Tores tuesday – One of so many tragedies… The Mauz Family from Burladigen.
Today my blog will to some extent go beyond WWI. You will soon understand why.
Once upon a time there was a man by the name of Karl Mauz. He was wounded twice, and then died in a hospital in Anhalt in december 1915. However, at home, his pregnant wife gave birth to a son in february 1916, just a bit more than two months after the fathers Death. The boy was also named Karl Mauz, and never met his father. Come the Next world war, the son was killed too. Both fighting on the eastern front.
These Cards are often called “Death Cards”, I prefer “Memory Cards” despite the risk of confusion With a modern invention. So many of the dead never came home, their bodies buried in the area where they fell, and these Cards were used in services to honor their memories. This is mainly a catholic tradition, though I have seen Cards for protestants and jews too.
So, here is the original card printed in memory of Karl Mauz in 1915/16 and the card in memory of Karl and Karl Mauz from 1941. This is the kind of senseless tragedy that can bring a tear to Your eye, at least to my eyes.
Karl Mauz
Born the 8th of july 1892 in Burladigen, First time wounded the 27th of january 1915 at Arras (France), second time the 12th of September 1915 at Wilna (Russian Poland), died a heros Death for the fatherland 3rd of December 1915 at the hospital Köthen (Anhalt) and buried there.
The son:
Karl Mauz
Obergefreiter in an infantry regiment. Born the 15th of february 1916 in Burladingen, dead the 20th of desember 1941 following a severe wound. He found his last resting Place in Rosentsena. (25 km West of Tarusser – Russia).