NAZI GERMANY
STAMPS
1938
1938 was a tumultuous year, not only in Germany but in other parts of Europe too. By the end of the year Austria will become a part of Greater Germany and Czechoslovakia will be dismantled and erased from the map of Europe. The appeasement of Adolf Hilter by the European powers would embolden Adolf Hitler to seek more and more 'lebansraum' and would ultimately lead the world to war in September of the following year. The major events are captured in the postal history of Germany in the form of stamps, postcards, special postmarks and propaganda posters. Astonishingly America's Time Magazine voted Hitler its "1938 Man of the Year".
MICHEL 660 & 661
5th ANNIV of ASSUMPTION of POWER
These two stamps were issued to commemorate the 5th Anniversary of the election of Adolf Hilter as Chancellor of Germany on 30th Janurary 1933. The stamps depict a touchbearer and were designed by A. Kolb, engraved on swastika watermarked, coated sheets of 100 (10x10) stamps, Perf K14. The tourch is meant to indicate the Nazi's leading Germany into the 'light' and the oak leave cluster in the torch bearer's left hand is the sign of victory.
FROM MY COLLECTION
A special postcard and special postmark was issued to commemorate the 5th anniversary on the 30th Jan of Hitler's ascession to power.
MICHEL 662 & 663
PLEBISCITE in AUSTRIA
(EIN VOLK - EIN REICH - EIN FÜHRER)
On 12th March 1938 Austria became part of "Greater Germany" when German forces crossed the Austrian border. A plebiscite (vote) was held on the 10th April to 'legalise' the invasion and officially recorded a 99.7% 'Yes' vote from the Austrian people, however it is doubtful that the vote was free or fair. Apart from the stamps show below there were also special postcards and various special postmarks. The poster shown on the left was also used to urge voters to vote "Yes" to a union between Germany and Austria.
The stamps were designed by Prof. Puchinger and Michel 662 was printed engraved at the Berlin State Printing Office on coated sheets (10x5) with a swastika watermark and were perf K 14. Michel 662 measures 23 x 28mm. Michel 663 was printed by the Austrian State Printing Office on coated paper on sheets (10x10) but this time without watermark and Perf K 12½. Michel 663 measures 21.5 x 26mm.
FROM MY COLLECTION
The stamps are engraved "EIN VOLK, EIN REICH, EIN FÜHRER" - "One people, one empire, one leader" suggesting that Germany and Austria were one people who should be united as a single country under a single leader. The Berlin printing of these stamps was produced on sheets of 50 and for those printed in Vienna on sheets of 100.
MICHEL 664
49th BIRTHDAY of ADOLF HITLER
This stamp was issued on the 13th April to celebrate Hitler's 49th birthday on the 20th April 1938. It was produced on sheets of 50 (10x5) and was designed by Prof. Richard Klein. The stamp was engraved on unwatermarked paper and Perf K 14.
FROM MY COLLECTION
A Special Postmark and Special Postcard were also issued. The postmark was used only on the 20th April in Berchtesgaden, Berlin, Munich, Nuremberg, Braunau, Graz, Linz and Vienna.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE of the KdF
(Strength Through Joy)
Jun 1938. Although there were no special stamps issued to commemorate this event there was a postcard (P246) and a reply card (P247) issued to celebrate the event as well as a special postmark used in Hamburg where the event was held.
SAXONY at WORK EXHIBITION, DRESDEN
18th Jun to 18th Sep 1938. Again no special stamp was issued to commemorate this event but there were two commemorative postcards issued to celebrate the event as well as a special postmark used in Dresden where the event was held and a souvenir sheet.
MICHEL 665 to 668
16th BRESLAU SPORTSFEST
This set of 4 stamps depicting major buildings in Breslau were issued on the 21st June 1938. Designed by G. Fritz they were produced on sheets of 100 (10x10) stamps and did not have a watermark and were Perf K 14.
This event was held between 23rd and 31st July 1938 and was attended by Adolf Hitler and the leader of the Sudeten Nazi's, Konrad Henlein. At a speach during the games Hitler promised Sudeten Germans they would soon be freed (in October 1938, true to his word, the German army invaded the Sudentland area of Czechoslovakia)
FROM MY COLLECTION
MICHEL 669 & 670
100th BIRTHDAY of FERDINAND von ZEPPELIN
These two commemorative stamps were issued on 5th July 1938 to honour the 100th Anniversary of the birth of Graf Zeppelin. Produced on sheets of 100 (10x10) stamps and designed by von Axster-Heüdtlass they were valid until 31st December 1939. The stamps were unwatermarked and Perf K 14. The 25Rpf stamp features von Zeppelin in the gondola of L.Z.4 on its maiden flight on the 20th June 1908. The 50Rpf stamp shows the gondola of L.Z.129 the "Hindenburg" on its maiden flight on 4th March 1936 ('The Hindenburg' Airship famously caught fire and was destroyed during mooring on arrival in Lakenhurst, New Jersey on 6th May 1937).
