German Death Card · primary-source record
Josef Schaller
8 February 1895 – 23 December 1916
Died 23 December 1916 · fell in enemy territory
Editorially verified
At-a-glance facts
Record type
German Death Card
Date of death
23 December 1916
Date of birth
8 February 1895
Age at death
21 years (born 8 February 1895) (21y 10m 15d)
Place of death
im Feindesland (in enemy territory)
The german death card
From the funeral card
Zum frommen Andenken
im Gebete
an unsern innigstgeliebten herzensguten
Sohn und Bruder
Josef Schaller,
Oekonomensohn,
Gefreiter im 18. Res.-Inf.-Regt., 5. Komp.
Ritter des Eisernen Kreuzes.
Geboren am 8. Februar 1895 in Achsheim.
Den Heldentod fürs Vaterland gestorben am
23. Dezember 1916 im Feindesland.
Zum zweitenmal zogst du ins Feindesland
Für deutsches Recht zu streiten,
Du mußtest dort fürs Vaterland
Den Heldentod erleiden.
Die Freude Deiner Wiederkehr
War nicht vergönnt den Deinen
Und mögen sie auch noch so sehr
Ihr Liebstes nun beweinen.
Nun ruhe sanft im Heldengrab,
Befreit von allen Schmerzen;
Die Liebe, die Dich hier umgab,
Lebt fort in unsern Herzen.
Barmherziger Jesus, gib ihm die ewige
Ruhe! (7 Jahre 280 Tage Ablaß.)
Haas & Grabherr. Augsburg.
Contributor's notes & card translation
English translation of the card text: In pious remembrance in prayer of our most dearly beloved, kind-hearted son and brother Josef Schaller, farmer's son, Gefreiter (lance corporal) in the 18th Reserve Infantry Regiment, 5th Company, Knight of the Iron Cross. Born 8 February 1895 in Achsheim; died a hero's death for the Fatherland on 23 December 1916 in enemy territory. "For the second time you went into enemy territory to fight for German right; there you had to suffer a hero's death for the Fatherland. The joy of your homecoming was not granted to your loved ones, and however much they now weep for their dearest — rest gently now in a hero's grave, freed from all pain; the love that surrounded you here lives on in our hearts." Merciful Jesus, grant him eternal rest! (Indulgence of 7 years, 280 days.) Printed by Haas & Grabherr, Augsburg. 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/schaller-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 Schaller, 18. Res.-Inf.-Regt., 5. Komp. (Gefreiter), fell 23 December 1916 at im Feindesland (in enemy territory)," photographed and contributed to the Ancestors at Rest archive (https://ancestorsatrest.com/records/funeral-cards/schaller-josef-1916/ : accessed [your access date]).
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