Light and inexpensive, the zither was a popular instrument in the household as well as for those requiring a portable form of entertainment. On this postcard, dated Oct 11, 1914, a soldier with the Bavarian Leib Regiment poses with his zither. The interpretation, transcription and translation of the postcard text has been kindly provided by Jane Curtis.

The postcard is probably from one of the soldiers in the picture. The lady to whom it is addressed is his wife or girlfriend or possibly a close female relative. It appears that the Kaiser, accompanied by the king [presumably of Bavaria), visited and reviewed their regiment. “Uncle” may have served in the regiment too, or maybe he is just mentioned to indicate the age of some of the soldiers.

The postcard reads as follows with gaps to indicate illegible areas.

ORIGINAL:

Liebe Resi,
Wie geht es dir? Hast du noch so viel Arbeit? Onkel wird noch nicht … gewusst haben. Letzthin … unserer Kaiser … viele Männer in Onkel’s Alter feldmarschmässig ausgerüstet … . Nachdem der Prinz. König von Ihm Abschied genommen hatte ging es dahin. Ich sage dir, du sollst nur mal bei mir sein. Da geht es zu. Getanzt wird, dass die ganze Kaserne wackelt und geschwachte? dass man fürchte, muss das Fenster reißt es ……………. [cuts off – no signature]

TRANSLATION:

Dear Resi,
How are you? Do you still have so much work? Uncle will not yet … have known. Recently … our Kaiser .... many men of Uncle's age equipped for field march … .After the king had taken leave of Him, things got going. I tell you, you should just be with me. It really gets going. There will be dancing till the barracks shake and weaken, till one must fear the window will break …… [cuts off]

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