Wehrmacht Nachrichtenhelferin Portrait – Den Haag, 1942

An attractive original wartime portrait photograph of a Wehrmacht Nachrichtenhelferin (Wehrmacht Signals Auxiliary Woman), dated 22 January 1942.

The photograph depicts a young woman wearing a German military-style uniform jacket, tie and Schiffchen (garrison cap) bearing the national eagle insignia. The portrait has a classic studio-photography appearance and provides a clear view of her uniform and headgear.

Interesting original reverse: The reverse bears a handwritten personal dedication, apparently reading „Ein kleiner Gruß aus Holland. Deine Käthe.“ (A little greeting from Holland. Yours, Käthe). The exact reading of the name should be regarded as tentative due to the handwriting.

A studio imprint identifies the photographer studio as FOTO AMERICAIN, Wagenstraat 10, Den Haag (The Hague, Netherlands), accompanied by a date stamp reading 22 JAN. 1942. This provides an interesting geographical and chronological connection to the German wartime presence in the occupied Netherlands.

Historical background: The Nachrichtenhelferinnen des Heeres (German Army Signals Auxiliaries) were female auxiliary personnel employed in military communications during the Second World War. Their duties included telephone and teleprinter operations, message transmission and other communications-related work. Their service helped maintain the communications networks required by the German Army.

Original portrait photographs of these women are collectible examples of the often-overlooked history of female auxiliary personnel and their roles within the wartime military system.

Condition: Original black-and-white photograph with visible age-related wear, light discoloration and small brown spots, particularly near the lower edge of the image. The reverse retains the handwritten dedication and photographic studio imprint. Postcardsize.