FROM MY COLLECTION
SA SPORTS DAY, BERLIN
15th to 17th Jul 1938. There were no special stamps issued to commemorate this event however there was a postcard (P271) as well as a special postmark and a slogan postmark used in Berlin where the event was held.
MICHEL 671
The BROWN RIBBON RACE
This stamp was designed by Prof. Richard Klein and was produced in sheets of 50 (5x10), on the 20th July 1938. It was printed on unwatermarked paper and was valid until 31st Dec 1939. The design pictures a rider celebrating victory in the race and holding the victor's wreath.
There are two versions of this stamp, Michel 671x which is dark brown and has vertical ribbed gum and Michel 671y which is light brown and has horizontal ribbed gum.
FROM MY COLLECTION
MICHEL 672
10th NÜRNBERG REICHSPARTEITAG
(Nazi Party Rally)
The annual Reichsparteitag of 1938 was held in Nürnberg and was called the "Rally of Greater Germany" - 'Reichsparteitag Grossdeutschland' to commemorate the fact that Austria was now part of a 'Greater Germany' since the Anschluss in April 1938. A single stamp, designed by Prof. Richard Klein, was issued on 1st September 1938 and was valid until 31st December 1939. Produced on sheets of 100 (10x10) stamps they were issued on non watermarked paper and were Perf K 14. There are two versions, type 'x' with vertical gum ribbing and type 'y' with horizontal gum ribbing.
FROM MY COLLECTION
DAY of THANKS
2nd Oct 1938. There were no special stamps and no special postmarks issued to commemorate this rally, which was in any event cancelled due to events on the Czechoslovak border where the German army was gathering its forces for the attack on Czechoslovakia. A postcard was issued in advance on the 20th September.
MICHEL 673 & 674
OPENING of the SAARPFALZ THEATRE
Issued on October 9th 1938 these two G. Fritz designed stamps commemorate the opening of the Saarpfalz Theatre. The stamps were printed in sheets of 100 (10x10) on coated, swastika watermarked paper and were Perf K 14.
FROM MY COLLECTION
MICHEL 675 to 683
WINTERHILFSWERK
(Winter Relief Fund)
This set of 9 stamps were issued on the 18th November 1938 and feature views and buildings and Alpine flowers of Austria (now known as Ostmark). The stamps were designed by Fritz and engraved on sheets of coated, unwatermarked paper on sheets 100 (10x10). Perf K 14.
FROM MY COLLECTION
FROM MY COLLECTION
FROM MY COLLECTION
There are several WHW day of solidarity postmarks used in conjunction with this stamp issue. A set of 6 postcards was also available.
WINTERHILFWERK
(1)
OCTOBER
OCTOBER
(2)
NOVEMBER
NOVEMBER
(3)
DECEMBER
DECEMBER
FROM MY COLLECTION
(4)
JANUARY
JANUARY
(5)
FEBRUARY
FEBRUARY
(6)
MARCH
MARCH
FROM MY COLLECTION
MICHEL 684 & 685
SUDETENLAND PLEBISCITE
These stamps were available from the 2nd December 1938 and consisted of 2 von Axster-Heüdtlass designed stamps. They were engraved on swastika watermarked paper in sheets of 100 (10x10) stamps. Perf K 14. Michel 684 can be found in two varieties, type 'x' with vertical ribbed gum and type 'y' with horizontal ribbed gum.
The Münich Treaty was signed on 30th September 1938 and officially ceeded the Sudetenland to Germany on 1st October.
FROM MY COLLECTION
COLOGNE CARNIVAL
31st Dec 1938. There were no special stamps issued to commemorate this event. Two postcards were issued on the 31st December 1938. There was also a special postmark and slogan postmark used for the event.
MICHEL D144 to D154
(Official Stamps)
This set of 11 Official stamps was issued on 26th January 1938 and was designed by Prof. Richard Klein. They were produced on sheets of 100 (10x10) and have a swastika watermark. They are Perf K 14 : 14¼.
There was a re-issue of these stamps in March 1942 and these can easily be distinguised as they had no watermark. There are colour differences between both issues as well.
FROM MY COLLECTION
FROM MY COLLECTION
FROM MY COLLECTION