A postcard dated from the early 1900s that has not been posted.

Postcard shows the Kiel Canal in Germany.

The Kiel Canal (Nord-Ostsee-Kanal in German) is a significant freshwater canal in Germany connecting the North Sea to the Baltic Sea, running through Schleswig-Holstein. 
Key facts about the Kiel Canal:
  • Purpose:
    It allows ships to bypass the longer and potentially rougher route around the Jutland peninsula and through the Kattegat Strait, saving approximately 250 nautical miles. 
  • Construction & Widening:
    Originally built between 1887 and 1895, it was later widened from 1907 to 1914.
  • Significance:
    It is considered the world's busiest artificial waterway, facilitating maritime traffic between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. 
  • International Status:
    After World War I, the Treaty of Versailles internationalized the canal, ensuring freedom of navigation under German administration, though these provisions were repudiated by Adolf Hitler in 1936. The conditions guaranteeing freedom of navigation were re-established after World War II.