NAZI GERMANY
STAMPS
1936
MICHEL 603
10th ANNIV of LUFTHANSA
(Heinkel He 70 "Blitz")
Issued 6th Jan 1936. Swastika Watermark. Valid until 31 Dec 1937. This stamp depicts a Heinkel He70 and was issued to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of Lufthansa. It was produced in sheets of 100 (10x10) stamps on coated paper, with Swastika watermarks and Perf K 14. There was no special postmark for this release.
BREAKING NEWS: 6th Feb
The IV Winter Olympic Games opens in Garmisch Partenkirchen.
MICHEL 604 & 605
BERLIN MOTOR SHOW
(50th Anniv of the Automobile)
These stamps went on sale on 15th February in Berlin Only (as the exhibition was held in Berlin) and from the 24th February they went on sale in the rest of Germany. Valid until 31 Dec 1937. During the exhibition, from the 14th February through to the 2nd March 1936, there was a special postmark used that depicted the first motor car designed and built by Carl Benz.The stamps were designed by Diebitsch and were engraved on sheets (10x10) on coated paper with swastika watermark and were Perf K 14.
BREAKING NEWS: 7th Mar
In violation of the Treaty of Versailles, Germany reoccupies the Rhineland. Again Britian and France take no action. Hitler's approval rating soars in Germany.
MICHEL 606 & 607
AIRMAIL
HINDENBURG L.Z.129
(Flight to North America)
Issued on 16th March 1936. Watermark is swastika, Valid until 31 Dec 1937. Due to the poor quality of paper used in the production of these stamps (high sulphuric acid content) these stamps can be brittle and damage easily. These stamps were designed by Diebitsch and engraved on sheets (10x10) and were Perf K 14½:14. Type 'x' have the swastika leg to the left and tyoe 'y' have the swastika leg to the right.
At the time of issue the Hindenburg hadn't even completed her proving flight nevermind crossed the Atlantic Ocean for which the stamps were issued. These stamps were primarily for use on mail carried on the Zeppelin and there were 3 special postmarks used to frank this mail, however they were also used on normal mail.
MICHEL 608
250th ANNIV of death of
Otto von Guericke
Issued on 4th May 1936 to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the death of Otto von Guericke. Designed by Klein and engraved on sheets (10x10) on coated paper with swastika watermarkand Perf K14. Valid until 31 Dec 1937.
MICHEL 609 to 616
11th OLYMPIC SUMMER GAMES
(Berlin)
These stamps went on sale 9th May 1936 (until 31 May 1936) through the post office and sports organisations, three months prior to the start of the games (1st August 1936) in an effort to generate awareness of the upcoming event. The games were not quite the spectacle of Aryan prowess that Hitler had wanted as a black American, Jessie Owens, stole the show with 4 Gold medals in the track and field events. He was credited with "single-handedly crushing Hitler's myth of Aryan supremacy", although he "wasn't invited to the White House to shake hands with the President, either". On the first day of competition, 1 August 1936, Hitler shook hands with only the German victors and then left the stadium. Olympic committee officials insisted Hitler greet every medalist or none at all. Hitler opted for the latter and skipped all further medal presentations. Valid for use until 30 June 1937. Designed by Eschle and engraved on sheets (10x10) and in booklets. Produced on yellowish paper with swatika watermark and Perf K14.
There were a number of special postmarks produced to celebrate the games.
MICHEL 617 to 620
6th INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS
(Munich and Berlin)
Issued 3 June 1936 to commemorate the International Municipal Congress in Munich and Berlin. Designed by Semar and engraved on sheets (10x10) on coated paper with swastika watermark and Perf K14. Valid through 31 Dec 1937. There were several special postmarks used with this issue.
MICHEL BLOCK 4
3rd RACE for the BROWN RIBBON
(Miniature Sheet)
Issued 22 June 1936. Type 'X' has a swastika watermark with the leg to the left and type 'y' has a swastika watermark with the leg to the right. Valid through 31 Dec 1937. This sheet exists imperforate and there are large variations in the paper thickness due to handmade process that was used during manufacture. The sheet size is 147 x 105mm.
