Published on 1 January 2026

Military postcard collection

The military postcard collection at the Library Am Guisanplatz BiG contains almost 2,200 postcards that members of the armed forces sent to their friends and relatives by field post, mainly during the two world wars.

L’Eplattenier‘ test model of assault helmet, 1917. Infantry officer

Two senior fortress artillery officers during their descent on skis in the general 1914 field uniform.

On the left federal troops with Winkelried (yellow cape), who throws himself into enemy lances, thus enabling an advance and breaching the line of Habsburg forces.

Battle scene: outnumbered Bernese forces fight against French army. To the fore: a Bernese infantryman.

Soldiers (infantrymen in 1898 military uniform, orange pompons) take apples from the basket of a civilian.

Artillery officer in 1888 military uniform presents a lady with a bouquet of flowers.

Close up front view of a Panzer 68 battle tank.

Portrait of General Dufour.

Fortress machine gunner with weapon and complete kit.

Framed picture is located in the top half of the map. It shows an artillery fire unit in the mountains in position. To the left under the frame, you will find the title, the remaining lower half of the map is empty. Colour of map face is yellow-brown.

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How did the Swiss population experience the First and Second World War? What tasks were soldiers in the Swiss Armed Forces required to perform? What stories did they tell in their letters home?

The answers to these and other questions can be found in almost 2,000 postcards that members of the Armed Forces sent to their friends and relatives by field post, especially during the two world wars. The BiG's military postcard collection is one of the most important collections of its kind in Switzerland. It offers insights into contemporary perceptions of the military, society, national defence and war. Furthermore, the postcard illustrations document various types of weaponry and their development up to the Cold War.

The military postcard collection is fully digitised and catalogued. You can visit the historical media library of the Armed Forces Digital Media Centre (DMA) to search for persons, troop types and era designations.

Further information

• Military postcard collection