A New Years postcard, 1917, of Germania wooed while Cupid draws attention to the angels and devils battling overhead. On the wings of the demons are the rondels of the Allies and a Maltese cross of the Germans. The Cannon by the lovers has been spiked and disabled. The card, illustrated by ADE, was from Leutnant Michel Liebhold, an officer on anti-aircraft train 61.
Glückwunsch zum JahreswechselCongratulations for the New YearMichel Liebhold, 1917Reverse:Absender: Leutnant Liebhold, O. Flak Zug 61, Groß-Auheim bei HanauFeldpostFrom: Lieutenant Liebhold, O. Flak Train 61, Groß-Auheim near HanauField mail (Flak is Fliegerabwehrkanone, an anti-aircraft gun.)
"On the third day, January 1, 1917, Rasputin's body was found. In their haste, the murderers had left one of his boots on the ice near the hole. Divers probing beneath the ice in that vicinity brought up the corpse. Incredibly, before he died, Rasputin had struggled with sufficient strength to free one of his hands from the ropes around him. The freed arm was raised above the shoulder; the effect was that Rasputin's last gesture on earth had been a sign of benediction."
Grigori Rasputin had been lured to the scene of his murder on the night of December 29–30, 1916, by Prince Felix Yussoupov, one of the wealthiest men in Russia and husband to a neice of Tsar Nicholas II. Yussoupov fed the monk poisoned cake and wine, but after two hours, Rasputin was still alive. Yussoupov then shot him. With his co-conspirators, the bound and dumped the body in the Neva River. Besides his freed hand, Rasputin was found with water in his lungs, indicating he was still breathing when disposed of.
Nicholas and Alexandra by Robert K. Massie by Robert K. Massie, page 380, copyright © 1967, renewed 1995 by Robert K. Massie, publisher: Random House, publication date: 2011
1917-01-01, 1917, January, Rasputin, Michel Liebhold
