Three WWll POW postcards - Lt. Col. P.L. Kriek
Historically significant collection of correspondence from a South African prisoner of war (POW) during World War II. They tell the story of Lt. Col. P.L. Kriek (1895–1947), a man of considerable influence in civilian life who found himself "a canary in a cage" in German captivity.
Kriek was a prominent figure in the Afrikaans community. He was the editor of Die Landbouweekblad (a major agricultural magazine) starting in 1925.
He wrote under the pseudonym "Oom Gog." The title page shown is for Verwond, Swaar Verwond ("Wounded, Heavily Wounded"), a collection of three novellas published by Afrikaanse Pers-Boekhandel.
He served as the Commanding Officer of the Afrikaans Battalion of the Pretoria Regiment in 1937 and became Director of Military Training in 1940. He was held as a prisoner from 1942 to 1945.
The Correspondence: "Kriegsgefangenenpost"
The postcards are official "Prisoner of War Mail" and reveal the logistical and emotional reality of the camps:
• The Locations: * Oflag VII B: This was an Offizierlager (Officer camp) located in Eichstätt, Bavaria. Officers were generally held separately from enlisted men.
• Stalag VI B: One card also mentions Kriegsgef.-Offizierlager VI B (Dössel). It was common for POWs to be moved between camps as the front lines shifted.
• Postal Markings: * The cards feature the "Geprüft" (Censored) stamps, indicating they were read by military censors before being sent.
• There is a fascinating route noted: "Mit LUFTPOST bei TÜRKEI" (By Airmail via Turkey). During the war, neutral countries like Turkey served as vital hubs for mail passing between Axis-controlled Europe and Allied-aligned South Africa.
• One card shows a Hitler 25 Pfennig stamp, though POW mail was typically Gebührenfrei (postage free); the stamp may have been added for airmail surcharges.
The messages are addressed to his daughters, Miss Elschen Kriek and Miss Ora Kriek, at 124 Anderson St, Brooklyn, Pretoria.
The "Canary" Metaphor: In the card dated August 19, 1942, he writes:
"Dearest Elschen, I'm still a canary in a cage, but I'm still very healthy, fortunately. I'm longing to see you all again..."
The Fatherly Advice: He encourages Elschen to "do your best at school" and "help Mammie whenever you can," noting that she is "becoming a big girl."
The Christmas Card: The silhouette image of fishermen is a formal Christmas and New Year greeting from Oflag VII B dated 1943. These were often produced within the camps by talented inmate artists.
For a professional in the rare book and manuscript trade, these items are "postal history" gems. They document the specific experiences of the Pretoria Regiment and the broader South African contribution to the war effort. Kriek's transition from a high-ranking military director and influential editor to a captive writing home about his health and his children's schooling is a powerful testament to the human side of the conflict.
Various sizes.
Photo and title page in facsimile
R2,000 for the collection.
