans was awarded the Irons Cross First and Second Class along with the Infantry Assault Badge.  He died on May 15, 1942 in his tank after heavy fighting in the East.  Card measures about 4 1/2" x 5.3/4" unfolded.  It is a double sided, double page card.

Military death cards are notices of the death of a WW1 and WW2 German soldiers who were killed during the war. Known also as “Sterbebilder”. 

Death notices were a common European Catholic custom, normally given or mailed to mourners, family, and friends as death notifications also encouraging mourners to remember the deceased in prayer.  These cards were usually 1 or 2 small pages, either single or folded and printed on both back and front.  These pages would usually have a photograph of the deceased along with his important life information.  Some did not include a photo and many included a religious icon or poem

In contrast to other death cards the German government would not allow the printing of any WWII soldier’s unit information or a graphic cause of death.