A flying ace officially credited with 28 victories, he was the most successful German pilot at shooting down enemy observation balloons, which accounted for 20 of his triumphs, and he was awarded with the Pour le Mérite (Blue Max), the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern and the Iron Cross.
This rare signed postcard of Röth, above, sold for £900 (estimate £200-300) in a sale held by International Autograph Auctions (27% buyer’s premium inc VAT) of Nottingham on October 18. It was titled The British Empire at War 1899-1918, but also included many German items.
This postcard was published by Willi Sanke of Berlin during the war, numbered 647 and with a printed caption at the head and base. Röth signed it in bold, dark fountain pen ink to the verso, also adding a brief greeting of three words in German and the date, August 16, 1918 – eight days after the Allies’ ‘Advance to Victory’ began with the Battle of Amiens.