MICHEL 621X
3rd RACE for the BROWN RIBBON
Issued 22 June 1936. Type 'X' has a swastika watermark with the leg to the left and type 'y' has a swastika watermark with the leg to the right. Valid through 31 Dec 1937. The stamp was sold as part of the minisheet but was usable without it and was perf K 14. The value, 42Pf, was the price of a recorded delivery letter, so these stamps should always exist with an 'R' label when found on covers, here is an example from my collection that uses the complete sheet and has the 'R' label.
MICHEL 622 & 623
WORLD CONGRESS
(Spare Time and Recreation)
Issued 30 June 1936 these stamps had a swastika watermark. Designer by Semar and engraved on sheets (10x10) on coated paper and Perf K14. They were valid through 31 Dec 1937. Woman with dove and man with hammer. The design is supposed to symbolise the pursuit of beauty through cultural recreation and shows a worker standing beside a woman holding the dove of peace.
There was a special postmark and slogan used in Hamburg throughout the congress from the 23rd to 30th July 1936 as well as a commemorative postcard.
BREAKING NEWS: 1st Aug
The 1936 Summer Olympics opens in Berlin, marking the first live television coverage of a sports event in world history.
MICHEL BLOCK 5
11th OLYMPIC SUMMER GAMES
(Berlin)
Issued 1 Aug 1936 and available until the 16th August (the duration of the games). The sheet has a swastika watermark, type 'x' for the leg to the left and type 'y' if the leg is to the right. Valid through 30 Jun 1937. The sheet itself is watermarked "XI OLYMPISCHE SPIELE" and "BERLIN 1936" and was produce on handmade paper. The stamps are Michel 624 to 627, 3+2Pf, 4+3Pf, 6+4Pf and 40+35Pf respectively.
Special postmarks were the same as for the individual stamps issued in May. These sheets were only available at Olympic Games post offices and also at Olympic Games stamp show in Dresden.
MICHEL BLOCK 6
11th OLYMPIC SUMMER GAMES
(Berlin)
Issued 1 Aug 1936 and available until the 16th August (the duration of the games). The sheet has a swastika watermark, type 'x' for the leg to the left and type 'y' if the leg is to the right. Valid through 30 Jun 1937. The sheet itself is watermarked "XI OLYMPISCHE SPIELE" and "BERLIN 1936" and was produce on handmade paper. The stamps are Michel 628 to 631, 8+4Pf, 12+6Pf, 15+10Pf, 25+15Pf respectively.
Michel 632 & 633
8th NÜRNBURG REICHSPARTEITAG
(The Rally of Honour)
These stamps were issued on 3rd Sept 1936 to commemorate the 8th Nazi Party Rally in Nurnburg and were valid through to 31st Dec 1937. They were engraved and issued on coated paper in sheets of 100 (10x10) and had a swastika watermark, Perf K14.
From 8th to 14th Sep the 8th Nazi Party Congress was held in Nürnburg and was called the "Rally of Honour" (Reichsparteitag der Ehre) in reference to the remilitarization of the Rhineland in March.
There was a special postmark and 2 similar slogans used during the rally in Nurnburg from 8th to 14th Sept 1936.
MICHEL 634 to 642
WINTERHILFSWERK
(Winter Relief)
Issued between 21st Sep and 28th Oct 1936 to raise money for the Winter Relief Fund. The stamps feature various modern buildings and were designed by Fritz. Printed engraved on sheets of 100 (10x10) and in Booklets they were on unwatermarked paper and Perf K 14. Michel 634 through 640 and 642 eist with only a type 'y' horizontaal gum rippling whereas Michel 641 exists with either a horizontal (type 'y') or vertical (type 'x') gum rippling. Valid until 30 Jun 1936.
BREAKING NEWS: 26th Nov
The 'Anti-Comintern Pact' is signed between Germany and Japan and is further extended to include Italy on 6th Nov 1937.
