German Death Card · primary-source record
Josef Gasteiger
abt 1893 (computed from age at death) – 23 June 1916
Died 23 June 1916 · fell before Verdun
Editorially verified
At-a-glance facts
Record type
German Death Card
Date of death
23 June 1916
Date of birth
abt 1893 (computed from age at death)
Age at death
23 years
Place of death
vor Verdun (before Verdun)
The german death card
From the funeral card
Josef Gasteiger,
Soldat beim Infanterie-Leibregiment,
5. Kompagnie.
Christl. Gebets-Andenken
an den tugendsamen Jüngling
Josef Gasteiger,
Bauerssohn von Oberbremrain
bei Au,
Soldat beim Inf.-Leibregt., 5. Komp.,
welcher am 23. Juni 1916 nach 23monatlicher
treuester Pflichterfüllung infolge schwerer Ver-
wundung durch einen Granatsplitter bei einem
Sturmangriff vor Verdun im Alter von 23 Jahren
den Heldentod fürs Vaterland starb.
Eltern, trocknet Eure Tränen —
Als mich traf das kalte Erz,
War bei Euch mein letztes Sehnen
Brich nicht, brich nicht, Elternherz!
Gönnet mir den Tod der Helden,
Trägt als Helden Euren Schmerz,
Konnte man Euch Schönres melden,
Brich nicht, brich nicht, Elternherz!
„Mein Jesus, Barmherzigkeit!“
Vater unser. Ave Maria.
Druck von F. X. Graf, Bad Aibling
Contributor's notes & card translation
English translation of the card text: Josef Gasteiger, soldier in the Infantry Leib-Regiment, 5th Company. Christian prayer remembrance of the virtuous young man Josef Gasteiger, farmer's son from Oberbremrain near Au, soldier in the Infantry Leib-Regiment, 5th Company, who on 23 June 1916, after 23 months of most faithful fulfilment of duty, died a hero's death for the Fatherland at the age of 23, as a result of a severe wound from a shell splinter during an assault before Verdun. "Parents, dry your tears — when the cold iron struck me, my last longing was with you. Break not, break not, parents' heart! Grant me the death of heroes; bear your grief as heroes do. Could better news have been sent you — break not, break not, parents' heart!" "My Jesus, mercy!" Our Father. Ave Maria. Printed by F. X. Graf, Bad Aibling. 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
- 2026-07-04
- Permalink
- /records/funeral-cards/gasteiger-josef-1916/
- Image vs transcription
- Both — photograph of the card and a transcription of its German text on this page
Citation: "German death card (Sterbebild) of Josef Gasteiger, Infanterie-Leibregiment, 5. Kompagnie, fell 23 June 1916 at vor Verdun (before Verdun)," photographed and contributed to the Ancestors at Rest archive (https://ancestorsatrest.com/records/funeral-cards/gasteiger-josef-1916/ : accessed [your access date]).
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