NAZI GERMANY
POSTCARDS
My SAAR PLEBISCITE
(Jan 1935)
Issued prior to and during Jan 1935 to highlight the upcoming vote on the future of the Saar Region, and wether it should be returned to Germany on the 13th Jan. There were dozens of postcards issued to generate awareness of the vote and a few of them are reproduced below.
OFFSETDRUCK: F. MAAS & SOHN AG
SAARBRUCKEN
This postcard features German soldiers from the First World War reminding Saarlanders of their debt to Germany. The postcard is inscribed "We died for you! and you?". There is another almost identical postcard inscribed "We died for you! And you will betray us?".
Saar Plebiscite
FROM MY COLLECTION
Saar Plebiscite
FROM MY COLLECTION
WINTERHILFSWERK
NORTH WESTPHALIAN GAU
This striking postcard features a German Empire eagle swooping down to claim the Saarland for Germany. The inscription reads "Frei ist die Saar:" - 'The Saar is Free' and so was likely published after the vote. The reverse of the card is inscribed "Dankkarte anlässlich des Saarsieges" - 'Thank you card on the occasion of the Saar victory' and was sponsored on behalf of the Winterhilfswerk of the German People 1934/35 by the North Westphalian Gau.
Saar Plebiscite
FROM MY COLLECTION
GEBR. HOFER A.G.
SAARBRUCKEN
Saar Plebiscite
FROM MY COLLECTION
HEIST und UNGER.
SAARBRUCKEN
Saar Plebiscite
FROM MY COLLECTION
VERLAG TH. KLEIN OF SAARBRÃœCKEN
(Jan 1935)
This postcard was published by Verlag Th. Klein of Saarbrücken and features a selection of stamps issued by the Saar post office prior to the plebiscite. The inscription reads "1935 | Die Saar ist | frei! | Andenken an die Saarabstimmung" - '1935 | The Saar is | free! | Souvenir from the Saar vote'
There are two identical cards, the only difference is that one has an additional "importé d' Allegmagne" (Imported from Germany) inscription on the reverse, and the other is without the inscription.
NO ADDITIONAL TEXT ON REVERSE
FROM MY COLLECTION
ADDITIONAL TEXT ON REVERSE
FROM MY COLLECTION
This postcard also exists in grey scale.
Saar Plebiscite
FROM MY COLLECTION
Saar Plebiscite
FROM MY COLLECTION
This is another TH. KLEIN publication. Both of the cards are the same only one has been postally used and the other favour cancelled. The images on the card are all scenes from around the town of Saarbrücken, the capital of the Saar region.
FROM MY COLLECTION
FROM MY COLLECTION
Yet another postcard from the prolific TH. KLEIN publisher. This one proudly proclaims the Saar is German "for all time".
Saar Plebiscite
FROM MY COLLECTION
ASTRA.WERKE of SAARLOUIS
(Jan 1935)
This postcard was published by Astra Werke of Saarlouis and is another variation on the Saar issued stamps. The inscription reads "Zur Erinnerung | an die Volksabstimmung im Saargebiet | 13. Januar 1935" - 'A reminder | of the referendum in the Saar region | January 13, 1935'
This card needs more research as I haven't been able to verify whether it is a genuine article or not.
Saar Plebiscite
FROM MY COLLECTION
GRUβ von der SAAR VOLKS
(Jan 1935)
This postcard is yet another Saar Plebiscite postcard featuring Saar issued stamps. The inscription on this one reads "Gruβ von der Saar Volksabstimmung 13.1.1935" - 'Greetings from the Saar referendum on 13.1.1935'. There is no inscription on the reverse and the publisher is unknown.
This card needs more research as I haven't been able to verify whether it is a genuine article or not.
Saar Plebiscite
FROM MY COLLECTION
VERLAG VON EMIL HARTMANN
MANNHEIM
This particular example may not be directly related to the Saar Plebiscite itself, as there is no inscription relating to the vote. The card, like others, does feature postage stamps of the Saar region. In this case the card was published by Verlag von Emil Hartmann of Mannheim and it features stamps, not only from the Saar region, but also stamps available throughout Germany, and issued by the Reich's Postal Authority.
FROM MY COLLECTION
FERD. BAYER. WIESBADEN
(Jan 1935)
This postcard was published by Ferd Beyer of Wiesbaden and features a Saar region coal miner shaking hands with a fellow German worker indicating that they are united as friends as the Saar region and Germany should be after the vote. The text reads "VOLKSABSTIMMUNG } AN DER | SAAR | 13. JANUAR | 1935" - 'VOTE AT THE | SAAR | JANUARY 13 | 1935' in addition there is an inscription "Saarland Treue | zeigt der Welt | Wie Deutsches Volk | zusammenhalt" - 'Saarland loyalty | shows the world | Like German people | cohesion'.
Saar Plebiscite
FROM MY COLLECTION
SAAR MULTIVIEW #1
Saar Plebiscite
FROM MY COLLECTION
SAAR MULTIVIEW #2
Saar Plebiscite
FROM MY COLLECTION
SAAR MULTIVIEW #3
Saar Plebiscite
FROM MY COLLECTION
STATUS QUO
Saar Plebiscite
FROM MY COLLECTION
UNKNOWN PUBLISHER
SAARBRÃœCKEN
This interesting postcard was from an unnamed publisher and features a German with his hand outstretched, welcoming the Saar region back into the German fold. The inscription on the front of the card reads "1935 - Saarabstimmung! | Wir an der Saar halten die Treue | Wir stehen für Ehre und Vaterland. | Denfst auch an uns?" - '1935 - Saar vote! | We of the Saar are loyal to | We stand for honor and the fatherland. | Do you think of us too?'.
The reverse side has a large swastika printed in the left-hand pane leaving no doubt which side of the debate released this postcard. In this example there is also the special slogan cancel inscribed "Heute | Volksabstimmung | im Saargebiet" - 'Today | Referendum | in the Saar area'
FROM MY COLLECTION
SAABRÃœCKEN CTO
13th Jan 1935
This favour cancel was applied in the Saarland on 13th Jan 1935. It features a 30c Saar Stamp and has a slogan cancel 'Heute | Volksabstimmung | im Saargebiet' - 'Today | Referendum | in the Saar area'.
Saarbrücken Referendum
FROM MY COLLECTION
SAABRÃCKEN CTO
13th Jan 1935
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Similar to the favour cancel above but this time with a 20c Saar Stamp and the same slogan cancel 'Heute | Volksabstimmung | im Saargebiet' - 'Today | Referendum | in the Saar area'.
Saarbrücken Referendum
FROM MY COLLECTION
DEUTSCHE DIE SAAR IMMERDAR
Saar Plebiscite
FROM MY COLLECTION