The Collector’s Encyclopaedia · Documents · Military papers

Feldpost Letters: History, Contents and Collector’s Guide

Volume About ten billion Feldpost letters during the war (Museum Berlin-Karlshorst)
Addressing Units identified by a field post number rather than a location
Control Mail was subject to military censorship
Collecting interest Letter series, envelopes, postal markings, content
In the collection See current pieces in the collection

Feldpost letters connected millions of soldiers with their families. They are among the most personal documents of the war, and a series of letters can tell a soldier’s story in his own words.

What Is Feldpost?

Museum Berlin-Karlshorst estimates that about ten billion Feldpost letters were sent during the war from the front and occupied territories to family and friends at home. The museum notes that letters from the Soviet Union, and soldiers on leave, also spread information and rumours about German crimes in the East. Units were addressed by a field post number rather than a place name, and mail was subject to censorship.

Who Issued It, and Who Signed It?

Letters were written by soldiers and their families; envelopes carry field post numbers, postal cancellations and sometimes censorship marks. See Soldbuch and Wehrpass.

What Should Collectors Watch For?

  • Content matters most: letters describing events are worth far more than routine greetings.
  • Field post numbers can identify the unit.
  • Personal data of real families: handle with discretion.

Collector’s Note

I read every Feldpost letter before describing it. Sometimes a single sentence turns an ordinary envelope into a historical source.

Related Entries and Pieces

Pieces in the Collection

Browse current pieces related to Feldpost Letters in the Autographs & Militaria collection.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many Feldpost letters were sent?

About ten billion, according to Museum Berlin-Karlshorst.

What is a field post number?

A number identifying a unit, used instead of its location.

Was Feldpost censored?

Yes, mail was subject to military censorship.

Historical Responsibility Notice: this entry documents historical figures and artefacts of the National Socialist period for collecting, preservation, education and research. It does not endorse or glorify any ideology, and it is written in memory of the victims of the regime.

References & Further Reading