NAZI GERMANY
STAMPS
1940
STAMP DAY
(Tag der Briefmarke)
4th Jan 1940 - There were no special stamps issued to celebrate 'The Day of the Stamp' in 1940, but there were two postcards and two types of special postmark.
MICHEL 739 to 742
LEIPZIG SPRING FAIR
(Leipziger Messe)
This set of 4 stamps (Michel 739 To Michel 742) was issued on 3rd March 1940 and was valid for use until 31st December 1941. They were designed by von Axster-Heüdtlass and R. Engelhardt (25Rpf) and were produced on unwatermarked paper in sheets of 100. There were 6 Special Postmarks and a slogan postmark used during the Leipzig fair in March 1940.
The Leipzig fairs began in the 12th Century and were trade fairs that were used to develope the German economy. They soon developed into "Muster Messe" or 'Sample Fairs', hence the 'MM' initials on the stamps.
6th WINTERHILFSWERK
STREET COLLECTION
29th Mar 1940: There was no special stamp issued to celebrate the '6th WHW Street Collection', but there was a series of 6 postcards and a special postmark. The postcards were modified versions of the 1939 postcards with the addition of some text along the vertical border between the image and the address.
Street collections to raise money for the 'needy' were annual events organised by different groups affiliated with the Nazi Party, in 1940 it was the Arbeitsfront.
MICHEL 743
2nd NATIONAL STAMP EXHIBITION
(Berlin)
28th Mar 1940: This stamp was designed by G.Fritz and was produced on sheets of 100 on unwatermarked paper. There are a number of shades of colour varying from light green to blackish green.
BREAKING NEWS: 9th Apr
Germany carries out Operation Weserübung, and invades Denmark and Norway. The Norwegian Campaign lasts two months.
MICHEL 744
51st BIRTHDAY of ADOLF HITLER
This stamp was issued on 10th April to celebrate Hitler's 51st Birthday on the 20th April 1940. The design was by Prof. Richard Klein from a photograph by Hitler's official photographer Herman Hoffmann. The stamp was printed on swastika watermarked paper on sheets of 100. The cities of Berlin, Cologne, Danzig, Hamburg, Munich, Nuremberg, Posen and Vienna all used a special postmark on the actual day.
MICHEL 745
MAY DAY
Issued: 30th Apr 1940. This A. Grögerschen designed stamp was valid until 31st December 1940 and featured a knight of the Wehrmacht defending industry and agriculture (smoke stacks and plough). There was also a special postmark used in Munich for a single day on the 1st May 1940.
BREAKING NEWS: 10th May
German forces invade France and the Low Countries, Belgium, Luxemburg and the Netherlands.
BREAKING NEWS: 10th Jun
Norway surrenders to Germany. 4 days later Paris falls to the Germans. 21st Jun France signs formal surrender in Compiegne.
MICHEL 746
71st ANNIV of the GERMAN DERBY
Issued: 22nd Jun 1940. This stamp was produced on swastika watermarked paper and was available in sheets of 100. The design was by E. Stahl and the stamp was valid for use until 31st December 1941. A special postmark, available only in Hamburg on 23rd, 26th-28th and 30th and inscribed "Great German Prize for three-year-olds", was available during the event.
There are very few examples of this stamp with a city/date cancel, they are almost all found with the special postmark.
MICHEL 747
7th BROWN RIBBON RACE
20th Jul 1940: Issued on the 20th July 1940 this Prof. Richard Klein designed stamp was to commemorate the 7th running of the 'Brown Ribbon of Germany' race in Munich on 28th July. The stamp was produced on unwatermarked paper and was printed on sheets of 100. 2 special postmarks and a slogan postmark were also available during the week long event.
MICHEL 748 & 749
REINTEGRATION of EUPEN
MALMEDY, and MORESNET
25th Jul 1940: On the 25th July 1940, the State Printing Works in Berlin issued these two stamps to celebrate the return of the towns of Eupen, Malmedy and Moresnet to Germany following the German invasion of Belgium. The stamps were designed by E.R Vogenaur and were printed on sheets of 100 swastika watermarked paper. There were 3 identical (except for the name of the town) special postmarks that featured a swastika and the slogan "Homecoming to the Greater Germany".
MICHEL 750
50th ANNIV of HELGOLAND
Issued 9th Aug 1940: Issued on the 9th of August 1940 to commemorate the fact that the small island of Helgoland has belonged to Germany for 50 years, from 1890 to 1940. Produced by the State Priniting Works in Vienna the stamps were printed on unwatermarked paper in sheets of 100. There was also a Special postmark issued to commemorate the occasion.
BREAKING NEWS: 30th Aug
Second Vienna Award: Germany and Italy compel Romania to cede half of Transylvania to Hungary.
BREAKING NEWS: 7th Sep
Germany begins air raids on London, the first of 57 consecutive nights of bombing which became known as the Blitz.
BREAKING NEWS: 27th Sep
Germany, Italy and Japan sign the Tripartite Pact.
MICHEL 751 to 759
WINTERHILFSWERK
(Winter Relief Fund)
Issued 5th Nov 1940: This set of 9 stamps was designed by L. Wüst and printed by the State Printing Works in Berlin on sheets of 100 and also in booklet form. The surcharge on the stamps was once again used to fund charity works. Unlike in previous years, only one slogan postmark was used with these stamps although there was also a postcard available.
MICHEL 760 & 761
50th ANNIV of DIPHTHERIA-SERUM
26th Nov 1940: The State Printing Works in Vienna issued these two stamps on 26th Nov 1940. They were produced on sheets of 100 on unwatermarked paper. There were also 2 Special Postmarks used with this stamp issue. The design features a portrait of Emil Adolf Von Behring who developed a diptheria antitoxin in 1889 to fight against tetanus.
