Sterbebilder, Remembrance Card, Ob. Gefr. Johann Hofmarksrichter, Flak-Regiment, Luftwaffe, June 3, 1944

Rare genuine WWII German remembrance card, of the Sterbebilder type.

The tradition of editing a 'death card' in memory of a serviceman who gave his life for his country dates back to the Great War; just a few dozen of copies were generally printed by the family, being intended for relatives and close friends of the deceased only. Most remembrance cards feature a portrait and a prayer, or any other type of religous or patriotic reference.

Apart from the latter's name and age, the document indicates his branch of service as well as the date of his death and the area where the action took place. For security reasons, the unit and exact location were rarely disclosed. 

The present card is dedicated to the memory of some Obergefreiter Johann Hofmarksrichter, serving in some Flak-Regiment of the Luftwaffe, who was killed in France on June 3, 1944 at 34 years of age.

Johann Hofmarksrichter was born on April 15, 1940 in Breitbach, Bavaria, Germany and died in some air raid on June 3, 1944 in Plaisir, Yvelines département, France while serving with 4. Batterie, leichte Flak-Abteilung 957, a railway protection anti-aircraft artillery unit. He was buried in the nearby Les Gonards cemetery in Versailles -- military plot, row N, grave 38.

The date and place of death tend to indicate that he was killed in the bombing of the train station in Trappes, Yvelines département, by some fifteen Lancasters of No. 640 Squadron, Royal Air Force, in the night of June 2-3, 1944. Three aircraft failed to return from this mission.

https://aviateurs.e-monsite.com/pages/de-1939-a-1945/le-bombardement-de-trappes.html

https://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/FlakAbteilungenleicht/lFA957-R.htm

https://www.ww2.dk/ground/flak/abt/le957.html

https://fr.findagrave.com/memorial/48795658/johann-hofmarksrichter

Very good overall condition.

Format: 2.67in x 4.48in.

Illustration documents available in digital format only.