Memorial Card of Matrosengefreiter Otto Lottersberger

This document was made available by Samuel Auer

        Memorial cards were given to relatives of the deceased and attendees of the funeral. They were not limited to military personnel but were are a common part of German funerary tradition. They were not issued by the military. Rather, the design and text of a memorial card and ordering the required quantities from a printer on behalf of the deceased man's family was a standard part of the services rendered by German funeral parlors.  The size of the card was about 2.25 x 3.75" = 5.7 x  9.5 cm.

 

   
 

1939 Eisernes Kreuz
1939 Iron Cross
  
 
 
 
Zur Christlichen Erinnerung
In Christian remembrance
  
 
 
 
an unseren lieben jüngesten Sohn und Bruder
of our dear youngest son and brother
  
 
 
 
den Matrosen-Gefr.
Matrosengefreiter
  
 
Otto Lottersberger
Otto Lottersberger
  
 
 
 
der im 21. Lebensjahr,
who, in the 21st year of his life,
  
 
am 28 April 1943, auf feindfahrt
on 28 April 1943, on war patrol
  
 
den heldentod sand.
died a hero's death.
  
 
____
____
  
       
 
Ihr habt gewünscht, gebet voll Vertrauen:
You have wished, prayed with trust:
  
 
"Herr, laß daheim uns alle wiederschauen."
"Lord, let us all say goodbye."
  
 
Ich bin daheim - in Gottes Schoß und Frieden,
I am at home - in God's lap and at peace,
 
 
Ihr steht im Kampf des Lebens noch heinieden;
you still struggle in the battle of life;
 
 
O, kämpfet gut und hört nicht auf zu flehen:
Oh, fight well and don't stop pleading:
  
 
"Herr, laß bei Dir uns alle wiedersehen!
"Lord, let us all see you again!
  
 
____
____
  
       
 
Ehre seinem Andenken
Honor his memory
  
 
Vater unser - Ave Maria
Our Father - Ave Maria
  
   

 

   
   

       
  "Du hast ihn uns geliehen o herr, er war unsere Freude;   "You have lent him to us, O lord, he was our joy;  
  Du hast ihn zurückgefordert und wir übergeben ihn Dir ohne Murren, aber das herz voll Wehmut."   You have recalled him and we hand him over to you without complaint, but with our heart full of sadness. "