Sad Christmases 1914-16

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"Tea with sugar, 5 cents": a price list that was hung up in all the "soldiers' taverns", a Swiss army institution that was set up in 1914. Despite the name these places did not serve alcohol. Museum der Kulturen, Basel

Military postcard for Christmas and New Year on the theme "yearning of the Swiss border soldier for Christmas with his family", Zurich, 1916 Sammlung Museum der Kulturen, Basel

Left: military postcard on the theme "Christmas yearning for warmth and security", Geneva, Switzerland, 1916. Right: Christmas card, "The French infantryman as Father Christmas for the people of Alsace", Alsace, France, 1918 Sammlung Museum der Kulturen, Basel

'Christmas 1915'. Military postcard, promotional gift from the H. Bahlsen biscuit factory. Design: Julis Diez, Hannover, Germany 1915. Museum der Kulturen, Basel

Military postcard for the 6th Division for Christmas, Engadine, canton Graubünden, Switzerland, 1916 Museum der Kulturen, Basel

New Year's military postcard, Geneva, Switzerland 1916 Museum der Kulturen, Basel

Postcard "Christmas in the army camp", Switzerland, 1914 Museum der Kulturen Basel

Postcard "Christmas in the field". Design: Albert Welti, Switzerland, 1914 (private collection) Museum der Kulturen, Basel

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A soldier’s life on the front and the Swiss borders: celebrating Christmas away from home and yearning for peace and their families.

(Postcards: Collection of the Museum of Cultures, Basel, picture editor Ester Unterfinger)