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German Death Card · primary-source record

Otto Enghofer

abt 1890 (computed from age at death) – 29 May 1915

Died 29 May 1915 · wounded in France, died at Wesel

Editorially verified

At-a-glance facts

Record type

German Death Card

Date of death

29 May 1915

Date of birth

abt 1890 (computed from age at death)

Age at death

25 years (im 26. Lebensjahre — his 26th year of life)

Place of death

France

The german death card

From the funeral card

Zum frommen Andenken im Gebete

an den tugendsamen Jüngling Herrn

Otto Enghofer,

Söldnerssohn von Hainsbach,

Reservist im preuß. 16. Inf.-Reg.,

welcher infolge eines Kopfschusses, den er

in Frankreich erlitt, im Festungslazarett

Wesel am 29.[?] Mai 1915 im 26.[?] Lebensjahre

den Heldentod fürs Vaterland gestorben ist.

Mit schallendem Spiel gings in die Schlacht,

Für mich hat sie den Tod gebracht;

Doch starb ich gern den Tod fürs Vaterland.

Kann nicht mehr reichen Euch die Hand,

Drum lebet wohl ihr Lieben mein,

Schließt täglich ins Gebet mich ein!

Mein Jesus Barmherzigkeit!

Süßes Herz Jesu, sei meine Liebe!

Süßes Herz Mariä, sei meine Rettung

G. A. Hellmuth, Geiselhöring.

German card text transcribed from the card photograph; uncertain readings are marked [?]. An English translation is given in the research notes below. Sources differ between the card and the original submission; this record follows the card, and the submission's readings are preserved here: death date — the card reads "am 29.[?] Mai 1915 (29 May 1915)" while the submission recorded "29 March 1915"; age — the card reads "im 26. Lebensjahre (in his 26th year of life, i.e. age 25)" while the submission recorded "He was 26".

Contributor's notes & card translation

Reservist Otto Enghofer, 16 Prussian Infantry Regiment. Shot in the head in France and died in a field hospital in Wesel, 29 March 1915. He was 26. Back of card has angels appearing to a wounded soldier on a battlefield. Prayer cards are a Roman Catholic tradition. They are given to family and friends who attend the funeral and are sent to those relatives unable to attend.


English translation of the card text: For pious remembrance in prayer of the virtuous young man Otto Enghofer, son of a smallholder from Hainsbach, reservist in the Prussian 16th Infantry Regiment, who died a hero's death for the Fatherland in the fortress hospital at Wesel on 29 May 1915, in his 26th year of life, as a result of a head wound suffered in France. With resounding music we went into battle; for me it brought death. Yet I gladly died the death for the Fatherland. I can no longer reach out my hand to you, so farewell, my dear ones — include me daily in your prayers! My Jesus, mercy! Sweet Heart of Jesus, be my love! Sweet Heart of Mary, be my salvation. (Printed by G. A. Hellmuth, Geiselhöring.) These small prayer cards (Sterbebilder) were given to family and friends in the Roman Catholic tradition.

Record submitted by

From the Ancestors at Rest archive

Source & citation

Source type
Photograph & transcription
Provenance
From the Ancestors at Rest archive — founded 2004 by Brian and substantially built out across two decades by Lorine McGinnis Schulze of Olive Tree Genealogy.
Transcribed by
Ancestors at Rest archive — original contributor not recorded.
Last verified
2026-07-12
Permalink
/records/funeral-cards/enghofer-otto-1915/
Image vs transcription
Both — photograph of the card and a transcription of its German text on this page

Citation: "German death card (Sterbebild) of Otto Enghofer, Reservist, Prussian 16th Infantry Regiment (preuß. [preuss.] 16. Inf.-Reg.), fell 29 May 1915 at Festungslazarett Wesel (fortress hospital, Wesel); head wound suffered in France," photographed and contributed to the Ancestors at Rest archive (https://ancestorsatrest.com/records/funeral-cards/enghofer-otto-1915/ : accessed [your access date]).

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