Propaganda postcard of General Paul von Hindenburg as Colossus astride East Prussia and Russian Poland. Hindenburg commanded German forces in East Prussia.

Nur über meine Leiche geht Dein Weg 'Koloss'

Your way goes only over my corpse — 'Colossus'

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Künstler-Karte; logo: CAES Dresden

Carl A. E. Schmidt, Künstverlags-Anstalt, Dresden

Unser Hindenburg

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Thursday, October 3, 1918

"The High Command insists on the immediate issue of a peace offer to our enemies in accordance with the decision of Monday, September 29, 1918.

In consequence of the collapse of the Macedonian front, and the inevitable resultant weakening of our reserves in the West, and also the impossibility of making good the heavy losses which have occurred during the battles of the last few days, there is no prospect, humanly speaking, of forcing our enemies to sue for peace. The enemy, on the other hand, is continuing to throw fresh reserves into the battle."

Quotation Context

Beginning of a statement by German Commander Paul von Hindenburg to the Imperial Chancellor on October 3, 1918. Hindenburg goes on to say that, 'The German army still stands firm', but that it is 'imperative to stop the fighting in order to spare the German people and their allies unnecessary sacrifices.' Germany's ally Bulgaria, which had held the Macedonian Front for over two years, had agreed to an armistice that took effect on September 30th. This isolated Turkey (which was in retreat in Syria, Mesopotamia, the Caucusus Mountains, and Persia), at the same time the Austro-Hungarian Empire was breaking apart.

Source

The Great Events of the Great War in Seven Volumes by Charles F. Horne, Vol. VI, 1918, p. 351, copyright © 1920 by The National Alumnia, publisher: The National Alumni, publication date: 1920

Tags

1918-10-03, 1918, October, Hindenburg, von Hindenburg, Macedonian Front