When I saw the back of this card, I knew there was no point in trying a translation. The handwriting is too small and run together. If someone wants to have a go at it, be my guest.
The Chateau de Hattonchatel is located in the commune of Vigneulles-les-Hattonchatel in the Meuse department of France. (Glad I got through that) The site was originally fortified in in 860 by Hatto, the Bishop of Verdun. Built on a promontory overlooking the Seine River Valley, it was the chief stronghold of the bishops until 1546. The castle was destroyed in 1918 during World War 1. After the war it was reconstructed between 1923-1928. Today it's a hotel, conference and wedding center. I'm a little puzzled why someone would want to memorialize the destruction of a 958 year old building.
It is the church of Hattonchatel. These Feldpostkarten were produced as means of propaganda - "look, the enemy destroyed it all". Worked on any side.
ReplyDeleteHere Hans Georg, whose family name I can not read, writes to Marie in Wunsiedel in March '15. The image shows how it looks where he is, but they have found "Quartier" in some not so badly damaged houses. Basically they are all right, no hunger. He wants to know how she's doing.
Hans Georg serves with the "Eisenbahn-Bautruppe" - they built railways.
Hope he survived that shit.