Postcard of the Great Patriotic War as a historical source

The article is devoted to the study of postcards of the era of the Great Patriotic War as a historical source. The article analyzes the cards of various types, produced during the war years, starting with no illustrated cards-letterheads “To the army”, “Of army”. Traces the history of the issue of wartime postcards. Analyzes their circulation technique, image, artwork. It gives historical information that allows you to use postcards as historical sources. It is emphasized that postcards can demonstrate not only the event, but how the war heroes and ordinary soldiers looked like. Postcards-posters, postcards depicting war heroes, war stories, Russian generals and writers, postcards lyrics, satirical postcards of World War II are poorly understood, but very important sources for the history of war. The multifaceted potential of postcards as sources is very wide and deserves a thorough historical and cultural study.