German Democratic Republic (DDR)
(East Germany)
Stamps of 1956
East Germany, officially the German Democratic Republic (Deutsche Demokratische, DDR), was a country that existed from October 1949 until 1990, when the eastern portion of Germany was part of the Eastern Bloc during the Cold War. It described itself as a socialist "workers' and peasants' state" and the territory was administered and occupied by Soviet forces at the end of World War II — the Soviet Occupation Zone of the Potsdam Agreement, bounded on the east by the Oder–Neisse line. The Soviet zone surrounded West Berlin but did not include it; as a result, West Berlin remained outside the jurisdiction of the DDR.
Michel 510 and 511
"200th Anniversary of the death of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart"
Issued: 27th Jan 1956, Perf: 13½x13. Designed by Eigler to celebrate the 200th Anniversary of the death of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Michel 512 to 515
"Opening of civil aviation in the DDR"
Issued: 1st Feb 1956. Perf: 13x12½. Designed by Eigler to commemorate the opening of civil aviation in the DDR.
Michel 516 and 517
"100th Anniversary of the death of Heinrich Heine"
Issued: 17th Feb 1956. Perf: 13½x13. Designed by Eigler to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the death of Heinrich Heine.
Michel 518 and 519
"Leipzig Spring Fair"
Issued: 25th Feb 1956. Perf: 13x13½. Designed by Gruner to celebrate the Leipzig Spring Fair.
Michel 520
"70th Birthday of Ernst Thälmann"
Issued: 16th Apr 1956. Perf: 13x13½. Designed by Eigler and issued to commemorate the 70th Bitrthday of Ernst Thälmann.
Michel Block 14
"70th Birthday of Ernst Thälmann"
Issued: 16th Apr 1956. Perf: 13x13½. Designed by Eigler and issued to commemorate the 70th Bitrthday of Ernst Thälmann.
Mi Block 14 Minisheet
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Michel 521 and 522
"International Friendship Day"
Issued: 30th Apr 1956. Perf: 13½x13. Designed by Petersen to celebrate International Friendship Day 1956.
Michel 524 to 526
"750th Anniversary of Dresden"
Issued: 1st Jun 1956. Perf: 13½x13. Designed by Götze and issued to commemorate the 750th anniversary of the City of Dresden.
Michel 527
"10 years of State Owned Enterprises"
Issued: 30th Jun 1956. Perf: 13½x13. Designed by Petersen and issued to commemorate 10 years of State Owned Enterprises.
Michel 528 and 529
"100th Anniversary of the death of Robert Schumann"
Issued: 20th Jul 1956. Perf: 13x13½. Designed by Eiger and issued to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the death of Robert Schumann.
Michel 530 to 533
"German Sports Festival, Leipzig"
Issued: 35th Jul 1956. Perf: 13½x13. Designed by Petersen and issued to prommote the German Sports Festival in Leipzig.
Michel 534
"Death of Thomas Mann"
Issued: 13th Aug 1956. Perf: 13x12½. Designed by Bengs and issued to commemorate the death of Thomas Mann.
Michel 535
"100th Birthday of Jakub von Bart-Cisinski"
Issued: 20th Aug 1956. Perf: 13½x13 and designed by Eigler to celebrate the 100th Birthday of Jakub von Bart-Cisinski.
Michel 536 and 537
"Leipzig Autumn Festival"
Issued: 1st Sep 1956. Perf: 13½x13. Designed by Hoepfner and issued to celebrate this year's Leipzig autumn Fair.
Michel 538
"Building National Memorials"
Issued: 8th Sep 1956. Perf: 13½x13. Designed by Weiß to celebrate Naational buildings.
Michel 539 and 540
"Melbourne Summer Olympics"
Issued: 28th Sep 1956. Perf: 13½x13. Designed by Zethmeyer to celebrate the summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia.
Michel 541 and 542
"100th Anniversary of the death of Robert Schumann (II)"
Issued: 8th Oct 1956. Perf: 13x13½. Designed by Eigler and re-issued (slightly different design) to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the death of Robert Schumann.
Michel 543
"500th Anniversary of the University of Greifswald"
Issued: 17th Oct 1956. Perf: 13x13½. Designed by Bengs and Skribelka to commemorate the 500th Anniversary of the University of Greifswald.
Michel 544
"Stamp Day"
Issued: 27th Oct 1956. Perf: 13½x13. Designed by Hohler to celebrate Stamp Day 1956.
Michel 545 to 547
"110th Anniversary of Karl Zeiss Jena"
Issued: 9th Nov 1956. Perf: 12½x13. Designed by Bengs and Skribelka and issued to commemorate the 110th Anniversary of Karl Zeiss Jena.
Michel 548 to 550
"Human Rights Day"
Issued: 10th Dec 1956. Perf: 13½x13. Designed by Bengs and Skribelka and issued to commemorate Human Rights Day.
Michel 551 to 556
"Berlin Zoo"
Issued: 14th Dec 1956. Perf: 13x12½. Designed by Bengs and issued to commemorate Berlin Zoo.
Michel 557
"Help for Hungry"
Issued: 20th Dec 1956. Perf: 13½x13. Designed by Eigler to help raise funds for Hungry.
Michel 558
"Help for Egypt"
Issued: 20th Dec 1956. Perf: 13½x13. Designed by Eigler to help raise funds for Egypt.
Michel 1 to 5
"Service stamps for administrative mail"
Issued: 1st Apr 1956. Perf: 13x12½. Official stamps available on sheets (10x10). Type I watermark Wz 2XI, Type II watermark Wz 2XII
