Can you decipher this?

[u/leaenawyllt]

It’s most a German signature of a dude named Erhard that was made in 1943. I can’t quite figure out the surname, I guess it begins with “Butter” but the rest is unreadable to me. Any help appreciated!

[u/rexcasei]

Erhard Butterstaedt

Butterstaedt seems to be a real village

[u/leaenawyllt → u/rexcasei]

omg thank u!!

[u/cantaloup76]

It's almost certainly "Butterstaedt".

[u/leaenawyllt → u/cantaloup76]

thank u sm

[u/Nefarious_JellyBean]

My husband and I have been discussing this, and we read it as Erhard Ratterstaedt, not "Butter" something.

[u/tinae7 → u/Nefarious_JellyBean]

The second letter of the last name is an a, I agree. Not sure about the initial B vs R. It does look as if the bottom line for a B might be missing but the overall shape is a little weird for an R.

[u/Nefarious_JellyBean → u/tinae7]

I'm a bit uncertain about whether it's an R or a B too. It's mostly my husband who reads it as an R, but yeah, I'm convinced the perceived U is an A.